Discusses the tendency in the United States to blame either Japanese business or the educational system for the economic woes of the United States. Argues that, instead of choosing scapegoats, the United States should focus on solving social problems. Suggest that social studies teachers work to help students overcome prejudice toward the…

Discusses teaching about Christopher Columbus and the contact between the Americas and the Old World. Suggests that most history texts are correct in the information they include but leave much out. Describes a museum exhibit focusing on disease, corn, the potato, the horse, and sugar as agents of change resulting from the Columbian contact. (DK)

Describes a textbook and a videotape series that show that geography can be integrated successfully into the teaching of other subjects. Suggests that the textbook takes a subtle approach that focuses on mathematics while introducing geography too. Discusses the video series in which geography and history deliberately are woven together into a…

Discusses the problem of ethnocentrism in the educational system of the United States. Suggests that knowledge needs to be redefined to reflect a multicultural view of the world rather than reflecting an "us against them" outlook. Argues that the humanities need to be decentered so that minority students are not alienated. (DK)

Discusses the development of racial identity in African-American students. Describes different strategies of minority students to get along in white schools. Includes racelessness, immersion, and oppositional identity. Suggests that academic success is viewed by the African-American student's peers as trying to be white. Argues that the curriculum…

Discusses the development of African-American literature for young people. Describes the setbacks resulting from cutbacks of federal funds for schools and libraries, as publishers cut back on materials they did not consider marketable. Suggests bibliographic resources for discovering works for children by or about African Americans. (DK)

Describes a curriculum development project based on the African Meeting House in Boston (Massachusetts). Explains that the program focuses on the history of free African-American communities before the Civil War. Discusses the difficulties associated with the historical research of minority groups. Offers suggestions for obtaining information and…

Discusses "Eyes on the Prize," a series of video programs on the history of the civil right movement. Describes the basic themes of the series including the movement as a force for democracy for all, ordinary people who carefully planned, organized and sustained the movement, and the continuity of protest in African-American history. (DK)

Discusses the use of historical documentaries in the classroom. Suggests that teachers use film to inspire students to further research, generate discussion, and to render an emotional and visceral truth to history. Uses the film "Eyes on the Prize" to detail suggestions for making the most of documentaries. (DK)

Suggests a history lesson using a petition written by prominent African Americans objecting to the coverage of African Americans at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Explains that African-American citizens were largely ignored in the exhibits. Includes questions for class discussion, writing activities, a copy of the petition, and research…

Presents a three-step plan for teaching students about polling. Discusses how to introduce the basic concepts: population, sample, and random or probability sampling. Describes a game using marbles to help students understand probabilities. Ends with suggestions for the third step, actual student-generated polls. (DK)

Presents a lesson plan on the San Antonio River missions. Suggests that students will learn about the role of Spanish missions in the history of the Southwest, the psychological and cultural factors that led Indians to accept mission life, and Spanish contributions to agriculture through irrigation systems. Includes student readings, maps, and…

Posits the need to totally revamp social studies education, implicitly criticizing recent curriculum reform reports. Identifies five ways in which students define themselves that radically differ from teachers' and past students' points of view. Outlines resulting classroom communication problems. Questions how best to make social studies relevant…

Advocates conducting oral history projects as part of elementary school social studies programs. Outlines key steps for incorporating oral history projects including determine a focus; identify local residents to interview; practice interviewing techniques; exchange information; and create booklets. Lists research resources. Stresses the…

This ERIC Clearinghouse on Social Studies/Social Science Education column is an annotated bibliography of 10 documents, available through the ERIC system, that deal with the Caribbean. Focuses on social science research done on parts of the Caribbean, the region's economic development, history instruction (Virgin Islands), and analysis of…