The Junior Knight Camp is an annual summer program that specifically supports elementary school students in an effort to increase knowledge of social studies using an interdisciplinary thematic approach. This interdisciplinary approach includes STEM, the arts, literacy, and physical education. The camp operates on multiple campuses of the…

This research study focuses on preservice teachers' (n=66) inspection of pedagogical connections between geography and geometrical reasoning. The aim of this study was to empirically investigate the use of mathematical analysis to enrich the social studies topics of the distortion of country sizes on the world map. The analysis of data collected…

Despite elementary teacher education programs preparing preservice teachers in the main content areas of literacy, math, science, and social studies, few elementary school classrooms teach all four content areas on a regular and thorough basis. Therefore, elementary education teacher preparation programs should be redesigned to support an…

The objectives of this research were to (1) synthesize competency of digital citizenship and concepts of interdisciplinary community-based learning; and (2) propose guidelines of interdisciplinary community-based learning management for promoting digital citizenship of pre-service teachers in the Thai context. The research was qualitative research…

The authors argue that the narrowing of the K-12 curriculum in the past twenty years has changed the relationship between K-12 schoolteachers and the community. Using an ecological perspective as the theoretical lens, the article describes these changes as well as an effort by an economic development organization in Indiana to help rebuild those…

Tracy A. Sugarman served in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant, junior grade, in the European theater during World War II. During his years of service from 1942-45, in addition to writing letters home, he recorded his experiences through original artwork. His sketches and watercolor paintings, completed before, during, and after D-Day, with titles such…

This study examined the self-efficacy in science, art, dance, and music; attitudes concerning contributions of people of various ethnic/cultural groups; and science learning of students involved in an after-school arts-integrated science enrichment project. Students dramatized three traditional animal legends from African, Native American, and…

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…

In this article, the author discusses how he began a series of lessons on the French and Indian War era. He incorporates physical activity, paintings, artifacts, diaries and discussions into the lessons, so that students in fourth grade through middle school can get a real feel for what the colonial frontier was like. He emphasizes that using…

Describes gardening activities teachers can use to promote cognitive and social growth in their students. A garden may serve as a natural laboratory where students may develop a caring ethic and observe the connection between production and consumption. Provides suggestions for adapting the gardening activity to any grade level. (LS)

States that learning is most effective when the learner has a basic understanding of established goals, when individual differences are considered, and when concept learning is enhanced by connecting first hand experiences. Advocates the use of social studies activities as a meaningful and logical way to enhance language and learning skills. (GEA)

The elementary unit kits, interdisciplinary and self contained learning systems comprised of a variety of learning activities and media which approach a social studies topic through a method of inquiry, are examined. (SM)

Describes a two-year campaign by ninth grade students in an English class to get state and national legislation recognizing an annual Children's Day passed. The steps of the campaign and the language arts and social studies learning used by students are discussed. (AM)

Describes elementary level simulation resulting in products which participants sell to fellow students. The project includes basic lessons in economics, forming a corporation, applying for and receiving a loan, shopping trips, production, advertising, and market analysis. (KC)

Based on the premise that social studies programs must involve students in dynamic learning and language activities, the article discusses thought and language in social studies education and describes an Ohio State University Program which integrates social studies instruction and active learning-language experiences. (KC)