Believes that social studies teachers should encourage young people to learn about Canadian heroes but simultaneously assist them in developing skepticism as opposed to only idealizing heroes. Explains that when students understand the qualities of heroes they will be able to cope when someone they hold as a hero falters. (CMK)

Provides activities for grades 6 to 8 that will promote student awareness and understanding of the use of hydropower in Canada, the benefits and drawbacks to hydropower, and also the drawbacks of electricity transmission lines. Explains that the activities focus on the James Bay Hydro Project in Canada. (CMK)

Discusses the Essentials Project that began in 1994 involving 20 teachers in creating standards for history and social science in secondary education in Ontario (Canada). Provides the standards, learning outcomes, and performance tasks focusing on why the particular learning outcomes were chosen and issues for social studies teachers. (CMK)

Discusses the reasons and benefits for using portfolio assessment in social studies and history classrooms. Describes three approaches of portfolio design: (1) assessment portfolio; (2) working portfolio; and (3) showcase or display portfolio. Addresses the challenges involved when utilizing portfolio assessment. (CMK)

Describes criterion-referenced assessment that involves the teacher establishing what should be assessed, the standards for assessment, and then finally utilizing a rubric. Discusses the use of criterion-referenced assessment in social studies and humanities classes, the students' role in developing the rubrics, and the success of this type of…

Addresses the problems with conventional assessment in social studies and describes an alternative form called dynamic assessment. Explains how to use dynamic assessment in social studies, and in particular, for evaluating citizenship participation. Provides two charts that demonstrate how dynamic assessment can modify teachers' evaluation…

Explains that the Internet is a good source of information and misinformation about the rights that Canadians do and do not enjoy. Provides websites that address human rights issues, such as government and non-governmental organizations, and information for locating newsgroups and listservs. (CMK)

Describes activities that can be adapted for students in elementary to high school grade levels that link teaching about local government to the concept of community and provide starting points for project ideas centering on the active involvement of students, teachers, and local government officials. (CMK)

Discusses the changes in musical experiences, such as live versus recorded music, as society has developed technologically. Presents a crossword puzzle that focuses on the traditions and musicians of baroque, classical, and romantic music each originating in Europe. Includes the clues and word list. (CMK)

Argues that textbooks are still important to social studies instruction and promotes the comparison of outdated textbooks to current ones as a means for developing students' critical thinking. Asserts that textbooks should be considered as another tool for instruction alongside computers in order to provide students with a wide range of resources.…

Believes that it is important to teach about controversial issues in social studies but contends that not all controversial issues are suitable for the classroom. Suggests three categories of selection criteria (curricular, student, and community considerations) in order to decide on what types of issues are appropriate for the classroom. (CMK)

Discusses inequitable learning opportunities of Canada Natives. Finds that rules and expectations of schools often create feelings of shame in Native learners that lead to withdrawal and failure. Asserts that when teachers become cultural brokers they can eliminate the inequalities and develop an environment conducive to learning. (CMK)

Explains that sentencing circles are a form of traditional Canada Native justice in which the entire community is involved to combat offenders. Provides a unit plan on sentencing circles for social studies in order to teach students about the need for sentencing circles in Native communities. Provides sample lesson plans and an example worksheet.…

Utilizes a letter by J. Dewey Soper as an example of how archival documents can be used in the social studies classroom and explains that in the letter Soper reported on his exploration of Baffin Land (Canada) to the acting director of the Geological Survey. Addresses possible activities and discussion questions. (CMK)

Characterizes the Internet as a resource that contains both good and bad information. Provides a variety of educational websites, such as the National Council for the Social Studies home page, with accompanying descriptions in order to demonstrate that there are good resources that social studies teachers can utilize in their classrooms. (CMK)