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Social Studies Teachers Chatboard

Teacher's Websites

by JR

Dec 25, 2011

Can anyone recommend some good social studies teacher's websites?

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Barbara Authentic history is one that comes to mind

On 12/25/11, JR wrote: > Can anyone recommend some good social studies teacher's > websites?

Dec 28, 2011

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Kev I'll recommend mind. I'm shameless.

[link removed]

On 12/25/11, JR wrote: > Can anyone recommend some good social studies teacher's > websites?

Dec 29, 2011

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Do you have ideas for Soc. Std. class for senior citizens

by Karlie

Dec 27, 2011

My mom is in an independent living facility.

The director knows I teach middle school social studies and she asked if I could do four thirty-minute "classes" in February.

She didn't give me much more direction than that.

Can anyone think of ideas that might interest seniors. I'd like something where it's more of a discuss...See More

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Sara On 12/27/11, Karlie wrote: > My mom is in an independent living facility. > > The director knows I teach middle school social studies and > she asked if I could do four thirty-minute "classes" in > February. > > She didn't give me much more direction than that. > > Can anyone think of ideas that might interest seniors. I'...See MoreOn 12/27/11, Karlie wrote: > My mom is in an independent living facility. > > The director knows I teach middle school social studies and > she asked if I could do four thirty-minute "classes" in > February. > > She didn't give me much more direction than that. > > Can anyone think of ideas that might interest seniors. I'd > like something where it's more of a discussion of topics > that interest them. > > Thanks!

1. Great Presidents - who were America's greatest Presidents? Certainly that's worthy of debate but you could do a quick lesson - powerpoint - on the commonly thought to be great Presidents - Washington. Lincoln. Offer them facts to support that - they'll find it interesting. But then ask them - who do you believe was the greatest President in your lifetime or - who was your favorite President?

The ladies like that last question - my mother Loved Kennedy but she didn't necessarily think he was a good President - she just loved how young and handsome he looked.

2. Not-so-Great Presidents

Well, Buchanan was not so great - he did nothing for four years though it was a difficult time. Andrew Johnson made some mistakes for sure and was brought to trial. Harding's administration was corrupt to the core.

(don't ask them who they think was the worst President in their lifetime - that gets dicey)

3. America's Unknown Presidents or Most Interesting Presidents- Teddy Roosevelt would have to be one. Herbert Hoover was a mining engineer - how does a mining engineer get to be President? Harry Truman owned a haberdashery store that failed no less- how does he get to be President?

For unknown Presidents, I'd say most people have never heard of Franklin Pierce. Millard Fillmore. Why are they so unknown?

4. America's Great First Ladies

The portraits of all of these people are compelling - and lend themselves to a good powerpoint. Jackie Kennedy redid the White House - she found antique treasures in the basement and restored the White House - no easy task. Eleanor Roosevelt was amazing - she essentially had her own career. Woodrow Wilson had a stroke while in office and it's said his wife became President for the last months of his administration.

Hope that helps.

Dec 28, 2011

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Jack/AR/7-8 I would consider a local history discussion. Find some info on a local landmark, important person or building that they may not know had a story. Encourage them to journal their won stories for a roundtable discussion. They may teach you a thing or two! Jack

On 12/27/11, Karlie wrote: > My mom is in an independent living facility. > ...See More

Dec 28, 2011

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to sonya.

by theking

Dec 28, 2011

hey can i ask you one simple thing

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sonya On 12/28/11, theking wrote: > hey can i ask you one simple thing

Sure

Dec 30, 2011

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250 full social studies lessons

by Tolo Taylor

Dec 29, 2011

Really cool social science lessons ready to teach straight away

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250 full social studies lessons

by Tolo Taylor

Dec 30, 2011

Hi Go to teacherofhistory.co.uk Thankss

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don't judge. I teach soc studies and am lousy at planning

by jj

Jan 7, 2012

full disclosure- I've posted a similar thread on the general teacher's chatboard, but I think other social studies teachers might be able to identify/assist me in a more specific way. thanks for taking a look!

So I am sitting here trying to plan for next week. Maybe if I am explicit about my thinking, decision making, you can help me see ...See More

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Kev Generally the things students should know are going to be on the lower levels of Bloom. There's nothing wrong with that. The fact is that's what they are going to face on those silly tests anyway so that should be your objective.

How you reach that objective surely can use the higher levels. For example, on the USSR question a writing assi...See MoreGenerally the things students should know are going to be on the lower levels of Bloom. There's nothing wrong with that. The fact is that's what they are going to face on those silly tests anyway so that should be your objective.

How you reach that objective surely can use the higher levels. For example, on the USSR question a writing assignment saying "Imagine you were a Russian leader during World War II. Write a letter to your mom asking advice on which side to support. Offer her reasons for both." would meet the objective of explaining Russia's place and would use higher levels of Bloom's.

I agree with you completely (and special ed has nothing to do with it) that asking kids to do higher level stuff without lower level instruction first is rather pointless. That may not be the in vogue thing to say but I'll put the success of my students (in both silly tests and higher-level activities) up against any because they have both the basic knowledge and thinking skills needed to succeed.

