|By Gale Staff | As fall transitions into the holiday season, students begin dreaming of winter break and spending time with loved ones. You can take this opportunity to spark discussions about Thanksgiving to connect students’ impatience for the holidays with lessons about how the traditions we take for granted came to be. To get … Read more
Each generation has its iconic touchstones, creations that capture something in the zeitgeist, that speak to their audience in a way that both reflects and shapes the culture. Every once in a while, one of those will resonate with the next generation and even the next, although often what speaks to the younger audience will … Read more
| J. Robert Parks | Through the benefit of hindsight, historic events can look much different for generations far removed from the time in which those events occurred. Teachers can readily give examples of that for every era. The Compromise of 1850 is a particularly notable instance in U.S. history, however. Although the legislation was … Read more
| By Gale Staff | Mars has held a fascination for people since ancient times, and for centuries they’ve wondered, surmised, hoped, or feared that it was inhabited. Even telescopes didn’t resolve the issue completely. In fact, the pattern of straight lines that can be seen on the surface of Mars convinced astronomer Percival Lowell … Read more
| By J. Robert Parks | Some movies are culturally significant because almost everyone sees them, and they function as touchstones. Casablanca is one of those, as is The Godfather. Even people who haven’t seen those movies quote them without realizing it. A few movies, however, go beyond that and actually change the culture. Jaws … Read more
| By Gale Staff | The American Revolution arguably receives the most attention when students are taught U.S. history, beginning with Paul Revere’s ride and the Declaration of Independence in elementary school to Thomas Paine and John Locke in high school and college. That’s likely to become especially true over the next several years, as … Read more
| By J. Robert Parks | Imagine you’re on a game show where you’re asked progressively more difficult questions about people and events in U.S. history. Admittedly for some of you, that might sound like an opportunity to shine; for others, it’s a potential nightmare. But I’m guessing that many readers could get the first … Read more
| By J. Robert Parks | When I imagine how students think about historical events today, I sometimes remind myself what history felt like when I was growing up. I was taking history classes when the Vietnam War was still fresh and raw in people’s minds. World War II was definitely a part of history, … Read more
| By J. Robert Parks | Douglas Engelbart, who was born one hundred years ago this week on January 30, 1925, is hardly a household name like other titans of the computer world, such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates—but he should be. So much of what we take for granted in personal computers (and … Read more
| J. Robert Parks | Throughout its history, the United States has had advocates and adversaries for different causes, including the distribution and consumption of alcohol. One of the earliest groups that brought attention to the effects of alcohol abuse was the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), which was formed 150 years ago this week, … Read more