At the intersection of social studies and world language curricula are opportunities to explore students' prior learning with vocabulary-rich content designed to support language acquisition goals. "Funds of knowledge" is defined as socio-cultural, economic, and historical knowledge from home and community settings. The instructional…

What does it mean to teach meaningful and powerful social studies? What curricular frameworks might be useful to this end? What does vibrant social studies look like in the classroom? The purpose of this article is twofold--to propose a curricular and pedagogical framework for teaching powerful social studies and to illustrate outstanding…

According to the authors, five years ago their school district embraced Understanding by Design as the organizing framework for curriculum. The emphasis on enduring understandings and essential questions led the sixth grade social studies teachers to reevaluate what they were teaching in their World History Curriculum. Together the authors worked…

Integrating the visual and performing arts is one clear and concrete strategy to engage students in learning social studies content and concepts while making them interactive and relevant to their daily lives. In this article, the authors offer a rationale for teaching integrated arts with social studies, provide a framework for planning, and…

The population of American schools has continually become more diverse over time and so too have the needs of the students as well as the responsibilities of teachers. One must include in this multicultural amalgam those who have learning disabilities (LD). Arguably, nowhere else in society are disabilities so openly recognized and acknowledged as…

It is no secret that language arts and math are the dominant features of the elementary curriculum. This is especially the case in Kindergarten through third grades. In many states, the thrust of the curriculum in the primary grades is on learning to read. After that, it is thought that students will then be able to read to learn. With that…

Maintains that alphabet books are an overlooked valuable resource for children's literature to enhance social studies instruction. Possible uses include introducing students to new concepts and ideas as well as initiating group discussions and creative activities. Presents an annotated bibliography of 38 alphabet books. (CFR)

Stating that the essential characteristics of citizenship are found in children's natural social interactions, the authors argue that sports should be used in citizenship education to teach rules, roles, consequences, respect, allegiance, winning, losing, and fairness. Teaching suggestions include a list of exemplary sports heroes, illustrative…

Maintains that young children view the world holistically, and thus the social studies curriculum should emphasize the concept of integration. Provides two sample lessons on soup in which students explore geographic concepts, history, economics, and the sociology of soup consumption and production. Includes teaching strategies and learning goals.…

Asserts that the reunification of Germany and its significance in the European Community provide a catalyst for U.S. social studies teachers to include instruction about Germany at all grade levels. Includes a teacher resource page with information about schools and student life in Germany. (CFR)

Maintains that the wide-ranging children's literature of Jane Yolen created a rainbow of effective instructional materials for elementary social studies. Recommends instructional strategies for teachers using Yolen's books. Presents a bibliographic essay describing 12 Yolen books. (CFR)

Describes the social studies curriculum at Oceanside School District in Long Island (New York) that focuses on the concept of essential questions. Explains that the teachers wanted the questions to reflect an awareness of current world problems that students could identify, discuss, and debate in a creative and age appropriate manner. (CMK)

Describes how collaborative efforts between the Florida Department of Education and a private company led to a K-8 technology-based social studies curriculum. Describes the social studies content included in the primary, intermediate, and middle school years. Provides examples of how teachers might use the curriculum. (CFR)

Reviews criticism of elementary social studies textbooks, focusing on how the written text, the pictures, and graphics often seem unrelated. Asserts that the inclusion and use of literature selections in K-3 social studies textbooks is a newly emerging strategy. (CFR)

Contends that elementary teachers should use literature in their classrooms to teach essential social studies concepts. Describes types of literature useful in the social studies classroom. Includes recommended children's books for each of eight categories of literature. (CFR)