In this article we identify opportunities for students to use timelines and textbooks to meet standards. Through the use of timelines, textbooks, and selected activities, upper elementary and middle school students are able to (1) be engaged in content area reading and writings; (2) understand large themes in social studies including time,…

It was 1,000 years ago that King Ethelred ordered the building of a large fleet of ships to blockade England from Viking invaders in a last-ditch effort to stop a series of invasions that had plagued England for decades. Although teachers may already have a personal and professional fascination with this and other events surrounding the Viking…

Asking students to explore teacher-selected Web sites is an effective way to provide students with appropriate links to credible online resources. This article provides several links to relevant sites that cover the Holocaust and Nazi Germany in general. It also provides several sites that focus on one particularly controversial and significant…

Learning about local government seems boring and irrelevant to most young people, particularly to students from high-poverty backgrounds. The authors explore a promising approach for solving this problem, Storypath, which engages students in authentic learning and active citizenship. The Storypath approach is based on a narrative in which students…

The American Civil War, the War between the States, War of the Rebellion, the Second American Revolution, and the War of Southern Independence are all names for the bloodiest conflict in American history. That war of many names has inspired authors to write thousands of books and articles. With the advent of the Internet came a plethora of Web…

Voter apathy is at an all-time high in the United States. Important decisions and policies are being determined through disappointing turnouts at the voting polls. In a democratic society, this is unconscionable! Voter turnout needs to improve, but what part can teachers play, besides voting, in helping to change voter apathy? Today's students…

The text of a teacher-written play "The Tragedy of Woodrow Wilson" that can be used in high school social studies classes is presented. The author also discusses how he went about writing the play. (RM)

How the story paper, a popular 19th-century literary form, can be used to teach secondary students about the historical experience of women between 1840 and 1890 is described. The historical background of the story paper is discussed. A student handout explaining how to write a story paper is included. (RM)

Presents a hands-on activity for bridging the gap between the exposure to three-dimensional topography and contour mapping. This activity describes the use of a volcano-making activity and offers laboratory sheets that can be duplicated for student use. Argues that students learn the concept of contour mapping better in a guided fashion that holds…

Observes that instruction about Pilgrim and American Indian life often is filled with misconceptions. Explains that the foods and dress of the era differed those usually portrayed in association with the "first" Thanksgiving, a continuation of an ancient harvest celebration. Offers a Thanksgiving quiz for teaching students the realities of early…

Asserts that one of the most important goals of education should be to help students become responsible citizens who want to be informed about contemporary events. Recommends instructional techniques and current event issues to encourage student curiosity and involvement. Includes an annotated listing of teacher resources. (CFR)

Maintains that law-related education provides the four basic components of social studies: (1) knowledge; (2) skills; (3) values; and (4) participation. Presents five teaching activities about personal injury law. Provides hypothetical situations and discusses how they probably would be decided in the courts. (CFR)

Presents an annotated bibliography of books on the Holocaust suitable for young adults. Describes Holocaust institutions and their resources. Provides an address for teachers interested in contacting a Holocaust institute in their area. Discusses the proliferation of teaching resources on the Second World War and their value in the classroom. (RW)

Presents a student research project in which students discover the history behind everyday kitchen inventions and popular food items. Pupils achieve the following objectives: (1) distinguish fact from opinion; (2) evaluate relevant information; (3) compare and contrast events; (4) locate and verify conflicting information; and (5) organize,…

Asserts that most high school students are novices at historical research and have difficulty formulating a research question. Maintains that historical fiction can give students background and serve as a springboard for research projects. Provides a 15-item annotated bibliography of recommended novels. (CFR)