1. SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE PRIMARYCLASSROOM(Please turn up your volume!)Lauren ParkinsonMay 21, 2013EDUC 4620

2. WHAT IS SOCIAL STUDIES? The aim of social studies is the promotion ofcivic competencethe knowledge, intellectualprocesses, and democratic dispositions requiredof students to be active and engagedparticipants in public life (NCSS, 1992) Social studies seeks to examine and understandcommunities, from the local to the global, theirvarious heritages, physical systems, and thenature of citizenship within them (Ministry of Ed,2004) 3. WHAT IS SOCIAL STUDIES?It is derived from a variety of disciplines such as: Anthropology History Geography Economics Sociology Political ScienceAt the elementary school level, the focus ismainly on local family and community. 4. Learning about social studies helps childrenlearn more about themselves and how they aremeaningful contributors of a community ofpeople. Social studies acts as a basis upon which allother areas of a childs social development willbe built. Focus on these personal and socialdevelopment skills starts in Kindergarten. Social studies is an important component of achilds developing social domain.WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FORPRIMARY GRADES? 5. THE SOCIAL DOMAINA childs social domain has 4 facets: Social skills: children learn to interact with others Socialization: children learn the values, beliefs,customs, and rules of their society Social responsibility: children learn to respectothers and value themselves as contributingmembers of their communities Social studies: children explore humaninteractions in societies of the past andpresent 6. SUBJECT AREAS AND STRANDS INTHE ONTARIO CURRICULUMSocial studies for grades 1-6 are divided into twostrands with specific topics for each grade. Thiswill include strictly the primary grades. Heritage and Citizenship Grade 1: Relationships, Rules, Responsibilities Grade 2: Traditions and Celebrations Grade 3: Early Settlements in Upper Canada 7. Canada and World Connections Grade 1: The Local Community Grade 2: Features of Communities around theworld Grade 3: Urban and Rural Communities 8. INTEGRATING SOCIAL STUDIES INTOTHE CLASSROOM Maturity level, past experiences, and priorknowledge will play a role in choosing activitiesthat will fit the needs of the students. Active and direct participation in classroomexploration reflects what we know aboutchildhood development. Children tend to take interest in what is mostrelevant and important to them. Integration can be cross-curricular ie) studentscould act out a historical tableaux (Drama B1.1) 9. RESOURCES FOR SOCIAL STUDIESLESSON/UNIT PLANNING Includes lessons created by teachers based onthe Ontario Curriculumhttp://orgs.educ.queensu.ca/curr/ Links to websites to support research for socialstudies topicshttp://linktolearning.com/social_studies.htm An extensive collection of online lesson planresources, organized by subject areahttp://edselect.com/ 10. National Council for the Social Studies, a USorganization that supports social studies educatorswww.socialstudies.org Online versions of the Ontario Curriculum documentshttp://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/ An interesting article discussing the controversysurrounding Social Studies in the US classroomhttp://www.education.com/reference/article/controversy-social-studies-programs/ or textbookEssentials of Elementary Social Studies by ThomasN. Turner 11. THOUGHTS? What could be a simple way to incorporate thefundamental concept of Culture into play-basedlearning? What are the similarities and differencesbetween the concepts/disciplines listed for theOntario Curriculum and those listed in theNational Standards? Are there any that weleave out that you believe should be included?(hint: chapter 14 of Developmentally AppropriateCurriculum) 12. Basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematicsare necessary but they alone do not preparestudents to participate effectively in a worlddemanding independent and cooperativeproblem solving to address complex social,economic, ethical, and personal issues. (GCSS) In our schools system today, there is a greateremphasis placed on literacy and numeracy.How could you incorporate social studies intothese areas? 13. SOURCES CITED Klein et al. Teaching and Learning SocialStudies in the Elementary Grades in Georgia.Web. 14 May. 2013. National Council for the Social Studies. Web. 14May 2013. Ontario Ministry of Education. The OntarioCurriculum Grades 1-6: Social Studies. 2004.Print.