Resources

There are a number of other opportunities offered by federal, state, and private education organizations for students to participate in special programs and projects to learn social studies. Here are a few offered annually. Each program is briefly described and a link to the sponsoring organization is offered:

Stock Market Game

This highly successful, interactive, interdisciplinary educational tool used in grades 4-12, is sponsored by the Oklahoma Council for Economic Education. This class competition motivates student learning about economics, finance, and the American economic system. (There is a fall and spring competition.)

http://www.ocee-ok.org/smg_2003.htm

Oklahoma Mock Trial

Using mock trials in the secondary classroom develops citizenship, communication, and critical thinking skills. The strategies and procedures outlined in this workshop give students an understanding of our court system as well as the rights and responsibilities of our judiciary. Participants will learn how to implement a mock trial and receive several mock trials for classroom use.

http://www.okbar.org/publicinfo/mocktrial/

Oklahoma Heritage Association

This non-profit organization offers student scholarship contests, essay and poster contests, and teacher awards for grades 3-12. Each year, the organization also offers special awards to students competing in the History Day contest whose entries focus on Oklahoma History.

http://www.oklahomaheritage.com/

LAW Day

The American Bar Association sponsors student essay contests and other special projects each spring to celebrate Law Day on May 1^st.

http://www.abanet.org/publiced/lawday/

Center for Civic Education: We the People Student Competition- Citizen and the Constitution

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education by act of Congress, students complete a six-week study program prior to a statewide team-debate competition for high school history and government classes. The state contest is held in Oklahoma City in January and the winning team in Oklahoma advances to the national level of the competition held each spring in Washington, D.C.

http://www.civiced.org/index.php

Project Citizen

The Center for Civic Education sponsors a middle school competition in which student groups study and propose solutions to community problems. The competition is held in spring. For more information, contact the Oklahoma Bar Association, or the Center for Civic Education.

http://www.civiced.org/wethepeople.html

National Geography Bee

Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Schools with students in grades four through eight are eligible for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic knowledge. The state contest is held in spring each year.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geographybee/

National History Day

National History Day concentrates on student research and presentation of such research dealing with a specific theme each year. The competition has two divisions: junior (grades 6-8) and senior (grades 9-12). Students can enter one of the following seven categories: individual paper, individual or group exhibit (similar to a museum exhibit), individual or group performance (a dramatic portrayal of the topic), individual or group documentary (usually a slide show, a video, or a non-interactive computer program). Groups can consist of two to five students. District History Day contests are usually held in February or March. District winners then prepare for and compete at the state contests, usually held in late April or early May. The top two finishers in each category at the state contest become eligible to advance to the national contest held in June at the University of Maryland at College Park.

www.nationalhistoryday.org

Model United Nations

In Model U.N., students step into the shoes of ambassadors from U.N. members states to debate current issues on the organization's vast agenda. Student "delegates" in Model U.N. prepare draft resolutions, plot strategy, negotiate with supporters and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the U.N.'s rules of procedures - all in the interest of mobilizing "international cooperation" to resolve problems that affect almost every country on Earth.

http://www.unausa.org/newindex.asp?place=http://www.unausa.org/programs/ModelUN/pro_mod_index.asp

VFW’s “Voice of Democracy” Essay Contest

This is an annual national audio essay contest that is designed to foster patriotism by giving high school students in grades 9 through 12 the opportunity to voice their opinion about their personal obligations as an American and address their responsibility to our country. Created in 1947, the scholarship program annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. Contestants write and record a three to five minute essay on an annual theme.

http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.leveld&did=150

“Patriot’s Pen”

Patriot's Pen, a youth essay writing contest, is a nationwide competition that gives students in grades 7 and 8 the opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy. The contest offers scholarships, sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.leveld&did=151

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

This program honors young people in middle level and high school grades for outstanding volunteer service to their communities. Created in 1995 by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the awards constitute the United States' largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteering.

