EED465 Curriculum of Teaching Social Studies
Week 1 Discussion
DQ1 What is your personal experience with learning social studies? Do you have any memories that stand out as highly effective learning experiences? Compare this with your readings regarding social studies instruction.
DQ2 How does the social studies instruction in the school that you chose for your teacher interview relate to the definition of social studies? Explain your answer.
EED465 Curriculum of Teaching Social Studies
Week 2 Discussion
DQ1 Choose one instructional strategy from your readings and describe it in your own words. How could it be used with social studies curriculum? Give two examples.
DQ2 What are some other resources a teacher can use besides the textbook to teach social studies? Which resources do you like the best? Why?
EED465 Curriculum of Teaching Social Studies
Week 3 Discussion
DQ1 What do you think of elementary school social studies texts being used in today’s classrooms? Have they improved since you were a child? How have they changed? What sort of supplemental materials make a difference?
DQ2 Reflect on any authentic learning experiences such as field trips, mock trials, artifacts, genealogies, or historical reenactments from your own social studies learning. Which of these were used effectively? How did these experiences better facilitate your learning?
EED465 Curriculum of Teaching Social Studies
Week 4 Discussion
DQ1 What are some cultural groups that may be represented in your future classroom? How will you support a policy of tolerance toward all cultures in the classroom?
DQ2 What are some instructional strategies or activities that would promote a civic education?
EED465 Curriculum of Teaching Social Studies
Week 5 Discussion
DQ1 Why is children’s literature a key component in social studies reading instruction? Create a list of at least five children’s books that would be beneficial in teaching some of the social studies topics discussed in this course. Include the author, title, and your personal comments regarding why these books would be helpful.
DQ2 What are some effective ways to teach academic language in social studies? Why is it important to teach students important vocabulary prior to studying a concept?
EED465 Curriculum of Teaching Social Studies
Week 6 Discussion
DQ1 What factors should be considered in selecting social studies textbooks and resources?
DQ2 What are some pre-reading, reading, and post-reading activities you could use along with social studies content?
EED465 Curriculum of Teaching Social Studies
Week 7 Discussion
DQ1 How will your social studies instruction utilize reading, writing, listening, speaking, and the dramatic arts? Why is it important to utilize these aspects into your teaching of social studies?
DQ2 How could technology be integrated into the teaching of social studies?
EED465 Curriculum of Teaching Social Studies
Week 8 Discussion
DQ1 What is a social studies thematic unit you would like to use with your students? Why do you feel this theme is important? How could you use this theme to bridge the gap between home and school for social studies learning?
DQ2 What are the assessments for the social studies text like for your school? Are they authentic or formal? What are some ways that you would like to assess your students’ understanding of social studies concepts?
