Editor's Notebook

Using Literature to Teach the Rule of Law

By James Landman

Some children's novels offer entertaining and provocative explorations of the rule of law that can engage students and increase their understanding of law.

Letter to, and Paintings by, George Catlin

By David Rosenbaum, Lee Ann Potter, Elizabeth K. Eder

A letter from the Secretary of War to painter George Catlin in the 1830s and Catlin's subsequent paintings of Native Americans in the West help students explore the encounter of two cultures.

Images of Struggle and Triumph: Using Picture Books to Teach about the Civil Rights Movement in the Secondary Classroom

By Karen H. Wilkins, Caroline C. Sheffield, Martha B. Ford, Barbara C. Cruz

Picture books often address complex topics and can provide a visually arresting approach for teaching secondary as well as special needs students.

Behind the Mask: Social Studies Concepts and English Language Learners

By Terence A. Beck

As an adult student in a foreign country, the author gained a greater understanding of the challenges faced by English language learners. He offers teachers suggestions for creating an ELL-friendly classroom that benefits all students.

The Carter G. Woodson Book Awards

This year's winners spotlight experiences of sharecroppers, migrant workers, and the civil rights movement.

Legacy of the American West: Indian Cowboys, Black Cowboys, and Vaqueros

By S.Kay Gandy

Wild West shows helped construct the stereotypical image of the cowboy. But a study of this aspect of American culture reveals a rich history of men and women of many ethnicities.

Integrating Government and Literature: Mock Civil and Criminal Trials Based on To Kill A Mockingbird

By Lori Kumler, Rina Palchick

In a project that connected social studies classes with literature classes, students honed academic skills as they constructed mock trials from the events of a famous novel.

Dear Miss Breed: Using Primary Documents to Advance Student Understanding of Japanese Internment Camps

By Patrick Westcott, Martha Graham Viator

The authors highlight the Carter G. Woodson award winner Dear Miss Breedwhich recounts the stories of 19 children of Japanese descent interned in U.S. camps during World War IIas an excellent resource for studying the Japanese American wartime experience.

Welcome Home Annie: Rethinking Ellis Island and Annie Moore in the Classroom

By Mia Mercurio

The story of Annie Moore, the first immigrant to be processed on Ellis Island, has (until recently) been recounted incorrectly. This article highlights the challenge of

House of Delegates Resolutions

Curriculum Guidelines for Social Studies Teaching and Learning