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Editor's Notebook

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Bridge to the Future: Franklin Roosevelt's Speech at the Dedication of the Triborough Bridge

By David L. Rosenbaum

The featured document from FDR's speech inaugurating the Triborough Bridge provides an entry point for the study of New Deal programs and discussion of the government's role in planning, funding, and creating infrastructure.

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Should Social Studies Be Patriotic?

By Joel Westheimer

The author explores two different approaches to teaching patriotism: One that advocates loyalty to a centralized leader or group; and another that promotes commitment to the principles that underlie democracy.

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Mexico: Democracy and the Future

By Kathleen Bruhn

Even as Mexico undergoes a transition from historic one-party rule, important challenges to democracy remain.

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Using YouTube to Teach Presidential Election Propaganda: Twelve Representative Videos

By Wayne Journell

Teachers can use this selection of campaign ads to help students analyze various aspects of political propaganda.

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Citizenship Education: The Goal Of Education

By C. Frederick Risinger

The highlighted websites offer lesson plans and classroom activities to advance the skills needed in a participatory democracy.

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The Meaning of Memory: Establishing the Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday

By Mira Cohen

Some memorable days in our nation's history are declared holidays, while others are considered days of remembrance. This article explores the process of establishing a holiday to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Learning from a Bike Trip

By Mike Koren

Each year, seventh and eighth-grade students in a Milwaukee-area school culminate a unit on map reading by planning and carrying out a 25-mile bike ride that develops skills in social studies, science, math, and reading.

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Rapping the 27 Amendments to the Constitution

By Adam Knaresborough

Students bring the Constitution to life by summarizing the amendments in their own words and composing a rap song.

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Teaching about Same-Sex Marriage as a Policy and Constitutional Issue

By Diana Hess

Engaging secondary students in policy and constitutional questions related to same-sex marriage promotes the skills and content that advance a democratic education.

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Lesson Plan on Afghanistan

By Bayard Faithfull

During this nine-day unit, high school students consider evidence from a variety of primary and secondary sources to determine the best policy for the United States and NATO on Afghanistan and Pakistan.