Session #6 - Two Approaches in Teaching Social Studies

Learning Outcomes:

CLO 5252.2 Plan and write lessons and activities for all learners to maximize their ability to meet and/or exceed the CCSS (TPE 1b, 2, 4, 5, 6c, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 & 13).

CLO 5252.3 Demonstrate an understanding of oral, written, and visual literacy and the ability to promote and instruct on oral, written, and visual literacy in the teaching of social studies and history (TPE 1b, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10).

CLO 5252.5 Create and implement lessons, assignments, assessments, and other learning tools that provide challenging educational experiences and opportunities for all learners (TPE 1b, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6c, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13).

CLO 5252.6 Provide grade-level learning experiences that create the necessary groundwork for student learning success in subsequent courses (TPE 1b, 4, 5, 6c, 7, 8, 9, 10).

CLO 5252.7 Explore and to research effective, current research-based methods and curricula that promote optimal learning environments for students (TPE 1b, 2, 4, 5, 6c, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13).

Essential Question:

- What approach should you take when teaching social studies?

Agenda: Thematic approach vs a chronological approach to historical people.

When teaching history or any of the social sciences, which is a better approach - Chronological or Thematic?

Part A.

Think about: Terrorism in the USA for the past decades. This is laid out chronologically. Here's a broader look at terrorism through several cultures and time periods. It is also laid out chronologically. How could terrorism be studied thematically? Which approach would you prefer? How could you use both?

Part B.

With a partner, determine how you would teach the following people in a thematic approach:

The most intuitive approach to teaching history is chronological. It makes perfect sense. You can naturally easily see the cause and effect nature of history. However, a refreshing approach would be to include a thematic approach. What do governments from various periods of history have in common? Do the conquests of Alexander have commonalities with those of the conquistadores? How have different cultures outfitted their soldiers for battle? What differences were there in the ways cultures practiced slavery or even freedom?

Assignments:

• DUE Today: LMU Lesson Plan 2 - Reading Lesson - Post on your web site

1. Read Drake & Nelson, Chapter 8 "Considering and Doing Discussion in History Teaching"

2. Thematic approach vs a chronological approach to historical people.

When teaching history or any of the social sciences, which is a better approach - Chronological or Thematic?

Next Steps:

Next week - LMU Lesson Plan #3 is due. Create a lesson plan using the LMU template. The focus of next week's lesson is on Writing in Social Studies . Please create or use a writing strategy and use it for the lesson.

Week after next: LMU Lesson Plan #4 - Assessments.