IOWA COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES NEWSLETTER

A TIME TO RENEW
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS, AND HONORS
OPPORTUNITIES ABROAD
CALLS FOR PARTICIPATION
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE U.S.
CLASSROOM RESOURCES
WEBSITES

As school winds down and we move into the summer months, many of us will relax, renew, and revitalize ourselves. This edition of the ICSS Newsletter offers a plethora of exciting possibilities regarding professional development and academic renewal, as well as many exciting trips abroad and around the country.  So, as you page through this last edition for the 2002-2003 school year, let your mind wander to places near and far for some exceptional possibilities to enhance your teaching for next year.

A special thanks to close out this year goes to Elizabeth Jensen, our student assistant newsletter editor for the past two years.  Elizabeth will get married this summer and begin a full-time teaching assignment at Muscatine High School.  She received her master of arts degree in secondary social studies education at The University of Iowa in May.  Elizabeth’s dogged pursuit of professional development opportunities and travel activities have made the Newsletter a well-regarded source of information for Iowa social studies teachers over the past two years.  Good luck, Elizabeth!

John Wheeler brings us the “Legislative Update” from a perspective that contrasts the deep US commitment to rebuilding the Iraqi educational system with the dwindling resources for US schools, and especially the public schools of Iowa.  This fascinating look into the monetary and legislative imbalance involved in both endeavors will make you think twice about our quest to foster democracy abroad and at home. 

Finally, the past year’s events have given us a great deal to digest.  This summer should be no exception as the rebuilding of Iraq, continued concern with terrorism, and economic unsteadiness will flood the headlines and web sites across America.  So, try to enjoy yourself, but also try to take a moment to think about how social studies and its central mission of democratic citizenship education will become even more important when the school house doors open again this fall.  Have a great summer!  GH

I heard a report on NPR the other day concerning what it will take to rebuild the Iraqi educational system. Apparently, prior to the mid-1980s, Iraqi educational institutions were the envy of the Middle East. The nation boasted the highest literacy rate among Arabic countries. Schools were equipped with state-of-the-art technology, textbooks and supplies were plentiful, teachers were well-paid, and per pupil expenditures rivaled or exceeded those of “western” nations.  In the past 20 years, the quality of the educational system has fallen dramatically. Obviously, there has been significant infrastructure damage as a result of the Iran-Iraq conflict, the Gulf War, and, recently, the War in Iraq. The NPR report estimated that more than 5,000 schools needed to be rebuilt. Schools throughout the nation needed new textbooks and supplies. The price tag placed on the educational reconstruction alone is some $5 billion. The U.S. (and, to a lesser extent, our allies and the U.N.) will foot the bill for the redevelopment as part of the “nation-building” enterprise.

I applaud these efforts and commend our government for its understanding that quality education is basic to quality of life and that a literate, informed, and engaged population is crucial to a successful democracy. As we look to export democracy to peoples who have lived under the yoke of oppression, quality education, quality educational institutions, and quality teachers are necessary (if not determinant) ingredients.

Perhaps the recognition that democracy requires (demands) a substantial and long-term commitment to education will open eyes to our own needs here at home. It took the nation of Iraq less than 20 years to go from being the educational envy of the Middle East to complete chaos. Obviously there have been some significant intervening factors and a repressive government that has diverted funds from schools to more selfish purposes. However, it does demonstrate how quickly educational achievements can be lost when there is not sufficient commitment to excellence. I would hazard to guess that there are MORE than 5,000 schools in the United States in serious need of repair or reconstruction. In many schools nationwide, and here in Iowa, textbooks are used well past their prime. Supplies are scarce, teacher pay is stagnant, and the next 10 years will see the retirement of a significant percentage of educational professionals. Our educational system is at risk. It requires a renewed commitment on the part of government (national and state), communities, and individuals. It requires the type of action that our nation committed to the War on Drugs in the 1980s, the on-going War on Terrorism, and the War in Iraq. It appears that for anything to get adequate attention in our society, it has to be a war. How about a War for U.S. Democracy --a large scale commitment (including monetary--say to the level of the proposed tax cut?) to those institutions that create the type of citizens needed for a thriving democracy?

