Powerful Social Studies Planning

1
Powerful Social Studies Planning

• Developing Powerful Social Studies Units

2
Creating Meaningful Units

• The most effective teachersdo not diffuse their
  efforts by covering too many topics
  superficially.
• teachers select and present content to students
  in ways that connect it with the students
  interests and with local history, cultures, and
  issues.
• There exists a systematic effort to increase
  awareness and validate the diversity found in the
  community by involving family members or local
  ethnic or cultural groups, encouraging students
  to share their cultural knowledge and
  experiences, and involving students in the
  community.

3
Creating Active Units

• actively make curricular plans and adjustments
  including
• (1) update continuously the subject matter
  knowledge and related pedagogical knowledge
  needed to teach effectively
• (2) adjust goals and content to students needs
• (3) participate as a learner and model the joy of
  discovering new knowledge
• (4) use a variety of instructional materials
  (photos, maps, films, videos, textbooks,
  literature, databases, websites)

4
Creating Active Units (p.2)

• (5) plan field trips, visits to the class by
  resource people to help students relate their
  learning to their lives outside of school
• (6) plan lessons that introduce content and
  encourage students to process it actively, think
  about it critically and creatively, and explore
  its implications
• (7) develop current or local examples that relate
  content to students lives

5
Creating Active Units (p.3)

• (8) plan sequences of questions that allow for
  numerous responses and stimulate reflective
  discussion
• (9) encourage students to assume increasing
  responsibility for learning
• (10) encourage students to behave as a community
  of learners
• (11) use assessment and evaluation methods that
  are compatible with instructional methods

6
Include Authentic Activities

• Cooperative learning
• Models or plans
• Dramatic recreations of historical events
• Role-play and simulations
• Interviews

• Collecting data in the community
• Participating in community events
• Local community improvement efforts
• Volunteer work