Filipinos speak more than a hundred different languages, 10 to 15 of which are major. In addition, the Philippines was occupied by two foreign powers, each speaking a different language, i.e., Spanish and English. This situation has resulted in a number of different language policies throughout the country's history. These policies are discussed.…

Canada, a nation of 25 million people, uses two official languages, English and French, to recognize the country's two founding groups. In addition to an official bilingual policy, Canada has a policy of multiculturalism that encourages ethnic languages and cultures. (RM)

Singapore's language policy must balance the wishes of the various ethnic groups, the political situation in the regions, and the needs of economic development. Malay, Mandarin Chinese, English, and Tamil are all recognized as official languages. Malay has special symbolic status as the national language. (RM)

The "consociational" political system of Belgium responds to the needs of the country's three major ethnic communities: Dutch, French, and German. All decision-making power has been transferred to regional and local governments. In order to find policy decisions acceptable to all groups, most decisions are based on accommodations and compromise.…

Andean society is polarized into two key segments: the national Spanish-speaking culture and the native Quechua-speaking culture. Each group ignores or reconstructs history in order to perpetuate its deep-seated prejudices. A group called "The Shining Path" is trying to transform both cultures through violent revolution. (RM)

Discussing the language policy of the Soviet government with social studies students studying the USSR increases students' awareness of the multicultural nature of Soviet society and forces them to think about how such a society operates. Questions that teachers can use to lead a discussion concerning language issues are presented. (RM)

African languages can add interest to the study of social studies. Resources and ways that will help elementary and secondary teachers introduce the subject in a meaningful way are discussed. (RM)

A poster from the National Archives that intermediate grade and secondary social studies teachers can use to teach students about race relations in the military during World War I is presented. Background information concerning the ill treatment given blacks and teaching activities are also included. (RM)

Very often events misfire because people are too involved with a set of premises, on which they have built correct logical systems. They look to their methodology or to their data for the difficulty, when they should examine the premises. Examples are discussed. (RM)

Social studies instruction using a variety of data sources engages elementary school children in relatively autonomous collecting, organizing, and evaluating of data--processes necessary for exercising sound judgment and taking appropriate action. (RM)

One aspect of children's daily lives--the school itself--is often ignored as a source of readily available data for student activities. School-based research activities that require students to collect, organize, and interpret data are described. For example, students conduct research on how students travel to and from school?

A child's immediate environment provides an ideal data source for initial mapping experiences. How teachers can help pre-school and primary school children make block maps, picture maps, and drawn maps is discussed. (RM)

The goal of this mini-unit is to teach elementary students economic concepts related to consumerism and to develop problem-solving skills. Students test a product such as sugarless bubble gum and study how it is advertised. The students then make their own advertisement for the product. (RM)

How museums have changed to accommodate young children is described, the importance of pre-visit preparations is discussed, and strategies and activities to enhance the concepts gained from museum experiences are presented. (RM)

Folktales as reflections of a culture provide many kinds of information for social studies that are unmatched in the elementary school. However, teachers must be alert to the potential of folktales to present unintended or erroneous information. (RM)