The governor of Iowa has proposed, and the Iowa General Assembly is debating, an Iowa Values Fund to seek to make it economically feasible to retain and attract biotech industries and other innovative, research-oriented businesses in the state. The last days of this year’s legislative session will be spent debating how some $500 million to $750 million might be raised to accomplish this goal. Iowa Values? How about a similar debate (with the same amount of money on the table) over the value of education to our democracy?
Legislative Recap:

It appears that k-12 schools will be spared the ax in the state budget (ittle or no growth, but no major reductions, either). The innovative teacher pay plan shepherded through the legislature 2 years ago has been put in mothballs for the time being.  There is still a movement toward encouraging small schools to consolidate and encouraging AEAs to come up with plans to share services. In fact, one of the creative proposals recommended by the Minnesota company advising the Iowa state government on money saving ideas would almost completely strip funding for the AEAs and give the money directly to schools that would then contract with an AEA for specific services. With politics on the horizon once again--both national and state--don’t look for any substantial changes in the way we do the education business.

On the general civics front, federal monies to support electoral reform and much-needed updates appear to be in jeopardy in Iowa. Partisan politicking has replaced a “clean bill” authorizing the update of voting machines, etc. with one that would remove the state elections office from the office of the Iowa Secretary of State. It would instead give this responsibility to the Campaign Ethics Office. On the surface, this is an admirable attempt to remove politics from politics. It does not address, however, the political nature of the county elections officers who actually count the votes on Election Day. Unless the offending provisions are removed from the elections bill, expect a veto from the governor. He would be forced to veto the bill in its entirety, because, in Iowa, the governor only has line-item veto authority in budget items. We would then sacrifice the millions of federal dollars available to assist as we prepare for the 2004 elections. 

Keenan Institute Grants
The Keenan Institute encourages studies of the cultures and societies of Central Eurasia with its public lecture and publication programs, and maintains contact with scholars and similar research centers abroad. The Keenan Institute seeks to function as a forum where the scholarly community can interact with public policymakers. The Keenan Institute offers short-term grants to scholars who demonstrate a particular need to use the library, archival, and other specialized resources in the Washington, DC area. Academic participants must either possess a doctoral degree or be doctoral candidates who have nearly completed their dissertations. For nonacademics, an equivalent degree of professional achievement is expected. Short-term grants provide a stipend. The Keenan Institute cannot provide office space or computer support for these scholars. Applicants are requested to submit a concise description (700 to 800 words) of their research project, a curriculum vita, a statement on preferred dates of residence in Washington, DC, and two letters of recommendation specifically in support of the research to be conducted at the institute. Grant recipients are required to be in residence in Washington, DC for the duration of their grant. Four rounds of competitive selection for short-term grants are held each year. Closing date is June 1. Applicants are notified of the competition results approximately six weeks after the closing date. For more information, contact Fellowships and Grants, Keenan Institute, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004-3027; 202-691-4100 (phone), 202-691-4247 (fax), or kiars@wwic.si.edu (e-mail).

World History Association & Phi Alpha Theta Student Paper Prize
The World History Association and Phi Alpha Theta History Society, Inc. are once again co-sponsoring two awards of $200 each for the best undergraduate and graduate-level world history paper composed during the current academic year. Abstracts of the winning papers will be published in the World History Bulletin. To qualify, students must be members of either the WHA or Phi Alpha Theta and must have composed the paper while enrolled at an accredited college or university during 2002-2003. Papers must be no longer than thirty (30) pages. Deadline: August 15, 2003. For more information, please visit http://www.thewha.org

