Concerns about environmental sustainability are constantly in the news as global warming, fossil fuels, and pollutants increasingly endanger habitats worldwide. What once were uncommon extreme environmental events have become commonplace--unseasonal intense heat, year-round drought, raging wildfires, rising sea levels, severe storms, massive…

When the author became a public-school teacher and decided to teach second-grade students about Jane Goodall, he could not find literature appropriate for seven-year-olds. Children's books about her lifework simply did not exist. So, the author used an encyclopedic entry and the knowledge he had from the documentary to form his own text, which was…

This article describes how one social studies class used chants to express themselves. One student's chant communicated her understandings of citizenship; it included three specific ways that she can be a good responsible citizen. This student's communication of ideas reflects the fourth dimension of the Inquiry Arc in the College, Career, and…

Today's teachers want to capture their learners' attention and strengthen their knowledge, skills, and dispositions "to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world." Social studies class can become the place and time where young learners begin…

A central aim of social studies curriculum is to prepare young people for making "informed and reasoned decisions for the public good" concerning consequential problems like global climate change. By developing students' "vision of a good society" and exploring what actions and policies move our society in this direction,…

The 2012 elections are the perfect opportunity to help students make sense of and visualize their role in the democratic society. In this article, the authors examine the benefits of building a class museum centered on the theme: "Government of the People, for the People, and by the People." They provide steps and examples to show how to build a…

People all over the world relish the opportunity to count down the final moments of the year and welcome an exciting New Year full of opportunities and fresh beginnings. Different cultures have historical traditions of welcoming in the New Year, from eating black-eyed peas in the American South to creating geometric "Rangoli" (a form of…

Young children can make real-life connections to the ideals, principles, and practices of citizenship through Service Learning, a teaching pedagogy and philosophy that addresses real community needs while fulfilling academic goals that meet specific national and state curricula and standards. Authentic and effective service learning projects offer…

For the past 60 years, the Census Bureau has enlisted the support of educators to bring to the community the message of the importance of a complete and accurate count of the population. The U.S. Census Bureau will deliver 2010 census questionnaires to every household in the United States in March 2010. The census questionnaire is composed of only…

Mary Ledbetter's fifth grade students at the University of Texas Elementary School know immigration well. Some of them are recent immigrants from Mexico, or they have family members who are. Several of Mary's students are first or second generation Americans. For Mary, immigration is one of the most important units she teaches, one that integrates…

By nurturing a sense of respect and value for self, others, and the world, teachers encourage children to become stewards of their school and home communities. Developing young children's sense of responsibility (understanding that their actions can have important and enduring impacts on others and on the environment) is a core value of Montessori…

In this article, the author discusses how she compares social studies instruction to weaving a tapestry of responsible citizenship. She discusses strategies she used to help students who have limited or no English (Limited English Proficiency, or LEP) make the transition from home to school. The author's teaching techniques have many sources. A…

People's attitudes towards ethnicity and culture are formed in their youth. Elementary school students have a great proclivity to develop a positive outlook towards diversity when appropriately guided by teachers and school administrators. As educators aim to create an integrated and harmonious society, they need to recognize that these early…

This article describes several websites that can be used to encourage students to vote. These include "The Democracy Project: Inside the Voting Booth" sponsored by PBS. This site addresses three elementary topics: how one vote has made a difference in U.S. history, how the right to vote has gradually been expanded to include minorities (African…

Discussing the effects of unethical economic behavior on young people, Schug presents suggestions for teaching about the values that are deeply rooted in our economic system. Highlighting the concepts of private property and individual responsibilities, he includes teaching ideas and a sample lesson that deals with property rights. (GEA)