What did you find?

As you were searching for RSS feeds to post to your news aggregator, what did you find? Provide your classmates with three sites you used and justify (twenty words) why you selected these particular sites (identify your work).

How can use this story in an elementary school classroom?

As an elementary school teacher, it is important that stay on top of current events. Based on the information we read for today (Five ways to increase Civic Engagement) this is an engaging way to inspire students to become civically active citizens. As such, it is your responsibility to integrate the news into your classroom. Read this news story and provide a short description of how you would use it to teach social studies in your class. You need to describe the following: 1) grade you feel comfortable teaching this to, 2) short description of how you would teach the information, 3) how your lesson will promote both social studies and specifically civic engagement. Please identify your response

What did you learn about teaching history?

During today's class, we discussed several reasons why we teach history, how we do it, and specific examples. Furthermore, you investigated a little nugget of American History. Based on the theoretical foundation and new content knowledge you gained, describe how you would use narratives/storytelling and mystery to teach history. This is an individual response - so please identify your answer.

Why do we teach history?

For today's class, you were to read two articles (Teaching the Mystery of History and Blending Narratives: A Storytelling Strategy for Social Studies) that discussed why and how we teach history. By engaging with the articles, you learned many reasons why we teach history and the underlying principles for creating authentic, history rich learning environments. One of these principles requires that we teach students 'what makes something historical'. In your opinion (50 words), what makes something historical? (Please feel free to identify your answer - but it is not required)

Culture and Society

Teaching students about different cultures must be deeper investigation than studying about food, holidays, and dress. It is imperative that students have are provided a comprehensive framework (or common core foci) by which they can evaluate all cultures. Today we worked with the Framework for Teaching/Learning Culture & Society. Based on our in-class activity, how can you implement this framework to have students investigate cultures (answer in 100 words - and identify yourself by provid your name(s).

Debate & Deliberation

Debate and Deliberation are great strategies to incorporate into the social studies classroom. Both teach students how to research a topic, formulate/defend a position, and present a point of view. However, both strategies are not exactly the same. Provide a definition that explains their differences.

How can you create a more engaging classroom environment?

O'Mahony described the importance of creating a classroom environment that enhanced social studies instruction. In 100 words, explain to me how you can integrate song lyrics to create an environment that engages students in meaningful social studies instruction. Your task is to prove to me that you have digested a majority of our class discussions and assigned readings.

Why integrate music in the social studies classroom?

White and McCormack asserted, "American students do not recognize their roles as active citizens because they credit societal changes to historical leaders rather than individual acts." Summarize this quote and explain how lyrics can help you address this issue in during social studies lessons.

Using Photographs in the Classroom

Today we discussed the value of integrating photographs in the elementary classroom. Based on the readings and class discussions, justify how photographs can allow elementary students to perceive differences in a nonthreatening ways and explain how this promotes civic competence.

Structure of Social Studies Lessons

The three articles that you read from the SSYL introduced a couple of interesting approaches to teaching social studies. Each lesson (and the materials that accompanied them) expected students to first learn basic skills in a familiar setting (e.g., establishing technologies we have today that we did not have 'long ago' or having students use color construction paper to represent population) and then apply those skills in a novel, authentic manner. By the end of the collection of lesson (i.e., unit of instruction), students were accomplishing sophisticated tasks. Based on this, answer the questions below.

• What was the most interesting aspect of these articles/lesson ideas?
  
• Describe the structure of the lessons - how did the teachers slowly/methodically develop students’ skills?
  
• Explain how the organization mirrored the structure of the 4 categories of human interaction and 3 major areas of emphasis

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What did you learn?

Based on the video, explain the meaning of the quote.

How do the categories and major emphases connect with each other?

We dedicated time today to discussing the idea that people are key to studying social studies. During the course of our conversation, we organized human interaction into four categories and 3 major areas of  emphasis. In 50 words, summarize our class discussion.

What is the difference between the two views on how to be a good democratic citizen?

Based on our class discussions and your opinion, describe the two different points of views and how each will impact how you will design social studies classroom activities. Make sure to identify your names.

Social Studies: It ain't yo mama's boring history class

Create a slogan (10 words or less) to describe the NCSS Expectations of Excellence

What is Social Studies Education?

During our class discussion, please share your thoughts or questions about the content.

What were your impressions of NCSS Expectations of Excellence?

Now that you have read the first part of the NCSS Expectations of Excellence, explain how this document defines Social Studies. Be sure to discuss the two main characteristics that distinguish social studies as a field of study (civic competence and multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary). Finally, identify at least one aspect of this document that needs to be updated. Be sure to identify the names of those who are posting.

After Day One

Now that you have completed the first day of class, please share with others your impressions. Make sure to include what aspect of the class you are most excited about and which aspect scares you.