A close look at two critical presidential moments of the twentieth century will help students grasp the significance of foreign policy in an election contest.

—Social Education staffIn December, Iraqis went to the polls in a make-or-break election for a four-year national assembly. This special feature examines the problems facing Iraq at a time when its political scene has fragmented on a sectarian and ethnic basis.

The nomination process of Supreme Court justices is often fraught with political tension. A panel of experts discusses the judicial nomination process, the role of interest groups, and the possibility for reform.34700134

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

—James S. Leming, Lucien Ellington, and Mark SchugThis survey of more than 1,000 elementary and middle school teachers nationwide offers a unique view of social studies practices and challenges in our schools today.329

While enslavement is a topic present in elementary social studies standards for all fifty states, it also remains one of the most difficult topics to teach. In this article, the authors offer lessons from their study of recently published children's books that depict enslavement. They also offer recommendations for an inquiry-based strategy aligned with the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards that will support students' learning about enslavement from any of the books in our study, or other books that may be available in a particular…

In their article, Beau Dickerson and Emma Thacker provide counternarratives to traditional Civil Rights Movement instruction. Their IDM and classroom examples highlight young people’s agency, resilience, and dreams for the future.

—M. Gail Hickey and Don L. KoltermanThe lesson plans highlighted in this article will help teachers bring women into the social studies curriculum by integrating family stories and community-based interviews.197

Many interests can be at stake in conflicts over cultural property. A close look at three recent cases can guide students to reflect on issues related to ownership and control of cultural property.