Natural History Tour of Australia and New Zealand
During June 2-20, 2003, interested NCSS members have an excellent opportunity to travel to New Zealand and Australia on an exciting natural history tour to the land "Down Under." Participants gain first-hand knowledge of geological history, flora, fauna, Great Barrier Reef biology, settlement patterns, Maori and Aboriginal culture, cave biology, rain forest ecology, marsupials, and natural history. Expect to be actively engaged in field studies, tours, cruises, snorkeling/reef walking, spotlighting nocturnal mammals, and general observations. Local experts will lead lectures and discussions. Graduate Credit is offered through Portland State University (up to 15 hrs). Numerous side-trips include Darwin, Tasmania, Melbourne, Fiji, Hawaii, and Southeast Asia. The cost of the tour is $3195, which includes all round trip airfare from LAX/SFO, to and throughout Australia and New Zealand on QANTAS, all lodging, admissions, tours, ground and ship transportation. Many meals are provided including a Hangi--the New Zealand traditional Maori Feast; and a typical Aussie Barbecue in the Outback. Applications and inquiries should be sent to: Richard Duncan, 13240 S.W. Juanita Place, Beaverton, OR 97008, phone/fax (503) 646-0794. E-mail: r2duncan@attbi.com

Explore Brazil for Social Studies Teachers
'Explore Brazil' is a 3 to 5 graduate credit study tour of urban Brazil and the Amazon basin designed to meet the professional development needs of K-12 teachers. The course will focus on anthropological and environmental issues, and will therefore be of particular interest to social studies teachers. The program will take place June 15-29, 2003, and participants will be able to visit Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, as well as Caxiuana National Forest. The program directors are Dr. Jerry Bigham (OSU Professor of Soil Sciences in the School of Natural Resources) and Dr. Hilton Silva (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Professor of Anthropology and Medicine). For more information about how you can participate in the 'Explore Brazil' program, check out the online brochure at http://www.osu.edu/internationalstudies/BrazilBrochure.pdf, as well as the online application at http://www.osu.edu/internationalstudies/ExploreBrazilApplication.pdf  If you have any questions about the program, feel free to email us at clas@osu.edu, or visit our website for more information http://www.osu.edu/clas.

New Zealand, Tip to Tip
June 17 – July 6, 2003
(Optional add-on July 6-11 to participate in the Conference of the New Zealand Geographical Society: Windows on the World)
Travel by bus from the southernmost city of Invercargill to the spectacular Bay of Islands in the far north. See some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, including the snow-capped New Zealand Alps. Learn of a country where Maori culture is still much in evidence. Enjoy home/farm stays in three different parts of the country, getting to know the friendly people of New Zealand. Cost: $2970 from Los Angeles (includes all lodging, transportation, entry fees, most meals, and tips); Single Supplement: $400; Optional Group Insurance: $175. To receive a detailed itinerary, or for additional information, contact: Dorothy Drummond, 3 Fairhurst Court, Terre Haute, IN 47802; 812-299-3760;
distant.dimensions@verizon.net

Japan and the United States in the Era of the Pacific War
The Program for Teaching East Asia, University of Colorado, invites applications to Japan and the United States in the Era of the Pacific War, an Institute for Secondary Teachers, June 22-July 3, 2003.  The institute will address such questions as: What conditions precipitated war between Japan and the United States? How have memories of this war shaped the post war experiences of both countries?  For information call (303) 735-5124 or visit www.colorado.edu/CAS/TEA.

Educational Trip to Vietnam
Ji-Li Jiang, author of Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution, is leading a 15-day trip to Vietnam this June/July.  Participants will revisit some important sites of the Vietnam War, engage in dialog with the Vietnamese people, interact with the country’s rich culture, and learn about the country’s historical significance. The cost is $3,100 and includes airfare from the West Coast, hotel, meals, domestic transportation, sightseeing, tour guide, and admissions.  For more information, contact East West Exchange, Inc., at (510) 601-5779 (phone); 888-254-7991 (fax); info@jilijiang.com (email); or www.jilijiang.com (web).

