Page 126 - Powerful Social Studies for Elementary Students 4th Edition

98 Powerful Social Studies for Elementary Students
your ideas on large chart paper. You might consider adding pictures or photos. Visual representations can serve as powerful self-monitoring tools throughout the year.
Think deeply about the NCSS aim for social studies: “The primary purpose of social studies is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and rea- soned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdepen- dent world.” List possible ways that you might do this during the year. Revisit the NCSS aim statement as you plan each of your units.
Draw a “portrait” of your ideal social studies learner and what s/he would look like by the end of the year. Revisit it before and after each unit. It too can serve you as a self-monitoring tool. Then, answer the follow- ing questions to get you started:
1. What are my overall social studies goals for the year? 2. Imagine that you are writing a letter to your students’ families describing your social studies program for
the year. What would you include?
Think specifically about one unit.
3. What is the topic?
4. What are the over goals for the unit?
5. What are the big ideas I want to address?
We have included a sample list for a unit on govern- ment. If it fits your curriculum, use parts of it. Feel free to add others. Refer to other chapters for other lists (e.g., shelter, mountainous regions) or develop your own for your selected topic.
6. What resources do I have available?
7. How will I pre-assess?
8. How will I introduce my unit so that it is engaging
and interesting to my students?
9. What strategies do I plan to use during the unit to
develop the big ideas?
10. What sorts of authentic home assignments do
I have in mind?
11. What do I have planned for a culminating
activity?
12. What are my plans for an end-of-unit assessment?
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