This article discusses the opportunity that the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) present for enhancing formative assessment (FA) in history and social studies classrooms. There is evidence that FA can enhance learning for students if implemented well. Unfortunately, teachers continue to be challenged in implementing FA in their classrooms. We…

In this article, the author addresses classroom teachers, department heads, and supervisors who have direct contact with students and what they learn. They need to tell students, parents, policymakers, and everyone else that social studies is critical and that the NCSS mission statement is not just a nice set of words, but absolutely crucial to…

This article presents the authors' critique of lessons proposed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21). The authors initiate a discussion about content that they hope will play out in schoolhouses and statehouses across the country. They take on a different task: they present a handful of lesson ideas from P21 that could enhance studies…

Describes a lesson plan which was used successfully to teach the basics of investment to students in a fifth-grade social studies class on economics education. Projects included in the unit included selling stock, pre-sales preparation, selling, profits, and investment. (DB)

A project is described which identifies essential social studies skills and presents information to high school classroom teachers on how to inculcate skills in students. Four major categories of skills are discussed--locating information, evaluating information, using time and place concepts, and analyzing social problems. Specific project goals…

Three valuable approaches to utilize in improving the social studies curriculum may be to develop resource units, teaching units, and lesson plans. Resource units contain a collection of more objectives, learning activities, evaluation techniques, and bibliographical entries than can possibly be used by a given teacher for a particular classroom…

Uses scenarios of student teachers' critical thinking lessons which failed to achieve their goal as a springboard for presenting a model of "critical teaching." Identifies institutional and professional obstacles to critical teaching and concludes that it requires instructional planning which encourages student examination of the social, moral,…

If one were to search for classroom strategies for English Language Learners (ELLs), it would not take much time to find many different types of activities that are all useful with ELLs. Additionally, if one were to search for social studies strategies to use with native English speakers, he or she would have little difficulty in finding a variety…

Described is a social studies lesson plan which investigates colonialism in Africa by focusing on individual attitudes toward the colonial experience. Maps, questions, teaching suggestions, and student materials are provided. (Author/DB)

The failure of teachers to comprehend basic curriculum objectives and their unwillingness or inability to act in accordance with these objectives are severe impediments to the successful use of new materials, according to the authors. They discuss these impediments and conventional solutions as an introduction to their suggested approach: teacher…

Contains suggestions for lesson planning and instructional strategies that are based upon individual student needs and high teacher expectations within increasingly diverse classrooms. Discusses planning around the concept of a planning pyramid of student learning. Presents a sample lesson plan about immigration to the United States. (DSK)

The material in this secondary (grades 9-12) curriculum guide is designed to help local Georgia school systems integrate and develop programs that will meet the broad goals of an effective social studies program and also the requirements of the state's competency education program. In the first part, four main curriculum components (knowledge,…

One of the main goals of social studies education should be to help students to understand that as U.S. citizens they are also citizens of a global community. This compilation of discussion and lesson plans is designed to foster debate among social studies educators and to help classroom teachers educate globally aware citizens. The included…

To develop geography curricula, elementary and secondary school classroom teachers must understand curriculum theory as well as geography subject matter content. Awareness of these two areas helps teachers decide what students should learn, how they can learn the selected material, and how student achievement can be evaluated. Teachers will…

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES, CONCEPTS, EXPERIENCES, AND DATA TO BE COVERED ARE PRESENTED WITH SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES AND DAILY LESSON PLANS TO PROVIDE TEACHERS IN A SUMMER OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH MATERIALS TO REINFORCE AND ENHANCE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM LEARNING. WEEKLY UNIT PLANS IN SCIENCE, LANGUAGE ARTS, MATHEMATICS, AND SOCIAL STUDIES COVER THE…