Activating the Primary Social Studies Classroom: A Standards-Based Sourcebook for K-4

In this educational era of increasing emphasis on student performance, there is a definite shortage of high-interest resources through which teachers can effectively address the ten standards identified by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). Teachers need ideas for simple, low-cost activities, which they can do with their students to allow social studies learning to occur in an interesting, engaging manner. Now there is a resource designed with hands-on learning opportunities that are aligned with the NCSS standards. Included in this sourcebook are: ·Assessment rubrics ·Student and professional technology resources ·Descriptions of various instructional models ·An appendix containing background information to facilitate the users' understanding of certain activities ·A glossary of specialty terms and concepts used Each activity, which addresses multiple standards, can be used for enrichment or to accommodate students with various needs. The activities feature: ·Recommendations for interesting children's literature ·Links to web sites related to each activity ·Suggestions for adaptations or extensions to effectively meet the needs of specific students Will be of interest to pre-service and in-service elementary teachers who want to enliven their classrooms with student involvement and interest in social studies topics.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Preface Part 2 Introduction Chapter 3 1 Culture Part 4 What Is Culture? Part 5 Diversity during Westward Expansion Part 6 All Kinds of Homes Part 7 People of the West Part 8 The Challenge of Belonging Chapter 9 2 Time, Continuity, and Change Part 10 Wagons Westward Ho! Part 11 Breakfast with Washington Part 12 Learning from the Cemetery Part 13 The Dilemma Part 14 Cowboys Chapter 15 3 People, Places, and Environments Part 16 What's My Shape? Part 17 Land and Water Mix and Match Part 18 The Rally Part 19 Imaginary Island Part 20 The Homestead Act Chapter 21 4 Individual Development and Identity Part 22 Trading Cards Part 23 Getting Together with Friends Part 24 Creating a Family Tree Part 25 The Positive Value of Difference Part 26 The Same and Different: Cultural Characteristics Chapter 27 5 Individuals, Groups, and Institutions Part 28 Experiencing the Legal System Part 29 The Assembly Line Part 30 Group Character Traits Part 31 What Is Fair? Part 32 Cyclical Breakdown Chapter 33 6 Power, Authority, and Governance Part 34 If You Were in Charge of the World Part 35 Field Trip to the White House Part 36 Choosing a Leader Part 37 Doing, Thinking, Feeling, Behaving-and Consequences Part 38 Personal Rights and Responsibilities Chapter 39 7 Production, Distribution, and Consumption Part 40 Moose, Muffins, and Money Part 41 Selling Hats Part 42 Stop the Spies Part 43 Purchasing Power Part 44 A Money Story Chapter 45 8 Science, Technology, and Society Part 46 Crime Solving Part 47 What Would the World Be Like Without . . . ? Part 48 Glittergerms Part 49 Information Retrieval Charts Part 50 Everything Goes Downstream Chapter 51 9 Global Connections Part 52 The Trip Part 53 News from Around the World Part 54 Kamishibai Story Cards Part 55 Cultural Encounter Part 56 Connecting through Games Chapter 57 10 Civic Ideals and Practices Part 58 Prioritizing Responsibility Part 59 Group Problem Solving Part 60 You and the Constitution Part 61 Town Meeting Part 62 School Grounds Clean-Up Part 63 Appendix A: Assessment and Evaluation Part 64 Appendix B: Magazines, Periodicals, and Professional Organizations Part 65 Appendix C: Background Information Part 66 About the Authors

About the Author :
Leslie Marlow currently teaches in the elementary education program at Berry College where she teaches elementary reading and social studies methods courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She has taught in elementary schools, a number of teacher education programs and has co-authored a series of books addressing language arts and reading standards as well as authoring numerous articles and presenting numerous effective teaching strategies workshops for teachers. Duane Inman is currently employed by Berry College as the Chair of Teacher Education and teaches undergraduate and graduate education courses. He has taught in the public schools, private schools and several Universities and has presented workshops for teachers on effective teaching strategies, published numerous articles, and co-authored a series of books addressing language arts and reading standards.

Review :
In each chapter, the authors present activities that address NCSS standards and can be used for the enrichment of all students or those with special needs. They also include assessment rubrics, technology resources, and descriptions of instructional models. Basing their material on the ten standards of the National Council for the Social Studies, Marlow and Inman present activities for us in kindergarten through 4th grade classrooms. With one chapter for each standard, descriptions of activities provide summaries and objectives of activities, descriptions of physical and intellectual resources needed, detailed procedures for conducting activities, examples of adaptations that can be made, listings of children's literature to use with the topics covered, and annotated sets of technology resources.