Provides a 42-item list of references for elementary and secondary social studies. Among the items are a variety of atlases, biographies, law guides, and reference works on selected events and periods of United States history. (JDH)

Provides an annotated list of 106 recent (1987) children's trade books useful in the field of social studies. The categories and number of books are American History, Culture, and Life (31); World History and Culture (14); Biography (5); Folktales, Legends, and Storytelling (19); Contemporary Interests and Controversies (6); Careers (4); and…

Relates three incidents which illustrate the "tendency to dullness" in elementary social studies. Notes two challenges to elementary social studies: (1) the tension between the needs of the individual and the claims of society; and (2) the debate between cultural transmission and transformation. Recommends studying teachers whose practices…

Discusses opposite findings of researchers concerning the amount of time given to the study of Hitler and the Third Reich in German Secondary Schools. Considers the relationship among scholarly work on the Nazi era, influences of the work on secondary school teachers, impact of curriculum reform, and effects of government educational…

Argues that teaching values in school is unavoidable and that current approaches to values education are insufficient. Suggests a more comprehensive approach which would include a concern for emotional growth as well as intellectual growth. Students must examine how people feel about things when creating solutions to moral dilemmas. (Author/KC)

The case study of Hawaii illustrates how populations change; the consequences of population change for individuals, families, societies, and the environment; and the complexity of developing policies to deal with problems associated with population change. Activities include small group discussions, research, role play, and graph, photograph, and…

The author of "Tyrannosaurus Wrecks: A Book of Dinosaur Riddles" discusses her difficulties in choosing appropriate male-female pronouns for the subjects of her riddles. The problems consisted of the necessity of using entrenched male stereotypes, avoiding damaging female stereotypes, and breaking through stereotypes. (KC)

A letter sent to Franklin Roosevelt complains about the employment of married women whose husbands are also employed. The letter suggests that greedy married women cheat their single sisters and drain the job market. Teaching strategies are included. (KC)

Analyzes the extent to which characters portray positive images or sexist, ageist, and racist stereotypes in children's picture books. Caldecott Medal winners plus 20 other books comprised the sample. Concludes that books portray a bland, apathetic view of life and provide negative images of women and the elderly. (KC)

The Essentials of the Social Studies Statement summarizes various National Council of the Social Studies statements and positions concerning the goal of citizenship participation, knowledge, democratic beliefs, thinking skills, participation skills, and civic action. (Author/KC)

The author, a recent emigrant from the Soviet Union, discusses reasons for leaving his homeland and his impressions of the United States. The motivating factor was political freedom. The author considers the United States the most democratic country in the world; it is a country for and of immigrants. (KC)

A basic skills model is presented which stresses the skills of writing, reading, study, and research for elementary school pupils. The model focuses on lesson background, the purpose of the reading, independent reading, follow-up discussion, developing related skills, and extending and applying ideas. A lesson about the 1910 British expedition to…

The author, a former chief reader for Advanced Placement European History, provides secondary school and college instructors with criteria for constructing essay examinations. Topics include goals, language/wording, directions, sequence of questions, breadth versus specificity, compare and contrast questions, quotations, dates, and current events.…

Proposes modifying standard readability formulas, such as the Fry and Flesch, by determining which words in a given passage would be taught as vocabulary words. These words are given the value of one syllable. In examples using this method, the readability is reduced from eighth to fourth grade. (KC)

Discusses concerns about social studies education. These concerns include the dichotomy between democratic values and school practice; the emphasis on negative human beings; and the lack of knowledge about the development of student inquiry, effects of emotions on cognitive development, effects of the school environment on political attitudes, and…