In this article, the authors offer a selection of strategies that teachers can regularly use to help students tame the difficulties they often encounter with social studies texts for the middle grades. They have taken a thematic approach to the strategies, basing all of them on the topic of Civil War. Furthermore, because the authors are convinced…

The diversity of customs and habitats under which the aboriginal peoples of North America lived in the past--and in which they live today--is one of the many possible topics for consideration in the social studies classroom. Along with an examination of the tribes, social studies educators can teach about the experiences of the explorers and the…

Social Security is a contemporary topic that exemplifies a social issue-centered approach to social studies, one that allows students to get beyond the school walls to analyze a contemporary topic that ultimately affects virtually everyone. In this article, the authors provide a brief history of Social Security, describe how it is funded and…

September 11, 2001 is a day that will live in the hearts and minds of Americans for a long time. During the classes following the events, some teachers were asked by students about the events. Although some teachers may not have been specifically trained to deal with individual or societal crises, many were skilled at taking advantage of the…

Lack of courtesy among children is a social trend that, along with the decline of the family, the troubling character of some young people, and the lack of shared ethical values, is of some concern. In this article, the author discusses why it is important to teach pro-social behavior and suggests some ways of doing so in the classroom.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, brought a stark reality to social studies classrooms throughout the United States. Globalism and the expansion of world trade relations created optimism about enhanced cultural understanding, peace, and economic prosperity. However, it is clear that globalization also has a dark side. Suddenly…

Young learners need activities that engage them mentally and physically in processing new information. It is easy to accept such ideas intuitively, but matching the curriculum content to meaningful activities is a challenge. The authors believe that following a learning cycle is a satisfactory way to meet that challenge. A learning cycle is a…

In social studies literature, the recurring answer to questions regarding the ultimate professional goal of social studies educators has been the aim of fostering good citizenship. The problem is defining what constitutes good citizenship, and this concern is at the core of what divides social studies educators. In this article, the author…

In early May 2002, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) released a study of U.S. history achievement among fourth, eight, and twelfth graders, finding that nearly 60 percent of high school senior test-takers failed to demonstrate basic knowledge of U.S. history. Although the hand-wringing has begun about what "must be done" to…

In this article, the authors present eight strategies that integrate social studies and literacy by connecting assigned readings to students' contemporary knowledge and concerns. Each strategy begins with a reading assignment and is followed by an activity that connects students to the reading a second time by requiring them to go beyond…

In this article, the authors offer social studies educators two student-centered, inquiry-based techniques to help students learn about the contributions of historical figures. Both strategies were classroom tested and proved effective at helping students learn about historical figures in a challenging and enjoyable way. Although techniques in…

Critical thinking has long been a goal of social studies education, and its importance has been reiterated in documents delineating standards for the social studies. Yet, teaching critical thinking is problematic because there are competing definitions and practices and many barriers to its implementation (Wright 1995; Onosko 1989). In this…

Children's literature is an important vehicle through which to expose students to environmental issues. Because children are curious about their surroundings, the environment supplies a perfect avenue for their learning to read, write, and make sense of their world (Kupetz and Twiest 2000). Children tend to respond better to children's books than…

In this article, the authors contend that progressive theory, in particular Muzak Progressivism, as it has been adapted and institutionalized in schools has created a class of homeless social studies teachers. They are the social studies teachers who love their disciplines and seek to reach their students through disciplinary instruction, not…

In recent years, critics of the social studies have complained that instead of studying history, elementary and high school students take other social science courses, sex and health education, or driver training. Seeking to explain the origin of that supposed shift, many authors concentrate on the period from 1892 to 1937, arguing that it was…