Secondary students who read an economics lesson silently scored significantly higher than students who received an oral presentation of the lesson. A significant interaction between lesson organization and student ability level indicated that highly organized economics lessons increase student learning under certain ability level conditions.…

Original survey data dealing with the attitudes about international relations of secondary students in the metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, area are analyzed. Student opinions were measured in three areas: (1) international interest, knowledge, and information sources; (2) international conflict and the balance of power; and (3) international…

An analysis of definitions of multicultural education shows a patterning around three basic descriptors: (1) affective--e.g., awareness, sensitizing; (2) cognition--basic information on cultures; and (3) competencies/skills--social skills and behavioral competencies necessary to function in a pluralistic society. ERIC multicultural documents are…

As a result of participating in an American government course, 12th graders showed a marked improvement in citizenship knowledge and in their opinions toward political institutions and participation. These changes seem to be related to several factors, including teaching methods such as class discussion and simulation, and the use of newspapers.…

Explores the trade book-social studies connection, defining the relationship's terminology, analyzing its content, elaborating focus areas, clarifying perceptions of literature as a teaching tool, and describing trends in trade book advocacy. Concludes that the social studies field resists change and has been ill-served by reformers who ignore the…

One part of the Merrill and Tennyson model for concept teaching consists of expository presentations of the concept arranged from easy to difficult. This study showed that the presentation order, i.e., the order of difficulty, does not significantly affect student achievement. (Author/RM)

Two experimental groups of fourth graders received instruction in the use of graphic organizers. Subjects in the control group were taught by the reading-recitation method. Graphic organizer instruction improved students' ability to read and retain social studies information. (RM)

Upper elementary and high school students completed an instrument that measured student attitudes toward social studies and indicated the presence of factors found to contribute to positive student attitudes toward social studies in previous research. It was concluded that teaching style did not have a meaningful impact on student attitudes.…

Social studies educators are encouraged to investigate propositions that have been extracted from anthropological literature in order to determine their value in shedding new light on learning and teaching. For example, anthropologists believe that learning and teaching are processes associated with cultural transmission and that social…

A questionnaire was sent to a random sample of members of the College and University Faculty Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies to determine how socially active these teacher educators actually are. Results indicated significant election campaign, special issue, and moderate local issue involvement. (Author/RM)

Reviews research on remedial education. Examines three questions: (1) what is known about effective methods of providing remedial instruction; (2) how can student success and/or failure be accounted for; and (3) what instructional strategies are most effective. (CFR)

Discusses a study of the effects of music listening upon student achievement. Reports that seventh grade students listened to music while independently studying the earth-sun relationship. Concludes that there were no significant achievement differences among students who learned while listening to rock, classical, easy listening, or no music. (SG)

Discusses the education of women and minorities in colonial Louisiana. Explains that Ursuline nuns established a school in the region for white, African-American, and Native American girls. Reports that students were taught reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion. Reveals that the nuns also cared for orphans, trained French immigrant brides,…

Presents research findings regarding the historical knowledge of fifth, eighth, and twelfth grade students and college level elementary education majors. Concludes that students learn the content of U.S. history as they progress through years of schooling. Reports student unfamiliarity with more recent historical events and difficulty in…

Examines the unpopularity of social studies among students. Suggests that the source of the problem may be found in textbooks. Discusses textbooks written by Samuel Griswold Goodrich, a.k.a. "Peter Parley," a nineteenth-century U.S. social studies textbook writer. Underscores his belief in using literature to connect social studies to children's…