K-6 Social Studies Resources
January 2016
Learning Stations for Social Studies
Learning stations provide students time to explore different concepts and ideas alone or in groups. Having learning stations with different content areas integrated helps a teacher feel like they are getting all of the learning and teaching done during a day. Learning stations also allow teachers time to intervene, provide enrichment, and get to know all of the strengths and weaknesses of their students.
Don't forget the #1 rule of centers: You must teach the students how to act and the expectations of each learning center prior to sending them to work independently.
These social studies learning centers can have different reading, writing, technology, and creativity aspects all built into one learning center.
Center Ideas:
http://www.lauracandler.com/filecabinet/socialstudies.php
http://ellclassroom.com/2008/11/05/stations/
https://www.pinterest.com/cari_young/social-studies-centers/
http://www.ilovethatteachingidea.com/ideas/subj_social_studies.htm
Looking and responding to primary and secondary sources
Teacher Resources:
https://www.teachervision.com/learning-center/teaching-methods/58769.html
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/new-approach-learning-centers
A Sweet Smell of Roses by Angela Johnson
There's a sweet, sweet smell in the air as two young girls sneak out of their house, down the street, and across town to where men and women are gathered, ready to march for freedom and justice. Inspired by countless children and young adults who took a stand, two Coretta Scott King honorees offer a heart-lifting glimpse of children's roles in the civil rights movement.
Age Range: 5-8 years
Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.? by Bonnie Bader
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was only 25 when he helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was soon organizing black people across the country in support of the right to vote, desegregation, and other basic civil rights. Maintaining nonviolent and peaceful tactics even when his life was threatened, King was also an advocate for the poor and spoke out against racial and economic injustice until his death-from an assassin's bullet-in 1968. With clearly written text that explains this tumultuous time in history and 80 black-and-white illustrations, this Who Was?? celebrates the vision and the legacy of a remarkable man.
Age Range: 8-11 Years
Martin Luther King, Jr. (National Geographic Readers Series) by Kitson Jazynka
The most effective method used to influence children to read is to incorporate the information that interests them the most. National Geographic Readers are educational, high-interest, and comprehensive for children. In this title, readers will learn about the fascinating life and legacy civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In this level two biography, difficult concepts are made understandable and transitioned into a more approachable manner. This includes the use of sidebars, timetables, diagrams and fun facts to hold the interest of the young reader. The colorful design and educational illustrations round out this text as an exemplary book for their young minds to explore.
Age Range: 5-7 years
Increasing Student Engagement
The Ancient Chinese Proverb says:
Tell me,
I forget.
Show me,
I remember.
Involve me,
I understand.
It is important to get our students engaged in the learning for so many reasons. One way to do this is by giving students different cognitive strategies.
Baker, Dreher, & Guthrie (2000) lists these items as cognitive strategies:
- Activate prior knowledge before, during, and after
- Self-questioning
- Monitoring comprehension
- Summarizing
Another way to increase engagement is through cooperative learning strategies. As learners, even adults seem to increase their engagement when they have a reason to be held accountable and collaborate with their peers.
Different cooperative learning strategies:
Jigsaw
numbered heads together
Think, Pair, Share
Timed Pari Share
RoundRobin
Stand up, Hand up, Pair Up
Showdown
Quiz, Quiz, Trade
Cooperative Learning resources:
http://www.t2tuk.co.uk/downloads/The%20Essential%205.pdf
https://www.teachervision.com/cooperative-learning/resource/48649.html
Teacher Resources:
- http://www.edutopia.org/student-engagement-resources
- http://facultyecommons.com/three-types-of-interaction-that-foster-student-engagement/
- http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept95/vol53/num01/Strengthening-Student-Engagement@-What-Do-Students-Want.aspx
- https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=http%3A%2F%2Fcurry.virginia.edu%2Freading-projects%2Fprojects%2Fgarf%2FGeorgia%2520Active%2520Engagement%2520Strategies.ppt
Meredith Davis
K-6 ELA & SS
Curriculum Coordinator
Email: meredith.davis@southlakecarroll.edu
Website: www.southlakecarroll.edu
Location: 2400 N Carroll Ave, Southlake, TX, United States
Phone: 817.949.8247
Twitter: @carrollcurric