http://www.prudential.com/community/spirit/awards/

United Nations Essay Contest

Since 1986, the National High School Essay Contest on the United Nations has inspired students to engage global issues and the work of the U.N. through scholarship and critical thinking. Each year, the United Nations publishes a topic and question of particular importance to the international community. Students then conduct research and write a response to the question, based not only on the information they have found, but also on their own views and opinions.

http://www.unausa.org/newindex.asp?place=http://www.unausa.org/programs/nhsessay.asp

Emerson Prize

Founded in 1987, The Concord Review, the first and only quarterly journal in the world for the academic work of secondary history and government students, has published 52 issues by students in forty-two states and thirty-three other countries.

http://www.tcr.org/pr.html

Daniel Pearl Essay Contest

This contest encourages youth to speak out on cultural intolerance. The Daniel Pearl Foundation established the “Spirit of Daniel Pearl Youth Writing Contest.” The contest was developed in memory of journalist Daniel Pearl.

http://www.danielpearlfoundation.org/news_and_press/press_releases/writing_contest.html

Profiles in Courage Essay Contest

This contest encourages high school students to write a compelling essay on the meaning of political courage, and to learn about and be inspired by America's elected officials, past or present, who have tried to make a difference in the world. http://www.jfkcontest.org/

More Resources For You...

HeadlineSpot.com Resource Accesses News:

HeadlineSpot.com is a guide to many U.S. and international news resources on the Internet. The free news resource provides access to the latest headlines, newspaper sections, magazines, television shows, radio programs and news sources by topic or region. The site makes it easy to integrate news about geography, history, civics, economics, cultures, science, language arts and more into the classroom.

The site was developed by StartSpot Mediaworks (http://www.startspot.com), publisher of LibrarySpot .com, HomeworkSpot.com, MuseumSpot.com, GovSpot .com, as well as other sites. HeadlineSpot.com features news sources for 40 U.S. metropolitan areas, 50
states, 57 countries, 27 industries and dozens of subjects. The site includes breaking headlines, news reported by kids, tools for teachers and
more. Studying a foreign language? Read papers from Paris, Mexico City or Munich. Discussing the stock market? Follow the markets in real time. Learning states and capitals? Visit the newspaper of each capital city. Headquartered in the Northwestern University/ Evanston Research Park in Evanston, IL, StartSpot strives to create exemplary, high-utility web resources that engage, enlighten and inspire.

Close Up Foundation Releases Video

To help students comprehend the controversy of capital punishment, the Close Up Foundation has released Sentenced to Die: Capital Punishment and the Eighth Amendment, 2nd ed. The updated video documentary highlights the recent admittance of DNA evidence and how this and other new developments have affected public opinion. The video explores both sides of the argument and includes testimony from ordinary citizens and legal experts. The 33-minute video with teacher's guide costs $62.95 plus shipping and handling. To order, call Close Up Publishing, code R07, at 800-765-3131.

The National Center for History in the Schools at UCLA has published four teaching units. Each unit is based on primary sources from government
documents, artifacts, journals, diaries, newspapers, magazines, literature, photographs, paintings, and other art from the period under study.
Units include background materials, overview, context, correlation to National Standards, and lesson plans with student resources. Each unit
focuses on key moments in time and should be used as a supplement to other course materials. Units can be adapted for various grade levels. For information, visit the website or call 310-825-4702.

The Atlantic Slave Trade-$12, grades 7-12. This unit with maps, examines the
origins of the Atlantic slave trade, the role of Europeans and Africans, the
Middle Passage, and the differences and similarities between slavery in the
Americas and Africa. .

Avenging Angel? John Brown, The Harpers Ferry Raid and the "Irrepressible"
Conflict-$13.50, grades 9-12. Christian martyr or deranged fanatic? Lessons
explore both perspectives.

Kongo: A Kingdom Divided-$12, grades 7-12. The story of the meeting between
the Kongo Kingdom and strangers from distant Portugal in 1483 is both
riveting and tragic.

