Social Studies Scoop
A Monthly Bulletin for 6-12 Social Studies Teachers in CCS
Preparing students for success in college, career, and civic life
Matthew I. Doran
Office of Teaching & Learning
Curriculum Division
Southland Center
Email: mdoran2067@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: http://www.ccsoh.us/socialstudies
Location: 3700 South High Street, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: 380-997-0470
Twitter: @mdoran2067
April 2020
In this edition:
- Secondary Curriculum Virtual Learning Plan Support Website
- Google Classroom and General Virtual Learning Tools
- Social Studies Curriculum Course Sites
- Social Studies Apps on CCS Clever
- Additional Free Social Studies Student Apps
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Secondary Curriculum Virtual Learning Plan Website
To support teachers in the implementation of the District's Virtual Learning Plan, the Secondary Curriculum Division has created a support website with information regarding the instructional programs identified for core and supplemental instruction. Click here to access the site.
Content-specific resources for Social Studies are also provided, including the information below in this newsletter.
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Google Classroom and General Virtual Learning Tools
Google Classroom
To facilitate distance/online learning, teachers will need a virtual space for posting announcements, assignments, and class discussions. Google Classroom is the recommended tool for this purpose. Teachers can add students directly to a Google Classroom with their student id number+@columbus.k12.oh.us. For help getting started with Google Classroom, teachers can view the resources at the CCS eLearning On-Demand site.
For instructional support with Google Classroom, please contact Jesse Ireland, jireland4224@columbus.k12.oh.us.
The CCS eLearning Collaborative will host the following support sessions:
Google Classroom Q&A for Proficient Users - Grades 6-12 - Friday, March 27, 2020
Live Webinar - 10:00 - 10: 45 a.m.
To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/afy-xzda-dqd
Already proficient with Google Classroom and have questions for advanced features? Join this session to ask your questions.
Assessments using Google Forms in Google Classroom - Grades K-12 - March 31, 2020
Live Webinar - 11:00 - 11: 45 a.m. To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/afy-xzda-dqd
Google Forms is an incredible tool to use in the classroom. Teachers can change their teaching using Google Forms. You can use them to gather ideas, set short quizzes, check for understanding, use them as formative feedback and many more ways.
Google Meet
Teachers can use Google Meet to hold virtual meetings. Teachers can post a link to the meeting in Google Classroom, and re-use the same meeting link multiple times.
Screencastify Chrome Extension
Teachers can record video directions, tutorials, or lectures using the Screencastify Chrome Extension. With the free version, videos can be up to 10 minutes in length. Videos can be posted in Google Classroom.
The CCS eLearning Collaborative will host the following support session:
Create Instructional Videos using Screencastify. - Grades K-12 - Monday, March 30, 2020
Live Webinar - 11:00 - 11: 45 a.m. To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/afy-xzda-dqd
Learn how to use the free version of Screencastify to create your own screen recordings or screencasts. Screencastify is a Google Chrome Extension that makes it easy and simple to record your screen and create instructional videos for students.
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Social Studies Teachers can continue to make use of the curriculum resources available on the Social Studies Course Sites: https://www.ccsoh.us/Page/2285. The Course Sites include unit- specific resources for each social studies course, including lesson plans, assessments, and readings. Resources in PDF or websites can be linked to Google Classroom, with students completing questions or tasks in a Google Doc or Google Slide deck. Depending on the course, PDF versions of the textbooks and ancillary material may be available on the Course Sites.
Additional material has been added to the Course Sites and will continue to be added through the extended school closure.
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The following is a list and description of Social Studies resources that are accessible through CCS Clever: https://clever.com/in/ColumbusCity. Some tools have just been added based on offers from the vendors to grant access through the end of the school year.
DBQ Online - Full Library
In order for students to use this product, teachers need to create a class. Click here for the directions for creating a class. Teachers will then need another means (such as Google Classroom) for sending the class code link directly to students to join their class. After the initial log-in and join, students will access DBQ Online directly through Clever.
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Newsela - Full Access - Full Library
Note: Articles can be printed and completed offline.
CCS Social Studies has curated text sets of 30 Newsela articles for each course, aligned with 3rd and 4th quarter content. After logging-in through Clever, access these curated collections from the direct links below.
Social Studies 6
Social Studies 7
Social Studies 8
Modern World History
American History 10
American Government
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CommonLit - Full Access
Note: Articles can be printed and completed offline.
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Edulastic - Full Access
Edulastic is an online assessment platform. Classes are automatically rostered through Clever. Teachers can access Edulastic's bank of questions or create their own. Released test items and additional practice questions are available for HS American History and American Government.
Note: Assessments can be printed and completed offline.
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Achieve 3000 - Full Access for Grades 6-9; printable for Grades 10-12.
Achieve 3000 includes content-based articles on multiple Lexile Levels. An alignment of articles to CCS curriculum is available here for middle school, and here for high school.
Note: Articles can be printed and completed offline.
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Additional Free Social Studies Student Apps
Khan Academy includes free video lectures/tutorials for World History and American History. Teachers can create a free account and enroll students via Google Classroom sync. Videos can be embedded into Google Classroom.
Ken Burns in the Classroom provides short clips from various Ken Burns Documentary films, aligned with topics in American History. Video links can be shared via Google Classroom.
EVERFI includes free virtual courses in Financial Literacy, Civics, and African-American History. Teachers can create a free account and enroll students.
iCivics includes interactive games for American History and Government, and lesson resources for teachers with printable student handouts. Note: Student handouts can be printed and completed offline.
World Book Student is available free through INFOhio and includes student-friendly articles on a wide range of topics in social studies. Note: Articles can be printed and completed offline.
The Points of View Reference Center is available free through INFOhio and includes point/counterpoint articles on many current issues. Note: Articles can be printed and completed offline.