1. Social Studies in the Middle Teaching Assistant: Jeni Venker Weidenbenner, MLIS, MAT, PhD Student

2. What does Social Studies include? The Social Studies PsychologyAnthropologyReligionHistory Political Science/ Law ArchaeologyPhilosophyGeographyEconomicsSociology

3. Social Studies is... “Social Studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence. Within the school program, social studies provides coordinated, systematic study drawing upon such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, law, philosophy, religion, and sociology, as well as appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences. The primary purpose of social studies is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.” (Expectations for Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, NCSS, 1994)

4. Why is Social Studies in the middle? Mathematics Natural Sciences Language Arts The Arts The Social Studies

5. Pair & Share Imagine that your middle school team is planning an integrated unit on sports and society... Think of a few guiding questions that you could use to focus the unit. Which core content areas do they encompass?

6. Social Studies + Language = Is it legal and/or fair to place gender restrictions on who can participate in intramural or interscholastic sports? The Arts Mathematics Social Studies + Math = Which countries in the world have the highest percentages of middle school boys and girls playing team sports? Social Studies + Science = How have specific physical and environmental adaptations over the course of history affected humans’ capabilities to engage in different types of sports? Social Studies + The Arts = How has the role of dance in society changed in the past 100 years? The Social Studies Examples of Content Intersections

7. What are the themes of Social Studies? Culture Time, Continuity, and Change People, Places, and Environment Individual Development and Identity Individuals, Groups, and Institutions Power, Authority, and Governance Production, Distribution, and Consumption Science, Technology, and Society Global Connections Civic Ideals and Practices Adapted from: Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, National Council for the Social Studies, 1994.

8. What are the essential concepts of Social Studies education? Causality Conflict Cooperation Cultural change Differences Interdependence Modification Power Societal control Tradition Values Adapted from:Szymanski Sunal, C. and Haas, M.E. (2005). Social Studies for the Elementary and Middle Grades: A Constructivist Approach, 2 nd ed. Boston: Pearson.

9. What attitudes and behaviors promote Social Studies learning? Curiosity to Experience, Explore, and Investigate Respect for Evidence –Asking for evidence (i.e. How do you know that’s true?) –Perseverance in gathering evidence –Consideration of conflicting evidence Reserving Judgment Flexibility in Drawing Conclusions (i.e. As far as we can tell...) Sensitivity and Responsibility for Others and the Environment Values, Morals, and Aesthetics