The current Alberta Social Studies curriculum places a strong emphasis on recognizing the importance of multiple perspectives in the interpretation of Canada's past. The three drawings that the author has created represent the progression from the overall arching grand narrative of Canadian history to the introduction and embedding of the multiple…

Content area reading remains a primary concern of history educators. In order to better prepare students for encounters with text, the authors propose the use of two image analysis strategies tied with a historical theme to heighten student interest in historical content and provide a basis for improved reading comprehension.

When Canadian students are asked their perceptions of Mexico, their answers are filled with stereotypes from the media. When they are asked about Darfur, they have no idea what or where Darfur is, or what has occurred there. When they are asked to list the names of famous Canadians they state the names of white men, primarily politicians. When…

Asserts that the two problems with history teaching in Canada are the failure of historians to engage with the schools and the inability of many history teachers to feel at home in their subject. Reviews five crises in the teaching of history over the last 100 years. (CMK)

Addresses a collaborative celebrations project that was assigned to a group of students enrolled in a course on educational methods focused on integrating the arts and social studies. Explains that this project contributed to an understanding of the family and community aspects of celebration. Considers the project outcomes. (CMK)

Discusses activities, adaptable for elementary through high school levels, for learning about the people who work in local government and the programs local governments provide. Explains that the activities are useful starting points for project ideas that enlist the involvement of students, teachers, and local government officials. (CMK)

Describes the du Maurier Open, a women's tennis tournament. Explains that tennis becomes an elite sport at the level of the du Maurier Open. Presents a crossword puzzle that focuses on many of the female tennis stars and provides the across and down clues, a word list, and the answer key. (CMK)

Argues for the integration of aboriginal content into social studies by teaching First Nations history as Canadian history. Provides an overview of this integrated history, focusing on Atlantic Canada. Addresses such topics as extending the coverage 10,000 years prior, the parallel between human history and environmental change, and cultural…

Discusses the use of children's literature in social studies instruction and addresses the nature of Canadian children's literature. Provides an annotated list of 14 picture books representing different geographical regions in Canada, reflecting various historical periods, and presenting information on Canadian experiences. Offers Canadian…

Describes a lesson consisting of activities such as a mock town hall meeting, forming a lobby group, and attending a town hall meeting. Focuses on community-based issues and the role of citizens in bringing about change at the local level. (CMK)

Describes a global issues project in which students modeled the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Discusses project aspects while focusing on the use of the Alta Vista Forum for web-based threaded discussion. (CMK)

Discusses information literacy skills as a way to handle information overload. Explores the critical Internet viewing of 1,693 students in grades 7-9 who responded to a survey. Discusses the results on students' beliefs about information accuracy, their information evaluation strategies, and the importance of Internet information validity.…

Contends that before teaching about the Holocaust teachers must assess their students' understanding of this event. Considers five student misconceptions about the origins of the Holocaust. Includes responses by students in grades 10-12. Explains the inaccuracy of each misconception, using the work of Holocaust historians as supporting evidence.…

Discusses the benefits of using oral history in social studies. Describes the process of oral history projects by discussing (1) how to introduce oral history to the students, (2) preparation for the project, (3) organizing and evaluating the research, and (4) publishing an oral history. Considers a variation on oral history. (CMK)

Provides information about Alexander Cameron Rutherford, a provincial politician. Includes a letter written by Rutherford in 1912 that provides insights into his responsibilities to the general public, information about Rutherford himself, the economic conditions of Alberta, Canada in 1912, and information about the individual to whom it was…