Elementary Social Studies - Chapter 2 PPT

Elementary Social Studies Ch 2

1. Chapter 2
Social Studies Curriculum
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright
2013

2. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
3
Looking Ahead
What social studies topics and themes
are to be taught in elementary schools?
What basis do the social science
disciplines provide for a social studies
curriculum in the elementary schools?

3. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
3
Can You –
Identify reasons why there is controversy in
social studies?
Describe the Expanding Environments
curriculum?
Identify and explain the various social
science disciplines?
Explain how the social sciences relate to what
students learn in social studies?

4. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
3
Do You –
Know all the social science fields that are
included in social studies?
Know how the social studies curriculum is
organized?
Know what an instructional theme is?
Know the history of the term “social studies”?

5. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
3
Focus Activity
What did social studies mean to you as an
elementary student?
What curriculum was included in social studies?
Discuss the details of your experiences and
compare with classmates.
Do your elementary experiences related to social
studies share common attributes with those of
others? If so, what attributes?
What does social studies mean to you now?

6. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
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Why Is There Controversy in Social
Studies?
How is social studies a complex subject matter?
How do certain elements make social studies a
controversial subject matter?
Cultural differences
Differing values, priorities, and viewpoints
Special-interest groups
Changing body of knowledge
How has the history of social studies shaped the
discipline today?

7. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
3
Incorporating Themes from the
Standards
What do you think
about the example of
thematic unit topics as
it relates to…
topics that might be
taught?
connections to the
standards?
connections to a
specific discipline?
thematic threads?
Insert Table 2.4

8. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
3
Social Studies and the Common
Core Standards
What are your reactions to Common Core
Standards compared to traditional standards?
Do you believe that Common Core Standards are
more manageable and/or practical than
traditional standards?

9. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
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Constructivism and Social Studies
Why do most social studies educators subscribe
to the learning theory, constructivism?
How do you feel regarding constructivism?

10. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
3
What is the Place of the Social
Science Disciplines?
How are the various social science
disciplines incorporated into an
elementary social studies curriculum?
Is it fair to say one discipline is more or
less important than others? Why or why
not?

11. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
3
Looking Back
The elementary social studies curriculum is
constantly changing as its goal is related to
expanding the world of the child.
Each of the social sciences – history,
geography, anthropology, sociology,
economics, political science, psychology, and
religious studies – offers a body of
knowledge, a unique perspective about the
world, and a method of inquiry from which
students can learn.

12. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
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Extension
You have just taken a job. It is orientation night
and you are meeting all of your new students
and their parents. As you are sharing your
daily schedule with the group, you mention
that you will be teaching social studies from
1:05 to 2:25pm. A parent perplexed by your
schedule raises her hand and asks “What is
social studies?”
Write down how you would answer the
perplexed parent.

13. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
3
Self-Test
1.What factors contribute to controversy over
what is taught in the social studies?
2.How does the Expanding Environments
curriculum relate to the curriculum of
contemporary social studies programs?
3.What is the difference between the terms
the social sciences and the social studies?
4.How would you define constructivism?

14. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
3
Self-Test
5.Why does the social studies curriculum often
focus on history and geography?
6.How does anthropology relate to and differ
from geography?
7.Why is economics important to elementary
students?
8.Why do students need to be politically aware?
9.Does the study of religions conflict with the
American constitutional concept of separation
of church and state?

15. Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 201
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Resources
National Council for the Social Studies. (2010). National
Curriculum Standards for Social Studies: A Framework for
Teaching, Learning, and Assessment. Silver Spring, MD:
National Council for the Social Studies.
The Council for Economic Education (CEE)
http://www.councilforeconed.org
 National Council for Geographic Education. (1994).
Geography for Life: The National Geography Standards.
Washington, DC: National Geographic Society Committee
on Research and Exploration.
Thornton, S. (2003). From Content to Subject Matter. The
Social Studies, 92(6), 237–242.