Provides a description and several examples of power writing, a systematic approach to teaching writing which assigns a numerical value to sentences and paragraphs. Maintains that this approach meets the needs of students and teachers in content areas such as social studies. (JDH)

Maintains that the benefits of incorporating "response groups" (small groups of students which meet to discuss and respond to lesson material) into regular classroom instruction are increased student involvement, greater achievement, and more self-appraisal. Shows how response groups may be integrated into several different types of activities.…

Maintains that literary fiction may be used to enhance students' understanding of an historical period. Demonstrates how Steinbeck's GRAPES OF WRATH may be used to convey the human side of problems, sufferings, and triumphs that the United States experienced during the Great Depression. (JDH)

Describes how advanced placement students at Gunn High School (Palo Alto) achieve a higher than average pass rate on the advanced placement final exam required in California. Attributes their success to the focus on expository writing and provides examples of both good and bad essays. (JDH)

Reviews recent research on reading comprehension and textbook content and provides examples of several instructional strategies designed to aid students in understanding textbook passages. (JDH)

This article presents two instructional strategies designed to help students process and understand what they read in their textbooks. The processes are termed Focused Recall and TIPS (Topic, main Idea, main Points, and Summary). Provides examples and maintains that teachers must model these strategies for students. (JDH)

Describes the California Humanities Project, an attempt to bring advanced research and scholarship in the humanities into the curriculum at all levels. Also reports on legislation which requires the California State Department of Education to develop a model curriculum on human rights with particular attention to inhumanity and genocide. (JDH)

This column describes ERIC resources for teaching reading in the social studies classroom. Included are resources on how to use newspapers in the classroom, selecting and using children's literature, and increasing social studies concept attainment through reading comprehension activities. (JDH)

Explores a definition, rationale, and goals for developing responsible citizenship through the social studies curriculum. Goals include: gaining knowledge, processing information, considering the importance of values and beliefs, and actively participating as citizens of a democracy. Concludes that teaching social studies with a clear, consistent…

Describes eight activity ideas designed to assist students in understanding the historical background of the dispute between the Palestinian Arabs and the Israeli Jews. (DH)

Explores the origins of many geographic place names. Suggests that using toponyms (place names) to study geographic conditions of an area offers rich diversity for the teaching of map skills and regional geography. (DH)

Focuses on a variety of materials on US/USSR relations available from the ERIC Document Reproduction Service. Includes documents relating to Soviet viewpoints, a scholarly discussion of the future of superpower relations, a booklet on arms control, a course outline on human rights, and a secondary unit on US/USSR ideologies, world views, and…

Emphasizes what computers can do for social studies and how technology can contribute to educational goals. Technology can affect education through access to information, problem solving, perspectives on the world, and active and social learning. Technology can supplement other methods to transform the intellectual and social context of education.…

Surveys twenty-two U.S. history textbooks for pictures which suggest possible heroes and role models. Results show a domination of pictures of male political leaders with several minority members and women scattered throughout. Includes list of books reviewed and a chart showing the number of pictures per person for junior high and high school…

Suggests that the motivational level produced through active learning can significantly influence learning progress. Lists a variety of specific movement activities for enriching elementary social studies. Concludes that movement activities can be successfully implemented in a variety of academic settings. (DH)