Integrating the Social Studies in Elementary Grades

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Explain the purpose of social studies education.

• Explain the components of inquiry-based social studies teaching.

• Find, select, and adapt social studies resources for elementary students.

• Evaluate elementary social studies curriculum materials to identify perspectives and how they are represented.

• Plan and teach an inquiry learning segment consisting of two connected lessons and demonstrate your ability to:

  • Engage students in a social studies topic, building on their personal, cultural, and community assets.

  • Create language supports for students to use during the lessons.

  • Model an essential social studies strategy, such as constructing an evidence-based claim using information from sources.

  • Plan and facilitate discussions to encourage student engagement and critical thinking.

  • Develop an assessment that measures students’ inquiry learning.

• Implement instructional strategies that promote equitable participation in classroom discussions and activities.

• Analyze student work samples to understand what they are learning and determine next steps for teaching.

• Reflect on the cyclical relationship among planning, instruction, and assessment to improve student learning.

• Use educational research to justify instructional decisions and practices.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Reading Responses	10%
Inquiry Teaching Project Blueprint	5%
Summative Performance Task	5%
Lesson 1 Plan	5%
Lesson 1 Instructional Materials	5%
Lesson 2 Plan	5%
Lesson 2 Instructional Materials	5%
Teaching Artifacts	5%
Video Reflection Graphic Organizer	5%
Video Reflection Commentary	10%
Student Work Reflection Commentary	15%
Participation/Professionalism	25%

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance/participation is 25% of the student's final grade in this course.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America — Ronald Takaki (adapted by Rebecca Stefoff), Seven Stories Press, 2012, ISBN-13: 978-1609804169.