London Summer Teachers Institute
Cruise the Thames! Tour historic London! Visit British schools! You can do it all! Earn six graduate credits in a 4-week program in London at London Metropolitan University, sponsored by the State University of New York College at Cortland. Participants may choose from two tracks: Cultures and Communities in London or The Arts in Education. Both options are appropriate for both elementary and secondary teachers. Program dates are early July to early August. For more information please contact: SUNY Cortland Office of International Programs B-15 Old Main PO BOX 2000 Cortland, NY 13045 phone: (607) 753-2209 fax: (607) 753-5989 email: studyabroad@cortland.edu web: www.studyabroad.com/suny/cortland

South Africa Past and Present: A Cultural and Historical Journey
July 15-28, 2003
This program focuses on understanding contemporary South Africa in the context of the historical forces that have molded the country. Starting in Cape Town and continuing on to Johannesburg and Pretoria, we will delve into the central African character of South Africa, the slave society origins of the early Cape Colony, the foundations of industrial capitalism, Victorian Cape Town, 20th century urbanization, and the struggle for a democratic South Africa. Visits to the Cape Peninsula National Park, including Cape Point, and the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, and Pilanesburg National Park in the Northern Cape Province will serve to illustrate the diverse and unique South African topography and terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna that have provided the physical and environmental contexts in which the historical processes took place. Participants in this travel-study program may also elect to earn four graduate semester hours from the University of Florida. The cost of the trip is $1799 per person, shared accommodations ($300 additional for singles), plus international airfare. The cost of the optional graduate credits is an additional $600 for tuition. For more information contact: Dr. R. Hunt Davis, Jr., Center for African Studies, P.O. Box 115560, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-5560. Phone: (352) 392-0271, ext. 230, or 392-2183. Fax:(352) 392-2435 hdavis@nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu; http://web.africa.ufl.edu/announce/UF2003_SA_Itinerary.doc

10th Annual iEARN Conference-Youth Summit in Japan
July 20 - July 27, 2003
“At the Crossroads: Finding Future Milestones”
Sanda City, Hyogo, Japan is the host city for the 10th annual iEARN conference.  This year’s conference will be held in conjunction with the Japan Education and Resource Network (JEARN).  Please visit http://2003japan.jp/eng/ or email info@2003japan.jp for more information.
 
Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad
The Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program invites elementary school teachers to apply for a four to six week, all expenses paid experience in a foreign country.  Applicants must describe in detail what they will do with the knowledge they gain when they return to the United States.  To obtain an application, write to Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program, US Department of Education, International Education and Graduate Program Service, 1990 K Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20006-8521; (202) 502-7700; or www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/iegps/sap.html.

Illinois CSS Call for Papers
The Illinois Council for the Social Studies invites educators to submit manuscripts for publication in either Issues Current in Social Studies or the Journal of the Illinois Council for the Social Studies (JICSS).  The council welcomes original, unpublished articles/essays of 1600 words or fewer that advocate/inform about the teaching of social studies for publication in Issues Current.  Submissions for JICSS may be teaching ideas/materials, research, or reviews of four to nine double-spaced pages.  Topics addressed should relate to the teaching of history, geography, political science, economics or other social sciences.  The deadline for receipt of manuscripts is June 15, 2003.  For more information, contact Robert H. Lombard, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455 or (309) 298-1785.

Boston Research Center for the 21st Century
The Boston Research Center for the 21st Century is an international peace and justice institute located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Center is currently developing a social studies curriculum that focuses on major conflicts in American history for high school teachers to use to supplement their existing materials. The underlying purpose of the curriculum will be to encourage critical thinking and dispel the concept of war as inevitable and beyond human intervention. Each unit will probe a shocking historical event and its context from the vantage points of numerous social groups who suffered the consequences. In this initial stage, the Center is building a database of teachers and other educators interested in innovative curricula so that the Center can keep teachers informed of this project, which is planned to pilot in Fall 2004. If you would like to be on the mailing list, please send the following information: name, school, address, subject and grade level you teach, phone, fax, and email information.  Also, please let the Center know if you wish to receive a semi-annual newsletter in print form, or whether you prefer to be notified with an email when the newsletter becomes available online. The newsletter contains ongoing updates on this publication. Publications Assistant Boston Research Center for the 21st Century 396 Harvard Street, Cambridge MA 02138 Tel: 617-491-1090 X 134 Fax: 617-491-1169 Email: pubassist@brc21.org Web site: www.brc21.org

