Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Trade Books, Comics, And Local History: Exploring Fred Shuttleworth’S Fight For Civil Rights, Jeremiah Clabough, Caroline Sheffield

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

This one-week project utilized the trade book Black and White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene Bull Connor (Brimner, 2011) to explore non-violent advocacies during the 1950s and 1960s civil rights movement. Students read selected excerpts from the trade book and created a comic narrative to convey their understanding of the civil rights advocacies of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth in Birmingham, Alabama. The students were able to accurately portray Rev. Shuttlesworth’s actions in a cohesive narrative using evidence from the trade book within their comics. The students demonstrated a solid understanding of non-violent advocacies, and why these methods …

Historical Inquiry: Who Has The Power? Using Film To Introduce Students To Medieval Social Class Structures, Megan Todd, Janie Hubbard

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Using film in the classroom to teach history has long been endorsed as an effective pedagogical method when the lessons’ purposes and goals are clearly supported with facts. This article, which includes a National Council for the Social Studies C3 inquiry-based lesson plan, is targeted for educators who aspire to help students understand basic European Medieval history and engage in critical thinking. Medieval history is listed in many U.S. state curriculum standards and international teaching benchmarks; thus, this lesson contributes a teaching-ready source, particularly to introduce students to historical concepts, geographies, and politics (i.e., power structures). Clips from A Knight’s …

Teaching And Integrating Women’S Studies Into The Classroom: Perspectives Of Elementary Teachers, Thomas Lucey

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Women’s studies represent an underappreciated aspect of elementary education. Whether or how classrooms and their resources portray, present, and value women role-models informs both boys and girls about what passes for acceptable communication, treatment, and conduct towards women. Indeed, the extent to which and the basis that a young citizenry is taught to appreciate others informs the nature of the conversations engaged.

This paper describes the results of a research study that interpreted elementary teachers’ perspectives of women’s studies in elementary settings. The online survey was administered as part of the registration for two workshops that prepared teachers in the …

Examining Public Policies From Progressive Democrats With U.S. Healthcare System, Jeremiah Clabough

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

I

In this article, the author gives an activity that lets high school students explore the healthcare policies for Progressive Democrats. Specifically, the activity looks at Progressive Democrats’ Medicare for All. The author starts by providing an overview about some of the factions within the Democratic Party over the last 70 years. Then, the focus of the article shifts to focus on best practices within civic education about teaching public policies. Finally, an activity is discussed to help students analyze the arguments made by Progressive Democrats about Medicare for All. The author also provides thoughts for how social studies teachers …

Designing A Tool And Cooperative Learning: A Macos Inspired Activity, Jeffrey Byford, Jennifer Cordero, Alisha Milam, Kate Chambers, Presley Shilling

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

This simulation activity presents how elements of Man: A Course of Study (MACOS) can be implemented into the social studies classroom. Inspired by the Tool-Making Activity found in MACOS, this modified simulation activity prompts students to design an instrument to peel an orange as they discuss life and daily tasks related to the Great Plains settlement.

The Political Obstruction Of Anti-Lynching Policy, Jerimiah Boyd-Johnson

2022 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

United States House of Representative Bobby Rush from Illinois’s District 1 proposed the Emmitt Till Anti-Lynching Act (H.R.35 - 116th Congress 2019-2020). This Act would classify lynching as a federal hate crime. This act has been passed through the House of Representatives but was blocked in the Senate by Rand Paul. This is not a new phenomenon. Anti-Lynching legislation has been repeatedly blocked in the United States Senate. As reported by congressional findings, on all three occasions where anti-lynching legislation would be passed the opposing party argued states' rights, threatened to use the filibuster, or used the filibuster. This research …

Don’T Tilt My Crown: The Impact Of Hair Discrimination On Minorities, Constance Young

2022 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

Hair discrimination is a significant issue that has not been given adequate attention nor the proper application of legislation to combat it across the United States. It is currently disproportionally impacting minorities, especially minority women, as it is not only emotionally and mentally damaging to them, but it can lead to health issues as well. This research will further analyze what causes some states to endorse anti-hair discrimination policies as opposed to others. I believe there are many common factors amongst states that have passed laws related to this issue, and that these factors are main indicators of why other …

Terrorism: The Case Of Donbas And Ukraine, Noelle C. Chubb

2022 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

In 2014, the Crimean Peninsula was pseudo-legally annexed by the Russian Federation after months of internal turmoil (the “Euromaidan crisis”) that ousted then-President Viktor Yanukovych. This crisis, which began in November 2013, would turn into the most intense conflict in Eastern Europe since the Russian Federation was formed in the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union. The annexation, along with the declaration of independence by the oblasts of Donetsk and Lugansk would see several non-state actors (notably the People’s Republic of Donetsk, the People’s Republic of Lugansk, and Cossack Separatists) rise in opposition to the pro-Western forces in …

“Who Runs The World? Girls!” A Case Study On The Role That Stacey Abrams Has Played In Changing The African American Political Voice And American Political Realm As A Whole, Kyler Wiltz

2022 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

Stacey Abrams is one of the most prominent up-and-coming politicians in America. From her controversial gubernatorial race in 2018 to her post-election voting rights efforts, she is consistently at the forefront of many political discussions and debates. Nonetheless, with all this notoriety, there has not been much research on her life and impact relative to her peers or predecessors. What makes Stacey Abrams as popular and accepted as she is to the public? How is she the same as other American politicians, both male, and female? Who is Stacey Abrams? This study focuses on answering these questions through a case …

In The Middle Of Appalachia: Balancing Teacher Talk With Student Discourse, Ronald V. Morris, Denise Shockley, Sonya Davis

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Appalachian students co-constructed knowledge with their teacher while examining a non-fiction book about Thanksgiving. Fifth grade students used an informational trade book to promote student discourse while using text-based evidence. Students learned about Native Americans and Pilgrims as they engaged in student discourse balanced with teacher talk. Students used an inquiry arc that involved questioning texts and examining sources, and inquiry helped students to investigate narrative text as a source of data. Students used inquiry to enhance their metacognition about historical events. Students exercised agency as they recounted family history and their heritage as part of their memory. Remembering was …

History Or Heritage? An Analysis Of Ghana’S Primary School History Curriculum, Charles Adabo Oppong

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Abstract

At a time that history has gained its place in Ghana’s basic school curriculum, considerable differences of opinion arise, not about the subject’s significance in the school curriculum but concerning the legitimacy of the subject title - that is, whether or not the subject should be referenced ‘History of Ghana’ or ‘Heritage of Ghana’. The different opinions reflect Lowenthal’s (1998) observation that history and heritage are separate disciplines. However, the two subjects are often used interchangeably (Mermion, 2012) and “are habitually confused with each other” (Lowenthal 1998, p. x). While expert academics may be at ease with the distinctions …