Effective Elementary Social Studies
© 2010

Table of Contents

PART ONE:   AN OVERVIEW OF ELEMENTARY SOCIAL STUDIES   

CHAPTER 1.  THE NATURE AND MISSION OF SOCIAL STUDIES
1.    Introduction  
2.    What Is Social Studies?   
3.    Why Teach Social Studies?
4.    The Role of the Teacher
5.    Concluding Thoughts
6.    Resources  
7.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 2. THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM:  PAST AND PRESENT
1.    A Brief History of Elementary Social Studies
2.    Alternative Structures for K-6 Social Studies
3.    Official Position Statements
4.    The Status of K-6 Social Studies Instruction in Public Schools
5.    Issues in Selecting and Implementing Content
6.    Concluding Thoughts
7.    Resources
8.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 3.  CONTENT IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM        
1.    Types of Social Studies Content
2.    Facts:  Their Nature and Importance
3.    Concepts:  Thought and Communication Essentials
4.    Main Ideas and Generalizations:  Conclusions of Thought
5.    Skills:  Intellectual Processes for Productivity
6.    Attitudes and Values
7.    Concluding Thoughts
8.    Resources
9.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 4. PLANNING FOR SOCIAL STUDIES 
1.    What Makes Social Studies Planning Special  
2.    Unit Teaching
3.    Special Considerations in Social Studies Lesson Plans
4.    Using the Textbook
5.    Evaluation
6.    Concluding Thoughts
7.    Resources
8.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 5.  FOSTERING LEARNER INVOLVEMENT   
1.    Introduction
2.    Classroom Atmosphere for Social Studies
3.    Fostering Involvement Through Activities
4.    Involving the Family and Community
5.    Effective Questioning Procedures
6.    Simulations and Instructional Games
7.    Developing Presentation and Persuasion Skills
8.    Promoting Small Group Instruction
9.    Individualizing Instruction Through Learning Centers
10.  Using Computer Technology
11.  Concluding Thoughts
12.  Resources
13.  Selected Readings

PART TWO: THE CONTENT DISCIPLINES OF ELEMENTARY SOCIAL STUDIES   

CHAPTER 6.  HISTORY:  THE ROOTS OF KNOWLEDGE
1.    The Discipline's Perspective
2.    What K-6 Students Should Know
3.    Alternative History
4.    Concluding Thoughts
5.    Sample Lesson Plans
6.    Resources
7.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 7. GEOGRAPHY:  MAKING SENSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
1.    The Discipline's Perspective
2.    What K-6 Students Should Know
3.    Map and Globe Skills
4.    Concluding Thoughts
5.    Sample Lesson Plans
6.    Resources
7.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 8. ECONOMICS:  EXPLAINING MONEY AND MORE
1.    Introduction
2.    The Discipline's Perspective
3.    What K-6 Students Should Know
4.    Micro-Society and Mini-Society
5.    Concluding Thoughts
6.    Sample Lesson Plans
7.    Resources
8.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 9. POLITICAL SCIENCE:  GOVERNMENT, LAW, AND POLITICS
1.    Introduction
2.    The Discipline's Perspective
3.    What K-6 Students Should Know
4.    Law-Related Education
5.    Concluding Thoughts
6.    Sample Lesson Plans
7.    Resources
8.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 10. PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY:  UNDERSTANDING OURSELVES
1.    Introduction
2.    The Discipline's Perspective
3.    What K-6 Students Should Know
4.    Methods for Teaching Psychology and Social Psychology
5.    Concluding Thoughts
6.    Sample Lesson Plans
7.    Resources
8.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 11. SOCIOLOGY:  EXPLORING CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
1.    Introduction
2.    The Discipline's Perspective
3.    What K-6 Students Should Know
4.    Concluding Thoughts
5.    Sample Lesson Plans
6.    Resources
7.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 12. ANTHROPOLOGY:  EXPLORING OUR PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL ROOTS
1.    Introduction
2.    The Discipline's Perspective
3.    What K-6 Students Should Know
4.    Concluding Thoughts
5.    Sample Lesson Plans
6.    Resources
7.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 13. THE HUMANITIES:  ARTISTIC INTERPRETATIONS OF SOCIETY
1.    Introduction
2.    Religion in the Social Studies
3.    Music, Art, and Drama
4.    Literature in the Social Studies
5.    Concluding Thoughts
6.    Sample Lesson Plan
7.    Resources
8.    Selected Readings

PART THREE:    SPECIAL TOPICS AND METHODS

CHAPTER 14.  INQUIRY INSTRUCTION
1.    The Nature of Inquiry Instruction
2.    The Benefits of Inquiry Instruction
3.    Guidelines for Conducting Inquiry Lessons
4.    Other Forms of Inquiry
5.    Sample Inquiry Unit
6.    Concluding Thoughts
7.    Resources
8.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 15.  MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
1.    Introduction
2.    Our Multicultural Heritage and Future
3.    The Goals and Methods of Multicultural Education
4.    Racism and Sexism
5.    Social Class Differences
6.    Issues in Multicultural Education and How to Handle Them
7.    The Importance of Common Ground
8.    Guidelines for Teaching About Native Americans
9.    Concluding Thoughts
10.    Sample Lesson Plan
11.   Resources
12.   Selected Readings
CHAPTER 16.  GLOBAL EDUCATION 
1.    World Trends Tie Us Together
2.    Bringing Global Education Into Your Classroom
3.    Concluding Thoughts
4.    Resources
5.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 17.  PROMOTING POSITIVE DEMOCRATIC VALUES 
1.    Introduction
2.    Nature of Values
3.    Values and Character Education in Social Studies
4.    Approaches to Values Education
5.    Concludiing Thoughts
6.    Sample Lesson Plan
7.    Resources
8.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 18.  CURRENT EVENTS
1.    Why Current Events?
2.    Current Events in the Primary Grades
3.    Current Events in the Upper Elementary Grades
4.    Problem Areas in Current Events Instruction
5.    Television News and Special Programs
6.    Specialized News Publications
7.    Copyright Guidelines
8.    Using Holidays As Current Events
9.    Concluding Thoughts
10.   Resources
11.   Selected Readings
CHAPTER 19. INTEGRATING OTHER SUBJECTS INTO SOCIAL STUDIES
1.    Introduction
2.    Music Activities
3.    Creative Art Activities
4.    Dramatic Activities
5.    Using Writing Skills
6.    Using Reading Skills
7.    Using Math Skills
8.    Concluding Thoughts
9.    Resources
10.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 20. RESOLVING DIFFERENCES OF OPINION
1.    Introduction
2.    What Is A Difference of Opinion?
3.    Examples of Opinion Differences
4.    Why Differences of Opinion Belong In Your Room
5.    Guidelines for Discussing and Resolving Differences of Opinion
6.    Concluding Thoughts
7.    Sample Lesson Plan
8.    Resources
9.    Selected Readings
CHAPTER 21. TEACHING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
1.    Introduction
2.    What Is Social Justice?
3.    Examples of Social Justice
4.    Why Social Justice Lessons Belong In Your Classroom
5.    Guidelines for Teaching Social Justice Lessons in Your Classroom
6.    Concluding Thoughts
7.    Sample Lesson Plans
8.    Resources
9.    Selected Readings
THE AMISH:  A SAMPLE SOCIAL STUDIES UNIT
          1.    Introduction
          2.    Rationale
          3.    Content Outline
          4.    Unit Goals
          5.    Potential Introductory Activities
          6.    Suggested Developmental Activities
          7.    Concluding Activity Suggestions
          8.    Unit Evaluation Plan
          9.    Resources for Students
          10.  Resources for Teachers