On 1/07/12, jj wrote: > full disclosure- I've posted a similar thread on the > general teacher's chatboard, but I think other social > studies teachers might be able to identify/assist me in a > more specific way. thanks for taking a look! > > So I am sitting here trying to plan for next week. Maybe if > I am explicit about my thinking, decision making, you can > help me see where I may be inefficient /ineffective in my > planning. > > I started by looking at my district's common exam, which is > 100 multiple choice questions, many of which include "All > of the following are true EXCEPT...." and "Which of the > following is NOT true" questions. My students (many of whom > are spec ed) struggle with these questions, and I have > learned repeatedly this semester that very few of my > strategies actually help them get better at these type of > questions. I really don't like having to prepare them for a > test that I think is flawed. Nonetheless, I must. For I > don't see it going away. > > Next I made a list. So far it is at 11 items. The list > contains answers to the following question- What do I want > students to know or be able to do by the end of this week? > > Note: I have students every day for 90 mins. So I have 450 > mins to plan for. > > Here are three examples of items on my list, in no > particular order. > > -Explain how Britain was able to stop the Nazis in the > Battle of Britain. > > -Explain what happened to the USSR during WWII (What led to > switch from one side to the other) > > -Identify key facts about the "turning point" battles of > WWII. ---Midway, Stalingrad, D-Day, Battle of the Bulge. > > One thing I notice right away is that my list is loaded > with "explain" and "identify". I want to move up Bloom's > ladder, but I am not sure if I can do so immediately. In my > experiences, when I try to go right for the higher levels > of the taxonomy, I get frustrated and students often seem > to because they do not have the basic building block > knowledge to accomplish the task.

Jan 7, 2012

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jj Thanks for the feedback, kev

On 1/07/12, Kev wrote: > Generally the things students should know are going to be on > the lower levels of Bloom. There's nothing wrong with that. > The fact is that's what they are going to face on those silly > tests anyway so that should be your objective. > > How you reach that objectiv...See MoreThanks for the feedback, kev

On 1/07/12, Kev wrote: > Generally the things students should know are going to be on > the lower levels of Bloom. There's nothing wrong with that. > The fact is that's what they are going to face on those silly > tests anyway so that should be your objective. > > How you reach that objective surely can use the higher levels. > For example, on the USSR question a writing assignment saying > "Imagine you were a Russian leader during World War II. Write a > letter to your mom asking advice on which side to support. > Offer her reasons for both." would meet the objective of > explaining Russia's place and would use higher levels of Bloom's. > > I agree with you completely (and special ed has nothing to do > with it) that asking kids to do higher level stuff without > lower level instruction first is rather pointless. That may not > be the in vogue thing to say but I'll put the success of my > students (in both silly tests and higher-level activities) up > against any because they have both the basic knowledge and > thinking skills needed to succeed. > > > > > On 1/07/12, jj wrote: >> full disclosure- I've posted a similar thread on the >> general teacher's chatboard, but I think other social >> studies teachers might be able to identify/assist me in a >> more specific way. thanks for taking a look! >> >> So I am sitting here trying to plan for next week. Maybe if >> I am explicit about my thinking, decision making, you can >> help me see where I may be inefficient /ineffective in my >> planning. >> >> I started by looking at my district's common exam, which is >> 100 multiple choice questions, many of which include "All >> of the following are true EXCEPT...." and "Which of the >> following is NOT true" questions. My students (many of whom >> are spec ed) struggle with these questions, and I have >> learned repeatedly this semester that very few of my >> strategies actually help them get better at these type of >> questions. I really don't like having to prepare them for a >> test that I think is flawed. Nonetheless, I must. For I >> don't see it going away. >> >> Next I made a list. So far it is at 11 items. The list >> contains answers to the following question- What do I want >> students to know or be able to do by the end of this week? >> >> Note: I have students every day for 90 mins. So I have 450 >> mins to plan for. >> >> Here are three examples of items on my list, in no >> particular order. >> >> -Explain how Britain was able to stop the Nazis in the >> Battle of Britain. >> >> -Explain what happened to the USSR during WWII (What led to >> switch from one side to the other) >> >> -Identify key facts about the "turning point" battles of >> WWII. ---Midway, Stalingrad, D- Day, Battle of the Bulge. >> >> One thing I notice right away is that my list is loaded >> with "explain" and "identify". I want to move up Bloom's >> ladder, but I am not sure if I can do so immediately. In my >> experiences, when I try to go right for the higher levels >> of the taxonomy, I get frustrated and students often seem >> to because they do not have the basic building block >> knowledge to accomplish the task.

Jan 7, 2012

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US History

by Mike

Jan 7, 2012

I want to assign an essay on the Articles of Confederation as an optional "drop your lowest grade"...but I'm a first year teacher and have never given an assignment like this. I can design the rubric, but need help devloping a writing prompt. 8th grade U.S. history, mixture of advanced and regular grade-level students.

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Kev It depends what type of essay you are looking for. Is it purely expository or do you want some persuasion or evaulation? I'd suggest checking with your Language Arts teachers to see what essay styles your students have learned this year and go with one of those.

On 1/07/12, Mike wrote: > I want to assign an essay on the Articles of Conf...See More

Jan 8, 2012

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Sara On 1/08/12, Kev wrote: > It depends what type of essay you are looking for. Is it purely > expository or do you want some persuasion or evaulation? I'd > suggest checking with your Language Arts teachers to see what > essay styles your students have learned this year and go with > one of those. > > On 1/07/12, Mike wrote: >&...See More

Jan 10, 2012

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250 full social studies lessons

by Tolo Taylor

Jan 8, 2012

Full lessons including plans, printables etc ready to download and teach instantly. Very cool! Very suitable for US teachers [link removed]

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To teach Social Studies abroad

by Dr. Benjamin T. Bantilan Jr.

Jan 13, 2012

To the Social Studies Department Heads of Schools; I am please to inform your subject coordinator in Social Studies that to apply as a subject teacher. Thank you very much.

Truly yours, Dr. Benjamin T. Bantilan Jr. Applicant January 14, 2012 Philippines

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