Instructional Framework
JCPS SOcial Studies Instructional Framework
The JCPS Social Studies Instructional Framework makes questions, sources and task actionable in Democratic Classrooms. The resources on this webpage are to support teachers in constructing their own inquiry-based lessons.
The provided lesson templates are the templates that the JCPS team uses to make lessons. The design is comparable to the KSA software and mirrors the KAS inquiry process.
Beginning of Lesson: Engaging in the Supporting Question (SQ)
ENGAGING THE SUPPORTING QUESTION is when the teacher introduces and creates interest in the inquiry lesson. Teachers use this time as a hook for engagement or a warm up to content for the upcoming inquiry. Below are examples and possibilities for ways to engage learners in the inquiry lesson. Choose one or more and modify the example to meet the needs of the inquiry. Many of the provided exercises are elementary examples that are already in the curriculum.
Middle of the Lesson: Engaging Sources through discussion
ENGAGING SOURCES THROUGH DISCUSSION is when learners work through the sources for the inquiry Teachers and learners use literacies, organizational tasks (graphic organizers), and discussion tasks to make sources accessible and engage learners in the five pursuits. When building lessons, select the literacies, organizational tasks, and discussion tasks that best support the learning for the inquiry. Below are exercises, questions, and examples to use or modify for the inquiry lesson to meet the needs of learners.
Choose Literacy Questions or resources
Writing Resources
Sentence Combining
Somebody, Wanted, But, So
It Says, I Say, So...
Includes:
Terminology
A(ER)2 Framework
Historical Thinking Frameworks
Multiple Paragraph Outline
Note: Disciplinary Literacy the practice of the professionals of the field such as "Thinking like a historian". These skills are specific to Social Studies. Each Poster hyperlink has additional teacher and learner resources.
Note: Content Literacy are general literacy practices that a whole school may use and not specific to Social Studies.
Choose an Organizational Task
Conceptualizing
Significance
Historical Perspective
Boxing
Choose a Discussion Task
1-5 Minutes
Rank, Talk, Write
Spectrum
10-20 Minutes
Consensus Building
Discussion Pyramid
End of the Lesson: Communicating Conclusions
COMMUNICATING CONCLUSIONS is when learners demonstrate their knowledge and skills they have gained through the inquiry. This may be done through Formative Performance Tasks (FPT) for an inquiry lesson and Summative Performance Tasks (SPT) to answer the Compelling Question. The provided resources support standards-aligned tasks and are comparable to Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) writing prompts for the Summative Performance Tasks. Feedback should always be given on writing.
