These teacher research projects focus on aspects of the use of social studies in the classroom:

Bryan, Sally (2000). "The colonial times: A learning environment for the 21st century." Lemon Road ES. Falls Church, Virginia. Fairfax County Public Schools.

This teacher researcher wanted to show that when students take responsibility for their own learning, the learning is richer in content and deeper in concept development. She was curious to see how this environment might encourage different learning styles and student strengths to become significant factors in learning.The paper describes what happened when the students engaged in a WebQuest about Colonial Times.

DuFault, Yvonne (1996). "Kids who care: An action research project designed to build student leadership." Markham District High School, Ontario, Canada.

This Canadian high school teacher felt bullied by her students, believing them to be mainly self-centered individuals. Searching for a way to turn her students into caring individuals, she began an action research project to investigate what happens when adolescents engage in service-related projects designed to have them focus on others rather than themselves. Dufault's paper tells of her experiences with her students and their experiences with KIDS WHO CARE that transformed them into caring individuals as they engaged in projects which emphasize helping others build a better society.

Ritchie, Gail (2000). "Playing with history." Kings Park ES. Springfield, Virginia. Fairfax County Public Schools.

Faced with implementing Virginia Standards of Learning objectives into a multi-age classroom, this teacher researcher wanted to know, "How can I meet Social Studies objectives for kindergarten and first grade in a play-based classroom?" This paper addresses what she discovered about how children learn history and what they taught her about their becoming historical thinkers.

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