Presents sample lessons for teaching about the American family. The lessons are organized into four categories: (1) what is a family? (2) using the family to introduce a topic or time period; (3) American family life and family roles; and (4) contemporary family issues. Activities include class discussion, picture recognition, assigned readings…

Outlines objectives and methods for writing an extended family history. The case study of one American immigrant family is presented and a sample questionnaire is included to help students understand the kinds of questions which might serve as the basis of a personal family history. Activities involving data collection and analysis are described.…

Identifies aspects of family life which can be compared cross culturally. Information for teachers on developing case study materials for the cross-cultural approach and a case study of a Hopi Indian family are presented. (Author/DB)

Suggests teaching techniques, content, and problem areas to be considered when teaching about black family life in America. The article discusses advantages of separate courses as opposed to units within a course, the importance of examining literature, who should teach, effective pedagogical styles, and being mindful of assumptions about the…

Suggests learning activities for teaching elementary school students about the family. Activities include drawing pictures, role playing, interviewing older family members and relatives, and making charts of positive and negative aspects of family life. (Author/DB)

Presents insights resulting from an inter-generational living/learning project involving university students and older adults. Techniques are suggested for teaching social sciences with emphasis on the elderly. (Author/DB)

Presents a teacher's guide to accompany an educational television series on the American family from 1880-1900. The guide includes background information, motivational questions, recommended reading, and various case study and role-playing activities. (Author/DB)

A study measured children's attitudes toward and knowledge of older people in American society. Findings indicate that children have little general knowledge of the elderly and very complex, mixed attitudes toward older persons. Ways are suggested in which schools can inculcate positive attitudes toward all people, including the elderly.…

Suggests reasons and methods for learning about the elderly. Nine information-gathering activities for children are described, including tombstone reading, interviews of older persons, book reports, and attitude analysis. (Author/DB)

Assesses the effects on children's attitudes of books which portray the elderly. Findings indicate that the stereotypic and negative images of the elderly which predominate in children's literature tend to misinform and prejudice young readers about the role of the elderly in our society. An annotated bibliography of 66 children's books is…

Two students recommend elementary and secondary school courses on American cultural and ethnic groups in order to counteract ethnic prejudice. An ethnic studies program at John Dewey High School in Brooklyn is described and student attitudes toward this program are analyzed. (Author/DB)

Presents a copy of a ship's manifest from 1847 and describes five learning activities to help students identify and organize information found in the document. Students answer questions about the ship's passengers based on information given in the manifest, draw conclusions about immigration in mid-nineteenth century, and write a family history…

Discusses the influence of textbooks on student attitudes and the right of parents to participate in textbook selection. Controversy over parental participation in one school system is described. (Author/DB)

Recommends parent participation in all aspects of the educational system. A better system of communication between students, teachers, parents, and administrators could increase community involvement. (Author/DB)

Discusses discernible trends in K-12 social studies education based on data obtained through case studies of six selected communities in the United States during the 1976-77 school year. Findings show that social studies programs vary considerably from one region to another and within the same school district. (Author/RM)