This meta-analysis examined if students writing about content material in science, social studies, and mathematics facilitated learning (k = 56 experiments). Studies in this review were true or quasi-experiments (with pretests), written in English, and conducted with students in Grades 1 to 12 in which the writing-to-learn activity was part of…

One of the best ways to enrich students' social studies experience is to include assignments in which students interact with social studies content and skills. In this article, the author explains how teachers can use writing exercises to encourage such interaction. She describes the following writing activities: (1) acrostics; (2) haiku; (3)…

Presents eight short writing activities that do not involve grading papers or using the entire class period. The activities are intended to help students summarize lessons, increase comprehension and memory, organize facts and ideas, identify examination topics, and practice general writing skills. (GEA)

States that content area writing is an essential component in social studies in order to develop critical and reflective thinking. Points out ways of encouraging and developing student writing skills. to enhance this type of thinking. Provides five examples of writing assignments. (BSR)

This article provides an overview of how oral language and writing activities may be integrated into a typical kindergarten through sixth-grade social studies curriculum. (JDH)

Presents ten ideas for improving student writing skills in high school social studies courses. The ideas are based on the use of the writing cycle and lead students toward the preparation of a persuasive essay. (GEA)

Social studies teachers need to stress the concept of writing in the social studies. A quality curriculum advocates that learners write across the curriculum. Creating experience charts, developing and writing outlines, writing book reports and developing various activities around library books read, and writing diary entries are all activities…

In the traditional classroom, written reports assigned to students are generally returned as poorly written, reworded collections of facts taken from single sources. Cross-curriculum writing is a way of circumventing this and encouraging learning and thought development by the student. Writing is usually considered a communication skill, but…

Proposes using ceremonies in civics to involve students in writing, and to develop understanding of the achievements of various leaders and the impact of significant events on society. (MS)

Offers ideas for using comparative history in the classroom. Includes suggestions for using guided design, role playing, and an approach for a series of sequenced writing exercises. Uses the 1920s and 1970s for comparison, focusing on Teapot Dome and Watergate. (LS)

Discusses the importance of writing activities in the social studies, stating that teachers must plan assignments which provide opportunities for students to communicate their own understanding of the subject matter. Provides guidelines and examples of works of poetry, historical fiction, letter writing, and current events. (GEA)

Describes a genre-based approach to content writing instruction used in a fifth-grade social studies class in which the majority of the students came from English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) backgrounds. A unit on explorers and exploration used narrative, descriptive, persuasive, and expository writing assignments to improve the students'…

Presents a writing method which allows students to reflect upon issues and ideas and thus encourage understanding and retention of social studies content. Divides the writing process into prewriting, composing, and postwriting, and offers techniques for each element. Includes methods for evaluating student efforts. (LS)

A compilation of program ideas and related newspaper articles, cartoons, and visual aids, this booklet describes the objectives and procedure for the implementation of a pilot program at Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, that emphasizes ethics education and the value of writing as a means to promote critical thinking. The first…

The intent of this guide is to encourage teachers to have students write, both formally and informally, on a systematic basis. Three types of writing are emphasized: (1) journal writing; (2) research paper writing; and (3) essay writing. The section on journal writing includes a handout for the class explaining the purpose for journal writing and…