Social Studies for the Elementary and Middle Grades: A Constructivist Approach

1. Meaningful Social Studies and the Student. Social Studies in the Elementary and Middle School. Education for Active Citizenship. Social Studies is Essential. Curriculum Patterns in Social Studies. Planning Powerful Social Studies Lessons. 2. Teaching for Meaningful Learning in Social Studies. How is Social Studies Best Taught in Today''s Classrooms? Applying what We Know About Meaningful Learning to Social Studies Curriculum. An Effective Strategy to Assist Students in Conceptual Change. Components of a Learning Cycle Lesson. Principles of Teaching and Learning Supporting the Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. 3. Helping Students Develop Inquiry Skills in Social Studies. Using Inquiry Skills to Develop Students'' Social Studies Ideas. Early Inquiry Skills. Social Studies Inquiry Skills. Observations, Inferences, and Hypotheses. Attitudes and Dispositions Promoting Powerful Social Studies. Teaching Lessons in Which Students Use Integrative Thinking Skills. Creating an Environment Promoting Student Thinking in Social Studies. Implementing Activities that Teach Inquiry Skills. Assessing the Use of Inquiry Skills. Hierarchy of Inquiry Skills. 4. Helping Students Construct Concepts Through Conceptual Change. A Classroom Scence. Facts as Social Studies Content. Concepts. Teaching Concepts. 5. Helping Students Use Inquiry to Build Generalizations. Development of Generalizations. Characteristics of the Exploratory Introduction Phase. Characteristics of the Lesson Development Phase. Formative Evaluation and the Inquiry Process. Inquiry Teaching and the National Standards in Social Studies. 6. Using Instructional Strategies That Help Students Learn. Becoming and Effective Planner of A Social Studies Program. A Continuum of Instruction. Matching Instructional Strategies to Students Needs. Matching Types of Instructional Activities to Each Phase of the Lesson. Resources for Social Studies Teaching. Classroom Management for Powerful Social Studies. Using Action Research to Create More Effective Instruction. 7. Helping Students Relate to Individuals and Communities. Respect for Students and for Oneself as a Teacher. Some Areas Affective the Development of Self-Concept. Values and Moral Education. Attitudes. Sample Lesson: Sharing and Negotiation. 8. Helping Students Become Citizens in a Democratic Society in an Ever More Interdependent World. Defining Citizenship in a Democratic Society. Developing Political Awareness. Citizenship and Standards. Key Concepts and Values. Assessing Civic Education in U.S. Schools. Resources for Citizenship Education. An Interview with Emily Wood. Media Resources. Participating in Democracy. 9. Helping All Students Experience Meaningful Social Studies. Meaningful Social Studies for All Students. An Interview. Social Studies Education for Students with Disabilities. Social Studies Education in a Culturally Diverse Society. Culture and Gender Differences in Student-Teacher Interactions. Assessment of Social Studies Learning for All Students. 10. Helping Students Interpret History. Definition of History. History in Schools. Standards for History. Benefits of Studying History. Students and the Learning of History. Using Time Lines to Develop Chronology. Resources for Teaching History. Visual Literacy and History. Reenactments and Drama. Biographies and Historical Literature. Internet and Computer Resources. An Interview with Carol Thompson. Expanding Your Skills in History. 11. Helping Students Interpret the Earth and Its People Through Geography. Interview-Experiences of a Second Grade Teacher. Defining Geography. Standards for Geographic Education. Resources for Teaching Geography. Developing Geographic Concepts, Generalizations, and Skills. Helping Students Learn and Use Map and Globe Skills. 12. Helping Students Make Economic Decisions. Economic Literacy. [read more]