Asian Immigration to the United States-grades 9-12. Examines laws regulating
Asian immigration, including the landmark 1965 act, global forces affecting
immigration, and accounts of motivations of immigrants. The unit helps
students understand factors which affect migration, social change and policy,
and more.

Access 19th Century Online:

History teachers can check out the new project sponsored by Harper's Weekly and the Library of Congress. Teachers and students can access editions of the Harper's Weekly magazine and directly view the world of 19th century America. The web site offers articles from the magazine's coverage of the impeachment of Johnson, Thomas Nast's cartoons, activities of the early KKK, growth of the West and much more. Lessons for teachers are also available online. Access the site at www.harp week.com.

USS Constitution Museum Materials Bring Old Ironsides To Class:

All Hands On Deck: Learning Adventures Aboard "Old Ironsides", is an interdisciplinary curriculum and video that brings the USS Constitution to life for students K-12. Materials integrate geography, math, social studies, arts and crafts, history, science, language arts and more in 14 lessons with activities. Free teacher copies are available. Contact the USS Constitution Museum P.O. Box 1812, Boston, MA 02129, or access at www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

ZPG Produces New ‘Dot' Video :

ZPG has produced a new, millennium version of it's classic "dot" video, World Population, using new animation, illustrations, soundtrack and the latest data. As the years roll by from 1 A.D. to 2030, dots light up on an illustrated world map to represent millions of people added to the population. Viewers watch the lights slowly flicker on and off as human history marches through the final years of the Roman Empire, the rise of Islam, the Bubonic Plague and New World explorations, while a background heartbeat marks the passage of time. The screen brightens as population growth accelerates during the Industrial Revolution up through the present, growing from one to six billion people is just the past 200 years.

World Population includes a 12-page discussion and activity guide exploring population-related issues, such as carrying capacity and natural resource consumption. To order World Population for $19.95 plus shipping and handling, contact ZPG at 1-800-767-1956 or order online at www.zpg.org/education.

Heritage Education Resources Available in Oklahoma City:

Heritage Education Resources, Inc. has opened an office in Oklahoma City. Heritage was founded in 1996 to develop and provide services and resource materials for the exploration of heritage and cultural diversity.

Heritage Education Resources is directed by Jan Rosenberg, Ph.D. who trained in folklife studies and Education, Culture, and Society program at the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked in community development through heritage studies since 1980 in both school and community projects.

For information or a fee schedule, contact Heritage Education Resources, 2416 NW 31st St., Oklahoma City, OK 73112; phone, 405-945-0831.

RespecTeen Gets Students Involved:

RespecTeen Speak for Yourself is a flexible, ready-to-use mini-curriculum that encourages students to learn about and participate in the American political process. It concludes with students writing to their U.S. representatives about national issues.
The program is for social studies, history, civics, language arts and government students in 7th and 8th grade. It helps make the American political process come alive in the classroom. To encourage responsible, effective citizens, the program:

• stimulates students to identify, think about and take action on issues affecting their lives.
• promotes communication about issues within students families.
• helps students understand how government introduces and passes laws and makes policy decisions.
• discusses national level versus local level activities.
• encourages students to have a voice in the political process.

To receive the free, seven-lesson curriculum visit the RespecTeen web site at www.RespecTeen.org; call 1-888-376-1876; or write to: MS 855, Lutheran Brotherhood, 625 4th Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55415-9978.

Close Up Conversation Video Explores Policy Issues:

Close Up Conversations is a new video series that explores public policy issues. Compiled from the best of Close Up on C-SPAN public affairs television programs, the series features high school students gaining a better understanding of government and policy through discussions with prominent and influential policy experts.
Videos run from 15 to 20 minutes and can be included in any curriculum to help students prepare for their own classroom discussions. Included in the series are:

	The Role of Congress, featuring former Sen. Robert Dole and former Rep. Lee Hamilton outlining the "unwritten employee handbook" for members of Congress.
	The First Amendment in the New MIllennium, focusing on First Amendment issues and challenges in the 21st century.
	Reporting from Hot Spots provides a firsthand view of the risks journalists face in war zones and "hot spots" around the globe.