Call for Papers: Journal of Research in Character Education 
The Journal of Research in Character Education serves an audience of researchers, policy makers, teacher educators, and school practitioners concerned with the development of positive character in young people. The Journal will publish articles that report the results of research relevant to character education, as well as conceptual articles that provide theoretical, historical, and philosophical perspectives on the field of character education as it is broadly defined above. For more information, please contact the editors: Dr. Andrew J. Milson, (254) 710-4238, Andrew_Milson@baylor.edu, and Dr. Marvin W. Berkowitz, (314) 516-7521, berkowitz@umsl.edu

Making Connections: Social Studies, Literature and Teaching Reading
June 19 – 21, 2003, 8:30 -4:00, Goucher College, Towson, MD 
What reading strategies work best in teaching social studies at the elementary level? This practical, hands-on course will examine important connections among the major disciplines of social studies--history, geography, economics and civics--and reading at the elementary level. Learn how to help students unlock social studies using appropriate reading strategies. Specifically, participants will work with chronology/sequence and connections to history, cause/effect and connections to history, description and connections to geography, problem solving and connections to economics, and compare/contrast with connections to all four. Participants are asked to bring a grade level text and trade book to use during the workshop. A fee of $475 applies.  Two graduate credits are available for an additional $120. Contact Peggy Altoff, faculty director, with questions at altofmm@d11.org.

2003 Annual Study Canada Summer Institute
Directed by Dr. Don Alper and Dr. Bob Monahan 
June 22-27, 2003, Canada House, WWU
This five-day workshop for K-12 teachers provides a strong foundation for teaching Canada and enhancing its inclusion in the social studies curriculum. The institute features expert instruction from distinguished speakers from Canada and the United States. Participants evaluate a variety of curriculum materials, visit Canada, experience its culture and develop a unit plan suited to their district and state standards. Topics include: Canadian history, geography, government, First Nations, environmental issues, art and literature, NAFTA, and Canada-US issues. Teachers will receive the popular guide for teaching Canada, CANADA: Northern Neighbor, Second Edition, CD-ROMs for classroom use and daily distribution of additional resources. A grant covers expenses of campus room and board for 5 days, parking, curriculum materials and a field trip to Vancouver, BC. An optional field trip to Victoria, BC, is available to interested participants following the workshop (June 28-29). The workshop is limited to 20 teachers/librarians.  Cost: $500 ($100 deposit nonrefundable upon acceptance)--two quarter credits. To register, please contact: Tina Storer, K-12 Outreach Coordinator 
Center for Canadian-American Studies, Western Washington University, 516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9110; PH: 360-650-3728; FX: 360-650-3995;
tina.storer@wwu.edu

National Archives Program
“Primarily Teaching: Orignial Documents and Classroom Strategies,” sponsored by the National Archives, will be held in College Park, MD, from June 24 to July 3, 2003, and is designed to help upper elementary, secondary, and college teachers use the rich resources of the National Archives in their classrooms.  The cost for the program is $100, including materials.  Graduate credit from a major university will be available for an additional fee.  An application may be found at www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/primarily_teaching/primarily_teaching.html.

Social Studies in Action
 June 25-27, 2003, WGBH Boston, MA
Designed for K-12 social studies educators, supervisors, methods professors, district administrators, and professional developers, this workshop will address focus questions such as: why do we teach socials studies? Who do we teach? How do we know learning has occurred, and how do we support our own continual professional growth? Participants will preview footage from “Social Studies in Action: A Teaching Practices Video Library,” and the new Professional Development Library, engage in “lesson study,” and use portions of the print and web-based guides. Participants will have the opportunity to evaluate the benefits of these video lessons. Planning models and research-based strategies addressing diverse learners, content selection, instruction, and assessment will be supported by video lessons from newly developed web support, the NCSS Standards, and online materials highlighting the use of technology in professional development. Participants will receive practical experience in applying models for planning the social studies year, units, and lessons; engaging students through powerful instruction; reviewing an array of assessments; and planning for continual professional growth. A special reception for institute participants will feature a tour of WGBH, and a presentation by the producer of the library. Three graduate credits available for an additional $360.  Visit www.socialstudies.org for more details.

