A teaching practices library, K-12, The individual in society. The primary grades begin to lay the foundation and groundwork for big ideas and concepts in social studies, such as a sense of place, time, community, and justice. Kathleen Waffle teaches fifth grade at John Muir Elementary School in San Bruno, California, a working–class suburb of San Francisco. The Amistad Case Ms. Mesmer reads to the students from "The Winter Solstice," using it to help students understand the greater theme of community. Action Research in the Social Studies Classroom. Debbie Lerner uses her school’s remodeling project to teach her multi-age class about community resources. This program examines how social studies teachers in any grade level can encourage open and informed discussions with their students while dealing with controversial issues. The class defines community and the importance of voting, and identifies major societal problems. In November 2018, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) released an infographic on The Marginalization of Social Studies, calling the limited instructional time devoted to social studies “an issue of equity for all students.” I could not agree more! We broadened our mission from its original definition to encompass all educators. In a unit on Colonial America, students examine an eighteenth–century business through a case study of a successful silversmith who lived in Colonial Williamsburg. The students also voice their concerns about what can be done to improve their lives. The author of this article, president of NCSS (2004-2005), is a professor of social studies education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After making predictions about opinion polls, students examine factual data, news clips, song lyrics, and articles from the time period. Taking informed action is a key piece of the C3 Framework for Social Studies, a national framework for social studies education in the United States. Some Resources . This session focuses on the relevance of teaching social studies and discusses strategies for helping students gain a deeper understanding of social studies content. Eileen Mesmer teaches a combined kindergarten and first–grade class in Salem, Massachusetts, a diverse community outside Boston. The students view television footage from this period and listen to popular music that reflects both sides of public opinion. 67 Social Studies Teacher jobs available in San Diego, CA on Indeed.com. In small groups, students use primary source documents (advertisements) and artifacts to identify the business strategies used by the silversmith. Harnessing a Hurricane: Social Studies in Action. To prepare for the summer, two in particular struck me as actions all educators and schools can take right now: Why summer? You will also see teachers developing their students’ understanding of how social studies connects to larger issues in the community and world. Ms. Ewbank provides clear rubrics, which help students understand the expectations and goals for the lesson. Cynthia Vaughn teaches first grade at the Rooftop Alternative School in San Francisco, California. Based on two primary sources from the time period, students use a graphic organizer to analyze specific trades and the master-apprentice relationship, and to compare current business practices to those of colonial times. You can download it for free from Adobe. The mission of National Council for the Social Studies is to advocate and build capacity for high-quality social studies by providing leadership, services, and support to educators. Mr. Rockey reviews the concept of civil rights, with a focus on women's rights. 4. Liz Morrison is a ninth–grade American history teacher at Parkway South High School in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Grades K-2 I always encourage everyone to join our Annual Conference—the official convening of our nationwide social studies community, where best and promising practices, research, and policies come together. Together, all educators can provide the most solid foundation possible at every grade level. In groups, students research and develop solutions, which they present through posters and skits. Mr. Zimmerman explores the claims to land in the Middle East from three major religions — Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. This K-12 framework outlines 10 themes to describe performance expectations at early, middle, and high school levels. Each group presents their findings through a variety of creative presentations that include theatrical skits, artwork, and music. I could not agree more! The Social Studies in Action video library and professional development guide bring to life the National Council for the Social Studies standards. social studies action research. Reflecting on the Video presents questions to structure your review of your notes. The following facilitator tips can enhance the professional development experience: In 1993, the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) appointed a task force to develop social studies curriculum standards for K-12 teachers. Explorers in North America [Philip Gay, (Producer);] -- This video is part of a series on teaching the understanding of social studies, which shows real teaching in classroom situations teaching children of all ages. )—to be a strong form of professional learning in itself, allowing us to reflect on our own core values as educators. Professional Development NCSS has renewed its commitment to the C3 Framework to advance our profession and provide the best learning environments and opportunities for our students. Support social studies professional learning. It introduces all the components of the library, explains the goals of NCSS, and presents examples of classroom lessons throughout the library. 8555 16th St, Suite 500 • Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-588-1800 • 800-296-7840 • fax 301-588-2049 Creating Effective Citizens, Copyright © 2002 WGBH Educational Foundation. Becky Forristal emphasizes the relationship between population and resource distribution through a simulation exercise in which each student is assigned a world region. ; How do the human and physical systems of the Earth interact? His ninth graders work in groups to research and present the impact of a major political ideology between World War I and today. Two years of work and contributions from hundreds of social studies educators led to the NCSS publication Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. To help you get the most out of each video, the professional development guide is organized into six parts. Ms. Jones–Inge, a teacher for 10 years, presents a complex lesson that focuses on the theme of giving. Site Map; Back to Top. Share it with everyone you know. Population and Resource Distribution Denise Blumenthal Phone: 201-858-5800. Students take an active role in group work as they create maps and captions that define each period. This program explores how social studies teachers in any grade level can help their students develop the democratic values that will make them effective and responsible citizens. Since Social Studies is the study of our past and our history as well as understanding the world around us, it plays a huge role in our everyday lives. Lessons from grade 6–8 classrooms illustrate how the NCSS standards and themes can be integrated into the middle school curriculum. Lessons in the Social Studies in Action library are linked to the following NCSS themes: Within Expectations of Excellence, the themes focus on content and methodology, with specific examples of effective instructional practice and what students should know and be able to do. As a class, students create a giant map of China on the floor. Public Opinion and the Vietnam War Students discuss the planning, funding, and execution of the construction, talk to the district superintendent, and plan their contributions to the remodeling project. Social studies in action. Season: OR . Migration From Latin America The knowledge, skills and dispositions gained through social studies allow students to … Gwen Larsen introduces her sixth graders to connections among their family histories, the human family, and the development of civilizations.