This special issue contains: (1) an eight-page bibliography of print resources designed to aid social studies teachers with their professional growth and practice; (2) the results of a state-wide curriculum survey; (3) a 10-page list of resource organizations and people; (4) a collection of forms for textbook evaluation; and (5) California Council…

Discusses the history and function of the West-German Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker and its role in the communication and reward system of its discipline. Explores its role in the West German science system, exploring ideology and politics. (JM)

Presents findings of a study of scientists on the Wason four-card selection task, finding little understanding of the effect of disconfirmatory data in assessing conditionals. Found performance influenced by problem content. Explains performance as memory-cueing plus reasoning-by-analogy. (JM)

Discusses three goals from research that can be served by incorporating writing into the middle school social studies curriculum. These include: (1) assisting students in learning social studies content, (2) promoting critical thinking skills in students, and (3) enhancing linkages between students and their communities. Implies student writing…

Examines popular music as a historical resource and classroom teaching tool to help students better understand and learn about social diversities that affected the United States. Five subthemes with 77 songs are cited: (1) fun; (2) music; (3) traditional/patriotic; (4) patriotic and pro-American; and (5) social statements. A five-step student…

Presents two systematic social studies instruction programs employing a modification of the scientific method: Proactive Action Model and Student Awareness of Global Environments. Both are designed to integrate perception, thought process, action, and closure to enhance critical thinking and decision-making skills in students through affective and…

Models the creation of a complex mental geographic map to illustrate the geography teacher's instructional task to students. Cites 12 elements of a well-organized geography course that emphasizes spatial analysis, synthesis, and explanation of features and patterns that give geography its uniqueness among social science disciplines. (TRS)

Argues that social studies have largely neglected or even ignored the roles of science and technology in shaping citizenship education. Suggests that citizenship today requires understanding and recognition of scientific and technological change and that such preparation requires social studies to attune to science and technology in collaboration.…

Cites six new ERIC documents for teaching economics in the elementary and secondary classroom. Topics include: teaching strategies; free and inexpensive materials; software; unions; and lifestyles. Also indicates how the documents can be ordered or searched for. (TRS)

Examines how the new social studies has found its way into the African social studies organization. Points out that the United States' new social studies was to be emphasized but fashioned in an African context based on the former's reform phases, especially the reflective inquiry tradition of reform. (TRS)

Suggests newspapers as a source for teaching secondary students answers to three basic economic questions: what products should be produced, how they should be produced, and for whom they should be produced. Implying all economics principles may be taught with newspapers, several example techniques are cited. (TRS)

Describes a seventh-grade course on ethical inquiry to teach students to think critically, independently, logically, and ethically in dealing with social and historical issues. Indicates that discussion is the most powerful means for getting children to learn the basic prerequisites for reasoning to become alert and skillful thinkers. (TRS)

Travel allows teachers to gather the data and realia to enliven history or global education in the classroom. In this special issue teachers describe personal travel experiences to many parts of the globe. Points of interest, itineraries, budgets, and artifacts collected are discussed. (RM)

A unit that can be adapted to teach about any culture(s) teachers travel to during their vacations is outlined. The unit is interdisciplinary and includes activities for social studies, language arts, mathematics, art, music, dance, physical education, and home economics. The activities can be used in elementary or secondary classes. (RM)

This annotated listing cites resources on geography and geographical education from the ERIC data base. Resources for both elementary and secondary teachers, including classroom materials and background readings, are provided. (RM)