The Power of Social Studies

This course has taught me a lot about the subject of social studies and different ways to teach it effectively. When I have a classroom of my own, I want to make sure I am teaching social studies in a meaningful way. Social studies is so important for young students because it provides them with skills and attitudes that will help them be a reasonable and thoughtful citizen in a culturally diverse world. Which is why I think it is necessary to start with the definition of social studies; the body of integrative knowledge, concepts, skills, generalizations, and theories about history, economics, geography, citizenship.etc. When most think of social studies, we think about just history and homework assignments from a textbook. Additionally, we typically think of lectures, and discussions, occasionally with audio-visual aids, and field trips. Therefore, it is crucial that we break these misconceptions about social studies to our future students. When teaching social studies in an elementary classroom it is important to have small group and independent work, manipulative, films, tv, computers, integrated approaches and greater instructional variety than other subjects. Social studies  helps students understand developments in society and their rules in shaping the future. This will guide these students to make informed and reasoned decisions for themselves and for society. 

Social Studies Powerful Elements

In order for social studies to impact students s it is important to keep these concepts in mind:

To teach students in a  meaningful way - engaging, connect students with real-world situations

To be an integrative teacher - Draws on more than one discipline, subject or skill set

Social studies should be value-based- Strengthens students' sense of democratic values and social responsibility

Create a challenge - Incorporate different perspectives and draws on students' critical-thinking skills

Make the students active - Participatory, makes use of manipulatives or physical environment

How People Learn? What is Learning?

In order to teach students, it is important to know the different ways people learn. So take a guess! Here were my guesses, along with the actual percentages.

Reading- 15% - actual 10%

Lecture- 15% - actual 10%

Audiovisual-20% - actual 20%

Demonstration - 50% - actual 30%

 Discussion - 60% - actual 50%

Practice doing - 85% - actual 90%

Teach others- 95% -actual 95%

It's not what you know but what you do with what you know!