Individual videos cost $19.95 or $49.95 for the set of three, plus shipping and handling. To order, call Close Up Publishing, code R09, at 800-765-3131. Visit Close Up online at www.closeup.org..

ZPG Population Education Program's Bilingual Activity Kit Developed:

A completely bilingual activity kit, Nuestro Mundo, Nuestro Futuro/Our World, Our Future, is available from ZPG's Population Education Program. The 44-page "flip book" (half Spanish/half English) develops middle school students' understanding of the interdependence of people and the environment. It is appropriate for social studies, science, math and family life education.
The kit introduces population trends, natural resource use, gender equity and quality of life for individuals and communities. It is designed to provide flexibility based on students proficiency in either or both languages, and is appropriate for the bilingual classroom, Spanish course or ESL course by adapting the activities for older students.The activities make some concepts more meaningful and culturally relevant to Latino students.The kit is available for $3.95 plus shipping and handling (ask about quantity discounts) from ZPG's Population Education Program, 1400 16th St., NW, Suite 320, Washing ton, DC 20036; 800-767-1956; www .zpg.org/education. The kit is available at ZPG s website and can be downloaded free of charge

Truman Museum Develops Classroom Resources:

The Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, Independence, MO, is creating a classroom for democracy. The Truman Footlocker is a World War I-style footlocker like the one Captain Harry S. Truman took to France with Artillery Battery D in 1918. It is filled with learning tools--scrapbook, pictures, newspapers, artifacts, clothing, photographs, political cartoons, memorabilia, and replicas. Each item represents a story about an aspect of Truman s life. The Teaching Guide creates a K-8 classroom experience. Truman Foot-lockers are available for purchase from the Truman Library Institute or they may be borrowed by calling 816-833-1400, ext. 267.

Project WhistleStop, a program between the library and school districts, features online activities and teaching ideas, 10,000 documents, political cartoons and speeches. Access at www.whistlestop.org.

For information about the Truman Library, visit www.trumanlibrary.org The site includes a section for educators, a kid s page with Truman trivia, a calendar of programs and events, and exhibition schedule.

The Library s Learning Center introduces students to government, politics and the presidency--especially the importance of leadership, decision-making and civic responsibility with role play. Contact: Mark Adams, Educational Programs Coordinator, Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, 500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, MO 64050-1798;
816-833-1400, ext. 267; e-mail mark.adams @truman,nara.gov

Japan Highlighted In Video Reports:

Asia Video Reports: Japan is a four-part series with a video and teacher's guide on Japanese housing, food, arts and crafts, and holidays and festivals. Each 15-minute video contains several shorter segments that can be used individually or together. Each teacher's guide contains background essays, a video transcript and discussion guide, two lesson plans and a list of web resources. Asia Video Reports was created and compiled at the Asian Educational Media Service in the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies at the Urbana-Champaign campus. Each individual title is $25 or the complete set of four costs $90. For information, contact: Social Science Education Consortium, PO. Box 21270, Boulder, CO 80308-4270

Congressional Quarterly Free Sample:

A free print or web trial to CQ Weekly and/or CQ Research, nonpartisan overviews of our national government, is offered by Congressional Quarterly. Each issue has comprehensive news and analysis. Web access provides searchable ax-chives and up-to-date information. For information: Congressional Quarterly, 800-432-2250, ext. 279, e-mail clientservices@cq.com, or web site at www.cq.com

MarcoPolo Lessons, Resources Feature Freedom:

Freedom in America is symbolized by icons like the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty and the Lincoln Memborial, and important events such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, immigrants arriving at Ellis Island to start a new life, and the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Freedom for all citizens has sometimes been an uphill battle and is an important part of our country's past, present and future.
This month MarcoPolo has collected several dynamic lessons and resources on freedom, including the freedom of speech, figuring population and immigration statistics, and the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Use the warm-up activities in your classroom, then scroll down for links to additional lessons and resources on freedom, democracy and the American way. The MarcoGram is created in HTML. View the online version at http://marcopolo.worldcom.com/marcograms/7-25-02.html

Web Site Helps Teachers Create Their Own Web Page:

Web pages are a great way to reach outside your classroom to connect with people and resources around the globe. There are many good reasons to build school or class web pages, including introducing visitors to activities, linking to quality online resources, publishing student work, and sharing local curriculum and information. Thousands of teachers around the world have developed web sites. This easy-to-use web site explores some of these web sites and examines how these educators are using their pages to support teaching and learning. The web site also links to numberous free web hosting services for teachers. Access the site at http://eduscapes.com/sessions/brick/index.htm

GUIDES and TEACHER REFERENCE BOOKS

Guide Helps Use Technology
Teaching History with Technology can help middle school and high school history and social studies teachers integrate technology into their classrooms. In each article is a short account of the objectives of the activity, technology used, and an explanation of the classroom activity. Examples of student work are given. Teachers can make an effective and innovative use of technology by learning how their colleagues have used technology in their classrooms.

Articles include: Constructing an Online Museum; Creating a Virtual Classroom; Planning a Virtual Field Trip; Using the Internet to Explore the Developing World.

Read the journal online at www.caryacademy.pvt.k12.nc.us/historytech or contact the editor in chief at marknewmark@caryacademy.pvt.k12.nc.us. Published contributions are rewarded with stipends.

History Makers Stories Told In Kits
Primary source material is used to present the story through first-person narratives in Time-Life's History makers multimedia biography kits. The first four biographies feature the theme of freedom. Subjects include Frederick Douglass, Eleanor Roosevelt, Thurgood Marshall, and Jane Addams.

Each kit includes a 128-page biography, CD-ROM or video, and teacher's guide. Materials explore the history maker's time and place; childhood influences that shaped his or her character, goals, and special abilities; their special contributions; and the lasting impact of this person s life and work. Introductory prices are from $59.95-$69.95.

Contact: Time-Life Education, P.O. Box 85026, Richmond, VA 23285-5026; 1-800-449-2010

New Scholarship Provided
The Social Science Education Consortium has published the first volume in its Conference Series, Social Science on the Frontier: New Horizons in History and Geography.

Elliott West, professor of history at the University of Arkansas and author of the The Contest Plains, illustrates how history celebrates a diversity of viewpoints and emphasizes our continuity with, and responsibility to, the past and future.

William Riebsame, professor of geography at the University of Colorado-Boulder, explores regions and how we define them and the human relationship with nature.

Ruth 0. Selig, Smithsonian Institution, looks at implications for inservice professional development.

Mary Haas, University of West Virginia, and John Allen Rossi, Virginia Commonwealth University, examine curriculum development in geography and history.

Phil Klein and Fritz Fischer of the University of Northern Colorado describe new scholarship in history and geography for undergraduate and teacher education.

Social Science on the Frontier (order no. 402-7) is available for $14.95 plus $6 shipping and handling. Prepayment or purchase order may be sent to SSEC Publications, Box 21270, Boulder, Co 80308-4270. Visit the SSEC website at ssecinc.org.

Newsletter Covers Global Education
Issues in Global Education, a newsletter published by the American Forum for Global Education, covers issues that an interconnected, rapidly changing world raises for educators and education policy makers, and how schools are dealing with them. Each issue highlights one topic and includes articles, classroom activities, print and internet resources, and programs.
Recent titles have included:

	Statelessness in a Global World
	Deforestation
	Globalization
	Contending Definitions of World History
	Globalization and Its Impact on Language
	Global Culture
	Globalization and Progress in Africa.