Reading Strategies to Unlock the Social Studies 
June 26 – 28, 8:30 -4:00, Goucher College, Towson, MD 
This practical, hands-on course will focus on strategies and approaches that help students with non-fiction reading in the social studies. Eight organizational patterns of text structure will be examined. We will identify and find examples of each in social studies texts, acquire and apply reading strategies appropriate for each type of text structure, and determine ways of using strategies in both instruction and assessment. In addition, we will acquire and apply other strategies that help students unlock social studies content in the secondary classroom, including anticipation guides, summarizing, synthesizing and evaluating information, making inferences, and making predictions. Participants are asked to bring a grade level text to use during the workshop.  A fee of $475 applies.  Two graduate credits are available for an additional $120.  Contact Peggy Altoff, faculty director, with questions at altofmm@d11.org.

NCSS, AHA, & OAH Joint Conference: Innovations in Collaboration
The following announcement is a reminder that registration & program information are available to history educators and historians interested attending in the NCSS, AHA, & OAH Joint Conference: Innovations in Collaboration, June 26-28, 2003. Registration & Program Information available at: http://www.oah.org/meetings/innovations/. This special conference, sponsored by the American Historical Association, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the Organization of American Historians, will showcase model programs where history educators are working together in innovative ways to enhance the teaching of history. More than 100 individuals from elementary and secondary schools, community and four-year colleges and universities, museums, government, and the private sector are involved as participants.  For more information contact Cliff Jacobs, cjacobs@theaha.org

Summer History Program for High School Juniors and Seniors
From June 29 to July 26, 2003, the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, will be holding its second Pre-Collegiate Summer Program in Early American History for High school juniors and seniors.  The cost for out-of-state students is $4,462.  Both full and partial scholarships are available.  College credit is also available.  Teachers interested in finding out more about the program may view a description at www.wm.edu/niahd, and click on the Pre-Collegiate program; send an email inquiry to precol@wm.edu; or call Carolyn Whittenburg, Director, at (757) 221-7652.

“Inventing Flight” Celebrates First Powered Flight
“Inventing Flight: The Centennial Celebration” is expected to draw 600,000 visitors from all over the world to Dayton, OH, from July 3-20, 2003. The celebration will consist of educational, historical, and interactive elements and entertainment, including the RE/MAX Balloon Celebration, an International Blimp Meet, and a four-day air show. In addition, Celebration Central, located at Deeds Park in downtown Dayton, will have four pavilions of exhibits from NASA, the U.S. Air Force (USAF), and others. Besides the aviation-related events, Inventing Flight will feature a series of multicultural and arts events, including a performance by the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, a collaboration by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the USAF Band of Flight, as well as an exhibit of rare photography at the Dayton Art Museum and a step back into turn-of-the-century times at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park’s Time Flies Program. For more information, contact David K. Burnap Public Relations, 7106 Corporate Way, Dayton, OH 45459-4271; 937-439-4800 (phone) or 937-434-1260 (fax).

Seminar on Asian Humanities 
Arizona State University’s Center for Asian Studies will hold a Seminar in Asian Humanities for Educators on July 15-17, 2003 on the main campus in Tempe. The seminar is generously funded by a grant from the Arizona Humanities Council. Professors from the Asian Studies Department at Arizona State University will teach in this program. The 18-hour seminar is free of charge. Teachers who currently teach courses with Asian Studies content are eligible to participate. A certificate will be awarded upon successful completion. Free housing on campus will be provided for participants who live outside the Phoenix metro area. For further information, see attached flyer and application. For further information and application, please go to http://www.asu.edu/clas/asian/AHC2003.html or contact Dr. Marie Osterman at marie.osterman@asu.edu.

