Social Studies Research and Practice: Volume 4 Issue 3

Understanding Core Democratic Values and Citizenship in the Fifth Grade

Carolyn O’Mahony

In Michigan’s state-wide social studies test, eleven-year-old students have been expected to defend or challenge a piece of public policy, citing a core democratic value in their…

Historical Timelines Analyzing Mutlimodal Text Design

Sonya Fox, Beryl Exley

The recent focus on literacy in Social Studies has been on linguistic design, particularly that related to the grammar of written and spoken text. When students are expected to…

Multiple Texts, Teacher Craft Knowledge, and Principled Practices in High School Economics A Case Study of Kenneth

Nancy T. Walker, Jennifer Wimmer, Thomas Bean

This article considers the current state of teacher discourse and reflection, situated in daily practice, craft knowledge, multiliteracies and new literacies. Based on studies of…

Textbooks and Primary Source Analysis

Jason C. Fitzgerald

In such a diverse society, some have suggested that teachers use primary source documents to increase history knowledge and build historical thinking skills. These calls come from…

Using Web 2.0 to Support Learning in the Social Studies Context Our Journey from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and Beyond

Lori B. Holcomb, Candy Beal, Amanda Robertson

This paper represents an overview of our journey utilizing and integrating technology in the social studies context. We describe and explain our initial efforts that used Web 1.0…

Teaching Historical and Current Events from Multiple Perspectives The Korean War and Six-Party Talks

Lin Lin, Yali Zhao, Masato Ogawa, John D. Hoge

Comparing international history textbooks creates a perfect opportunity for students to see the complexity and controversy of history interpretation of certain events. Such a…

Who is Teaching Social Studies? Pre-Service Teachers’ Reaction

Paula B. Mathis, Nichelle C. Boyd

In this article, the authors report the results of their pre-service teachers’ reflections with regards to observed social studies instruction in kindergarten through sixth grade…

Computer-Based Concept Mapping An Effective Academic Tool for Social Studies Teachers to Help with Linguistic and Academic Development of English Language Learners

Berna Mutlu

Academic language in social studies lessons is challenging for English Language Learners because of the language barrier. Social studies teachers need to make use of effective…

Notable Trade Book Lesson Pete for President Written by Daisy Alberto & Illustrated by Blanche Sims

Tracy Gawel Larson, Danilo M. Baylen

This lesson plan focuses on the election process that takes place in a K-12 classroom every year, i.e., the election of a class president. Concepts presented parallels in the…

Notable Trade Book Lesson Plan Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village Written by Amy Schlitz & Illustrated by Robert Byrd

Ashley G. Lucas

Amy Schlitz’s book Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! set in 1255 England is an extraordinary children’s book that explores life in a medieval village. This is not your typical storybook…

Four Women of Chicago Mothers of Progressive Education and Developers of John Dewey’s Idea

Lois McFadyen Christensen

John Dewey is well known for his progressive ideas and was credited by many historians as the father of progressive education, but where are the mothers? Dewey did not develop his…

Fractured Social Studies or Integrated Thinkers The End Results of Curriculum Integration

Patrice Preston-Grimes

In an effort to counter the effects of the reduction of social studies instruction that has resulted from the pressure to increase test scores in reading and mathematics, many…

Global Pollution Needs a Local Solution Russian and American Middle School Students Participate in a Videoconference

Elizabeth K. Wilson, Tammy Cook

This paper discusses how Russian and American social studies educators utilized a videoconference for engaging middle school students in the study of environmental issues. The…

Digital History with Student-Created Multimedia Understanding Student Perceptions

Mark Hofer, Kathy Swan

Social studies educators have displayed an interest in student-created multimedia, including digital documentaries. The research community has responded with a small but growing…