A one-year subscription for six issues is $30.

For 30 years the American Forum has provided leadership and assistance to educators by initiating programs and teacher training seminars, and developing curriculum material and publications. Free curriculum materials are available on line at www.globaled.org.

For information or to subscribe, contact: The American Forum for Global Education, 120 Wall St., Suite 2600, New York, NY 10005; phone, 212-624-1300; e-mail, globed120@aol.com

Discover Geography With Favorite Book
Add life to K-6 geography with Discovering World Geography with Books Kids Love, by St. Bonaventure University professors Nancy A. Chicola and Eleanor B. English. The book offers classroom activities that integrate geography elements, national academic standards, fiction and non-fiction titles, and independent, partner and group projects. Order from Fulcrum Publishing, 350 Indiana St., Suite 350, Golden, CO 80401; 800-992-2908.

Book Explains Calendars, Clocks
Discover how humans came up with systems and reasons for marking the passage of time with The Story of Clocks and Calendars: Marking of a Millennium. Jan. 1, 2001 marks the beginning of a new millennium on earth. All over the world, people will begin celebrating in the year 2000. But our earth is more than four billion years old, and humans have lived on our planet for maybe two hundred thousand years. So how can it be the year 2000?

The answer is that it is the year 2000 only on the Gregorian calendar. There are many other calendars. On the Hebrew calendar, the year 2000 will begin in the year 5760. On the Muslim calendar, it will begin in 1420. And on the Chinese calendar, it will begin in the year 4698. So what year is it really? It depends on what calendar you use and when you started counting the years.

The book for grades 1-6 discusses the concept of time and time measurement as it relates to calendars, clocks and the millennium. By Betsy and Giulio Maestro, the book may be ordered from local booksellers or call Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1-800-237-0657 for information.

American Journey History Titles Available
American Journey: History in Your Hands is a 13-title historical research collection. Databases include: American Timelines-American Revolution, Civil War, Westward Expansion, and Constitution and Supreme Court; Making of Modern America-Great Depression and the New Deal, Vietnam Era, Civil Rights in the U.S.; Resources for Multicultural Studies-African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American, Immigrant Experience, Native American Experience, and Women in America Order online or CD-ROM options, single titles or series, or try in your library risk-free. Visit www.galegroup.com or call Gale Group, 1-800-877-GALE.

Ethnic Cultures Book
This new resource, The Ethnic Cultures of America: A Reference Source for Teachers, Librarians, and Administrators, helps educators understand the many cultures they encounter. The book offers ideas for effective teaching, reference, and educational administration. It discusses where immigrants come from and why they come to North America; traditions, customs, rituals, and observances brought by the immigrants; and other information on 110 ethnic groups.

Religion and Ethnicity (Religion and Education, Religion and the Workplace) - A reference to help understand the spiritual lives of students and workers.

Contact: Educational Extension Systems, P.O. Box 472, Waynesboro, PA 17268; phone 1-800-447-8561.

Oxford Updates A History Of Us
A History of Us has been revised and updated by Oxford University Press. The revised 11-volume second edition includes the most recent events and discoveries in history, science and archaeology. Author Joy Hakim has added new chapters, over 20 maps, more than 300 illustrations, several new features and sidebars and a new volume on primary source documents and how to interpret them.

Sourcebook and Index Documents That Shaped the American Nation, Book 11, contains 94 historical documents in their original wording-from the Magna Carta in 1215 to Ronald Reagan's Tear Down the Wall speech at Moscow State University. The series will be the basis of a new television series for HBO scheduled to air in 2001.

A History of Us for ages 8 and up can be purchased at local booksellers or through Oxford University Press at 1-800-451-7556.
Cost: single volume-hardcover, $19.95; paperback, $13.95; 11-volume set-hardcover (0-19-512773-0), $219.45; paperback (0-19-512774--0) $153.45.