Social Studies Education Articles for Teachers - Page 4

  On a recent trip to China, I had the unique opportunity to experience the local sights and sounds, as well as take part in an exchange with Chinese education counterparts. The trip was enthralling, exhilarating, and memorable. Some of my favorite moments were: Standing awe-struck atop the...

The words, vision and life of Martin Luther King Jr. have had a tremendous impact on history, culture, and society. He is a recognized figure across the globe, and the youngest man to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Each year, we take the third Monday of January to remember and honor his life and work...

November is Native American Indian Heritage Month. The days leading up to Thanksgiving, and those following the holiday, present a wonderful opportunity to explore the rich culture and traditions of America’s many tribes.  Introducing and Exploring Native American Culture I like to intr...

Treasure hunts may bring to mind pirates and hidden caches of jewels, but around May 2000, the phrase took on a whole new meaning. Geocaching is a global treasure hunt with millions of seekers. Participants use GPS enabled devices to track down hidden containers, and log their finds and experienc...

When the sky is blue and the sun is out, it is sometimes hard to keep students focused on their school work. One way to keep students' interest level high is to head outside, and conduct some open air lessons. Below are three different ways to supplement instruction with simple, fun and engaging ...

During my years of teaching I have explored many different methods of instruction; and although I’m not ready to subscribe to one specific school of thought, I am a strong proponent of using the Harkness method when it comes to teaching students in the upper grades/advanced classes. I think it’s ...

Whether you’re teaching a lesson on key figures from the Renaissance, influential politicians, or game-changing books, one man’s name will always be mentioned: Niccolo Machiavelli. That’s right history fans, Wednesday, May 3rd, marked the 542nd birthday of the man responsible for the eternal...

This week is Holocaust Remembrance Week, an eight day observance established by Congress to commemorate the tragic events that transpired in Eastern Europe before and during World War II. This year's theme is Justice and Accountability in the Face of Genocide: What Have We Learned? The United Sta...

The art movement known as the Dada Movement began in the early 20th century amidst the turmoil of World War I. The term “dada” has multiple meanings in different languages:  It means “yes, yes” in Russian and “hobbyhorse” in French. During this time, artists used the term to coin a...

One of the biggest challenges in any classroom is making content interesting, relevant, and engaging. Students are growing up in a world in which they are constantly looking to be entertained - but not necessarily educated. Great teachers, however, can combine the two by providing “edutainment” f...

Each day in our classrooms, we support and reinforce fairness, equality, and free thought. In our country’s past, there have been many moments in which these virtues were exemplified. Freethought Day on October 12th marks the commemoration of the end of the Salem Witch Trials....

Do today's students have any idea why we celebrate Labor Day? In our current economy, when families struggle, the work they perform becomes worth less and less. As jobs become harder and harder to come by, perhaps its time to emphasize that working conditions in America were much m...

Highly relevant plus under-discussed equals the Supreme Court of the United States. Let's face it, outside of the occasional Supreme Court nomination process or a highly divisive case, we rarely hear about it. Yet, the decisions they make are pivotal in the lives of all Americans. Most unquestion...

When I started thinking about where I could find some of the best ideas for teaching elementary social studies topics, the answer was simple; I asked some great teachers and their students. In this article I'm going to share some of my favorite ideas, and the best that th...

Students of all ages love amusement parks and theme parks. They love the rides, attractions, larger-than-life characters, and the games. Theme parks also provide a perfect opportunity for interdisciplinary instruction. Thematic amusement park projects can be assigned as either individual or ...