Texas Instruments, NCSS, and NCTE to Offer Standards-Based Lesson Plans
NCSS and Texas Instruments (TI) are working to develop 23 standards-based lessons.  Educators are expected to develop these activities over the next few months, incorporating TI software, as well as handheld software applications, a portable spreadsheet, and a program used in conjunction with the TI keyboard that allows users to save edit copy and paste text into the handheld technology.  Educators may access the lessons by visiting the TI website, www.education.ti.com.  For more information, contact Karyn Guth, The Point Group, at (214) 378-7970 or kguth@pointpr.com; or Linda Beheler, Texas Instruments, at (972) 017-6432 or lbeheler@ti.com.

ABC News Classroom Edition
Created by ABC News Productions and Disney Educational Productions, ABC News Classroom Edition is a series of 30 educational videos that let students see, hear, and experience key lessons on curricular subjects aligned with national social studies standards, from history and politics to civics and economics. Each 18-minute tape may be purchased exclusively through Disney Educational Productions.  Individual tapes sell for $49.95, with special discounts available for each thematic series and the complete series.  Educator-designed teacher’s guides accompany each tape, and free downloadable support materials will be available on-line.  To place an order or inquire further, educators can call 800-295-5010.

Linking Literature with Life
Linking Literature with Life: The NCSS Standards and Children’s Literature for the Middle Grades was written by two experienced educators for teachers in search of children’s literature that conforms to the social studies standards—and that students in grades 5-8 really like.  After initial chapters that offer guidelines for using children’s literature in the social studies classroom, the authors present ten chapters that recommend suitable books for teaching each of the ten themes of the standards.  The authors’ descriptions of all books include teaching suggestions that show how teachers can make the most of the books in the social studies classroom.  To order call toll-free: 1-800-683-0812.

Gay Fatherhood Documentary
Daddy & Papa, a 57-minute documentary produced by New Day Films, explores the growing phenomenon of gay fatherhood and its impact on American culture.  Through the stories of four families, including the filmmaker’s own, the documentary delves into the particular challenges facing gay men who decide to become fathers.  The film is appropriate for high school and college students and adults, and is recommended for Gay Studies, Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, African American Studies, Cultural Anthropology, American/Popular Culture, and Family/Human Rights Law.  New Day Films sells VHS copies for $275 to colleges and universities and $95 to public libraries, high schools, and community groups.  The video can be rented for $75.  For more information, contact New Day Films, Dept. FL, 22-D Hollywood Ave, Hohokus, NJ 07423; 888-367-9154; or www.newday.com.

Free George Washington Portrait Poster and Teaching Guide
George Washington: A National Treasure is an important educational program from the Smithsonian Institution’s national Portrait Gallery.  It is an all-encompassing look at our nation’s first president, who set the standard for leadership, heroism, and self-sacrifice.  To request your free kit, call toll-free today: 1-800-NPG-KITS or visit www.georgewashington.si.edu.

2003 “Teaching with Primary Sources” Catalog
Social Studies School Service announces publication of its new, expanded 2003 catalog for “Teaching with Primary Sources.”  It includes more than 700 individual titles and sets of primary source materials in U.S. and World History.  Teachers and students will find letters, diaries, speeches, landmark documents, Supreme Court decisions, oral histories, eyewitness accounts, photographs, historic illustrations, art reproductions, posters, political cartoons, audio recordings, documentary video footage, and popular songs. The catalog also offers guides to dealing with Document-Based Questions and study aids for testing in Advanced Placement U.S., European, and World History.  Catalogs may be requested online at www.socialstudies.com or by phone: 800-421-4246.

