The Final Stretch

What a semester! Now that we are at the end, it is time to ask myself what I have learned about Social Studies. Well, of course I will  not be able to tell all, but I would like to highlight some of the most memorable things that I have learned.

1. Social Studies is EVERYWHERE! There are so many books that deal with concepts that can be integrated with multiple content areas. As teachers, we have to learn how to make due with the time that we have. The only way to teach everything is to integrate. Books are so fascinating, and a great way to introduce topics to students. I used this method in my field, and the students responded very well. The lesson I taught was about the Shawnee Native Americans. I started with a legend from the tribe, and the students in the 3rd grade class were very interested. This would be a great way to start a unit.

2. Don't focus on the things that you can't change, but on those that you can. I myself was never really educated on the government in the United States. I feel like I was short-changed. I can not focus all of my attention on the fact that I wasn't taught, because then I would not be able to plan how I will ensure that the students in my class are. It is my job to prepare them to be active, positive members of society. One great way to do this will be by teaching them how the government works, and how they can make a difference.

Social Studies is so important because it enable us to learn about people, and how the world has gotten to were we are now. We have to educate the youth so that they can be motivated to improve our nation and the world. We need to teach them how to work together to achive a common goal.

This website provides links to lists of books that can be used to help teach various Social Studies standards.
http://www.socialstudies.org/resources/notable

Back to the 40's

The 40's... In my opinion, was a great time to be a woman in the United States. World War II opened the door to women entering the workforce and look at us now! Wroking our way up to closing the gap between the average salary between men and women. The 40's were also a time when a more sophisticated look emerged in fashion for women. Hello suit! Not only was the 40's the start of equal rights for women, but blacks were given the right to vote. "All men should be created equal" was finally begining to show its real meaning.

Might I add that there were some pretty amazing slang terms used in the 40's. My favorite has to be "amored heifer". What is that you ask? Well I will tell you... it means canned milk! And I might pay you a dollar if you go into a grocery store and ask for help finding the armored heifer, which btw could also FILL your gas tank in the 40's because gas was only 16 cents a gallon. Wouldn't that be nice?

The 40's weren't all about the good times though. There were some terrible things that happened: WWII, the bombing of Hiroshima and the attack at Pearl Harbor. Every decade had good things and bad things, but what is important is that from all of the events, we learn something. We learn how to better ourselves, not make the same mistakes twice.

To all the other decades...

Field Trip!

Who doesn't love field trips? Our class went to the Center for History and created a Field Trip book as well as a worksheet hile we were going through the exhibits. During the time of our visit, there was an exhibit which was all about the influence of nuns on the United Stated of America. In all of my time at school, I do not thin that they were ever really portrayed as having such an impact. This was such an interesting exhibit to me because it was something that I really was not aware of. I feel that teachers should try to teach about all things that deal with the development of the United States, not just the things that publishers have found important enough to include in textbooks.

In the lower area, there were all sorts of things that showed the settlement of the area, all the way up to popular toys from different decades. I found this imformation to be very interesting, and there were a lot of items displayed that I have seen before, and were able to make connections from. This might also be the case for students who visit for field trips.

Social Studies in the Classroom

Yesterday I completed my second day in the field and still no sight of Social Studies being taught directly. I understand that new requirements make it more difficult to include Social Studies and Science in the curriculum, but as we said in class, time hides in little cracks and crannies just waiting to be told that Social Studies and Science are moving in. Well next week is going to be that time! The first lesson I am teaching is going to be integrated between Language Arts and Social Studies.

Indiana Standars for third grade include learning about the settlement of the area, as well as the Native Americans. I have not decided which I am going to incorporate in my lesson, but I am glad that I will be able to teach Social Studies concepts.

source: www.vjal.com

Social Studies is so important in helping students learn how to communicate with each other, as well as our history. Even though I haven't seen lessons being taught it, I do feel that the students in the class are being encouraged and taught how to talk amongst each other and work out problems. They spend a lot of time in groups during center time, and instead of having desk, 4 students share a table. Just by having these two things, the students are experiencing an environment that will help them learn how to be good communicators, which will in tern help them become better citizens.