Chapter 7Social Studies

Overview of Social Studies

• Prepare children with knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to participate in and contribute to their worlds

• Focus on ensuring that children feel good about themselves first so that they can eventually make positive contributions to society

• Experiences—firsthand

Core of Social Studies

• Social sciences– Anthropology– Sociology– History– Geography– Economics– Psychology

Developmentally Appropriate Practice Approach to Social

Studies• Build on what children already know• Focus on the processes of social studies• Do not teach isolated facts• Provide hands-on experiences• Build on children’s interests

The NCSS Curriculum Standards 10 Themes

Culture

Time, Continuity, and Change

People, Places, and Environments

Individual Development and Identity

Individuals, Groups, and Institutions

Power, Authority, and Governance

Production, Distribution, and Consumption

Science, Technology, and Society

Global Connections

Civic Ideas and Practices

Goals of Social Studies

• Develop a child’s positive self-concept• Further an understanding of a child’s role in the

family• Develop an awareness of a child’s own cultural

heritage• Provide a multicultural classroom environment• Develop an understanding of the need for rules

and laws• Provide daily role models

Theories That Support Social Studies

• Multiple Intelligences—Howard Gardner• Sociocultural Theory—Lev Vygotsky• Cognitive Developmental Theory—Jean

Piaget

Activities That Support Goals

• Project approach• Themes

– Homes– Families

• Body awareness• Stories and drawings• Activities specific to families and homes• Maps or place awareness

– Three-dimensional– Story mapping

• Personal time lines for primary-aged children

Field TripsWalkingtrips

Neighborhoodwalks

Mini-fieldtrips

Majorfield trips

Specific-purposefield trips

Creating Partnerships with Families

• Acknowledge and respect children’s home language and culture

• Build a sense of trust• Post weekly menus and lesson plans• Develop communication systems• Family get-togethers; open houses• Family-teacher conferences• Invite family members to share interests

Planning for Successful Field Trips

• Prepare yourself• Prepare the children• Prepare the families

Taking the Field Trip

• Safety first– Charged cell phone– Emergency contact numbers– First-aid kit– Count heads

• Enjoy!!!• Follow-up• Suggested field trips

Developmentally Appropriate/ Multicultural/Anti-Bias

• Evaluate your classroom to ensure this approach is supported

• Activities that can utilize this approach– Family quilts– Making the class into a neighborhood