Global Education Web Site
Educators interested in Africa, East Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, or Slavic and Eastern Europe are invited to explore the 3,000 plus resources available through Ohio State University’s Social Studies and Global Education Program at www.coe.ohio-state.edu/mmerryfield.  At the site, click on on-line modules for global educators.  The modules provide teachers with access to scholarship, primary sources, and web-based connections to media, organizations, and schools in these five regions.  There is also a global education listerv available for teachers who want to discuss teaching global education with other teachers across the country and the world.  For more information contact Merry M. Merryfield, Professor, Social Studies and Global Education at merryfield.1@osu.edu; www.coe.ohio-state.edu/mmerryfield; or (614) 292-4314.

Arabs, Muslims, & Islam
The cutting-edge film, Arabs, Muslims, & Islam, was shot in just 23 days in Malaysia, Lebanon, South Africa, and Dearborn, Michigan.  Muslim families welcomed the crew into their homes, and the Muslim teens spoke openly about their religion and invited the film crew to “shop” with them, attend a basketball game in Lebanon, and a Mosque.  The film was shot in a “musical pop TV” style to appeal to teens.  The film recently won a “Telly Award,” and is available to some public television stations.  Teachers who would like to purchase a copy of Arabs, Muslims, & Islam can call 1-800-543-4180 or www.teachers-discover.com.

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Materials
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, which guaranteed the right to counsel in criminal cases for those who cannot afford to hire an attorney, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has prepared a lesson plan on the right to counsel.  It can be downloaded from NACDL website at www.nacdl.org/gideon.  The site also contains a number of additional resources on Gideon and the right to counsel.

The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE) conducts and promotes research on the civic engagement of Americans between the ages of 15 and 25.  For more information about young people’s voting trends and facts, civic knowledge and attitudes, interest in public affairs and government, and news consumption, educators are invited to visit www.civicyouth.org.

Street Law, the Supreme Court Historical Society, and Glencoe/McGraw-Hill have developed an on-line resource designed to help teachers and students learn about the 15 U.S. Supreme Court cases mandated by state standards.  The website, www.landmarkcases.org, provides background information for each case (at three different reading levels); activities for each case; and a lesson plan guide that suggests which activities to use depending on the amount of time the teacher can devote to the case.  

The free Consumer Action Website is the consumer’s new best friend.  It’s got thousands of links to companies and government agencies—the names, numbers, advice, and connections you need to get your wrongs righted.  So use the power of the Internet and the Federal government.  Log on to www.pueblos.gsa.gov, and click on the free consumer action website.

Iowa Statewide Resources
• Iowa Counties—Plethora of links to county histories, historical societies, and local histories related to Iowa history: www.iowa-counties.com/historical/index.shtml
• Iowa Genealogical Research: www.rootsweb.com/~genclass/iowa/iowa.htm
• Iowa’s Speakers Bureau—Lists various individuals within the state who can lecture on Iowa history and other cultural aspects of Iowa: www.uiowa.edu/~humiowa/programinfo-v.htm
• Iowa History webpage: www.cia-g.com/~rockets/iowa.htm
• Famous Iowans webpage: www.postville.k12.ia.us/elemmiddle/decker/Famous%Iowans/Famous%Iowans.htm
• Iowa Attractions webpage: www.roadsideamerica.com/map/ia.html
• Iowa GenWeb: http://iagenweb.org
• Geographic Alliance of Iowa: www.uni.edu/gai
• Living History Farms: www.lhf.org
• Center for Economic Education: www.cba.uni.edu/cee/index.htm
• Iowa Art Council: Anita Walker, executive director (515) 281-7471
• Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area: www.silosandsmokestacks.org/home.html
• Old Capitol Museum: Ann Smothers, director (319) 335-0548
• Iowa State Historical Society: www.iowahistory.org
• Iowa Historical Preservation Alliance: Tom Smull President, info@iowapreservation.org

10 Ways Kids Can Help During a War
http://www.youthnoise.com/Home/ is an interesting web site, geared toward teens and pre-teens, strikes a good balance between pro- and anti-war stances, and encourages kids to speak out, get active and get educated, no matter where they stand politically. The page was created by the Save the Children Federation.