While social studies educators suggest that social studies instruction can and should be taught both through literacy-integrated delivery as well as independently from other subjects, many elementary classroom teachers often find that school expectations or district mandates leave little instructional time for any subject that is not specifically…

A mini-economy is an ongoing classroom project in which elementary school students apply for jobs, receive simulated income, go shopping at the classroom store, and ultimately create their own businesses. This study uses design-based research methodology to find out what classroom practices emerge when the College, Career, and Civic Life Framework…

There is a need to establish and nurture a relationship between urban and suburban students and the natural world. This relationship needs to be personal and immediate. They need to see the wilder life that survives and sometimes flourishes in "their" world--not miles away in the hills and mountains or hidden beneath the sea, but outside…

A real-life experience is a "moving force" that can be part of the elementary social studies curriculum. This article discusses an experiential learning about India and describes how the author integrates the arts and service learning in his third grade classroom. It also describes class activities that enhance social studies curriculum…

Schools are complex institutions in which change occurs almost constantly. As each new piece of information is learned, the learner is changed, never to return to the same state they were prior to the act of learning, (Morrison, 2002). This study investigates the impact of interdisciplinary lesson study on teachers' instructional decisions and…

In this article, the author discusses a five-month interdisciplinary bird study that she designed for her seventh-grade students that combines life science, technology, writing, art, mathematics, social studies and literature. The driving force behind this yearly unit is the BirdSleuth eBird program (formerly the Cornell University Classroom…

Eric Hoffer's book, "The True Believer," was used in the classroom to help students understand mass movements and the problematic nature of leadership. Suggests a variety of activities to be used in conjunction with the book. (CS)

"Iggie's House" by Judy Blume is the story of one week in the life of an eleven-year-old White girl when a Black family moves into her middle-class neighborhood. Presented are lesson plans and learning activities for using the novel in social studies courses for intermediate or junior high school students. (RM)

By reading the novel "From Anna," students will learn about the challenges and problems facing new Canadians and develop a sensitivity to the situations and challenges faced by students with a physical handicap. Learning activities are presented. (RM)

Describes an elementary school program of free enterprise education that involves students in real, money-making business activities. Discusses previous class projects and methods for integrating all aspects of education into this program. Provides guidelines for starting a similar program. (GEA)

By participating in these class activities, students will acquire mathematical skills and at the same time learn about aging. Topics related to aging are often quantitative, and therefore, subject to mathematical analysis and procedures. The activities, which contain teacher suggestions and all student handouts, deal with seven topics. In the…

Thanks to a generous grant from a family foundation, two retired art teachers from Washington Elementary School in Evanston, Illinois, were brought back to facilitate a series of special projects, giving every child in the school a meaningful experience with clay. Each grade level team was asked to decide on a part of the curriculum they wished to…

What social studies project challenges students with interdisciplinary learning, engages their various abilities and learning styles, offers them the opportunity for collaborative work-and encourages them to speak in strange voices? The answer is an eighth grade radio drama project. For most of the month of March 2004, the entire eighth grade at…

Both literature teachers who take the time to teach historical background and history teachers who take the time to incorporate literature into their classes will help students to discover that life is multidimensional. Some practical activities are required to correlate language arts with social studies. One such activity involves assigning…