This social studies activity helps primary students understand the trial process by putting literary characters on trial (e.g., Goldilocks for breaking and entering or Cruella DeVille for stealing dalmatians). Alternatively, students can try real-life problems such as bullying on the playground. Through role playing, students learn how the justice…

A social studies wax museum can teach elementary students facts as they celebrate Halloween. A primary activity has students determine historic scenes to include in the wax museum, practice their poses, and put on a Halloween show. An intermediate activity has students research historic events, interpret information, create backdrops and props,…

This K-8 activity helps students visually highlight the lives of notable women using 3-D biography boxes. Students read a biography, create the boxes, fill in all six sides with pictures and information, place one item in the box that their subjects would treasure, and make class presentations. A sample box is provided. (SM)

Puppets provide simple, effective ways to connect social studies and language arts, promote cooperation, and teach about other cultures. The article describes how to make puppets and presents two elementary-level puppet activities. One teaches cultural values using puppets as storytellers; the other explains how to create a puppet play. (SM)

Describes how one elementary educator teaches her social studies students to express ideas with clarity and speak persuasively by completing a critical thinking and speaking activity that requires them to draw on the knowledge they just acquired and resolve an issue. Activities include simulating a Senate hearing and creating a talk show. (SM)

A fifth-grade teacher discusses why she teaches with historical fiction, presenting tips on choosing good historical fiction, reviewing her favorite new historical fiction books, and highlighting how to use historical fiction to teach by discussing Pocahontas to help students differentiate between make-believe and history. (SM)

One way to give students a firsthand feel for other cultures is to turn them into sleuths who investigate authentic artifacts from various cultures. This article explains how one teacher borrows artifacts from a local museum, then creates a mystery to solve that provides hands-on learning. Suggests ideas to use instead of artifacts. (SM)

This K-6 social studies activity teaches students about the flag's origin while reviewing literacy skills. Students perform a poem entitled "The Flag We Love," which, in rhyming verse, explains the history and symbolism of the flag. Over eight days, students prepare for the performance, and on the ninth day, they perform a choral reading…

This K-3 social studies activity combines art and language arts with social studies skills and attitudes. Teachers use the old Japanese tradition of story cards to check students' comprehension, give them practice in oral communication, and develop their visual/spatial intelligence, all while teaching them about another culture. (SM)