Growing Great Middle Schools with Social Studies Steve Molinari, Middle Grades Consultant DPI 2009 Middle Grades Conference March 17, 2009

Today’s Session ► Using Technology Tools to Unpack the Standards and Make Connections ► Take Your Students on a World Tour ► DPI Social Studies Updates

Using Technology Tools to Unwrap the Standards and Make Connections

Structure of Standards in Grades 6 and 7 ► “While concepts are drawn from history and the social sciences, the primary discipline is geography, especially cultural geography” ► “This focus provides students with a framework for studying local, regional, national, and global issues that concern them, for understanding the interdependence of the world in which they live, and for making informed judgments as active citizens“ - NC Standard Course of Study

Results of 2008 K-12 Geography Survey

Why Develop Global Understanding? ► "In the future globalization is going to be increasingly driven by the individuals who understand the flat world, adapt themselves quickly to the processes and technologies." - Thomas Friedman

Competency Goal 9: The learner will analyze the different forms of government developed in South America and Europe 9.01 Trace the historical development of governments including traditional, colonial, and national in selected societies and assess the effects on the respective contemporary political systems Describe how different types of governments such as democracies, dictatorships, monarchies, and oligarchies in selected areas of South America and Europe carry out legislative, executive, and judicial functions, and evaluate the effectiveness of each.

“Unwrap” The Objectives ► Larry Ainsworth ► Make objectives manageable ► Underline nouns and circle verbs

Unwrap Sixth Grade Objective 9.01 ► 9.01 Trace the historical development of governments including traditional, colonial, and national in selected societies and assess the effects on the respective contemporary political systems.

Unwrap Sixth Grade Objective 9.01

- Trace historical development of traditional government - Assess effects on contemporary political systems - Trace historical development of colonial government - Assess effects on contemporary political systems - Trace historical development of national government - Assess effects on contemporary political systems

Unwrap Sixth Grade Objective 9.02 ► 9.02 Describe how different types of governments such as democracies, dictatorships, monarchies, and oligarchies in selected areas of South America and Europe carry out legislative, executive, and judicial functions, and evaluate the effectiveness of each.

Unwrap Sixth Grade Objective 9.02 ► 9.02 Describe how different types of governments such as democracies, dictatorships, monarchies, and oligarchies in selected areas of South America and Europe carry out legislative, executive, and judicial functions, and evaluate the effectiveness of each.

- describe how democracies carry out legislative functions - describe how democracies carry out executive functions - describe how democracies carry out judicial functions - describe how dictatorships carry out legislative functions - describe how dictatorships carry out executive functions - describe how dictatorships carry out judicial functions - describe how monarchies carry out legislative functions - describe how monarchies carry out executive functions - describe how monarchies carry out judicial functions - describe how oligarchies carry out legislative functions - describe how oligarchies carry out executive functions - describe how oligarchies carry out judicial functions - evaluate effectiveness of each

Wikis ► A website where anyone with permission can add, edit, modify, or create content on that page. ► This provides a place for students to share their work with the class. ► Teacher maintains control. ► For more detailed information Wikis+Home Wikis+Home Wikis+Home

Goal 9 Wiki Page ►

Content Addressed 9.01 Trace historical development of governments Describe different types of governments carry out legislative, executive, and judicial functions Describe how governments select leaders in comparison with the US. Analyze strengths and weaknesses.

Take a World Tour with Google Maps

Take your students on a Tour ► Google Maps combines pictures with maps ► Pictures are posted by people from around the world ► They can feature people, landscapes, cultural events, architecture, famous sites

Start With Google Maps

Enter a City and Country

Choose Explore This Area

More Options…

More Photos

Explore!

Classroom Applications ► Find an image illustrating each of the five themes. (Goal 1) ► Create a travel brochure for a city. Integrate the five themes. (Goal 1) ► Find evidence of how physical characteristics of a region impact the culture of that region (dress, lifestyles, architecture, etc.) (Goal 2)

Classroom Applications ► Identify common characteristics of countries in Asia, Africa, or Australia. (Goal 11) ► Give evidence of religion’s influence on the culture of an area. (Goal 12) ► Find similarities and differences among cultures of the regions and that of North Carolina. (Goal 13)

Social Studies Web Page Social Studies Web Page ► Announcements ► Updates ► Resources ► Professional Development Opportunities ► Contact Information

Concept Based Curriculum and Instruction ► Pilot program continuing through Spring 2009 ► Involved 3 High Schools and 4 Middle Schools ► Training will be available online Summer 2009 ► Contact Fay Gore for more information

Integrating Technology in the K-12 Social Studies Classroom ► Completing our second cohort Spring 2009 ► Blogs, Geocaching, Google Earth, Google Docs, Moodle, Movie Maker, Podcasting, Wikis ► How do these fit in Social Studies? ► For more information contact Michelle McLaughlin

Personal Financial Literacy downloadable webinars : downloadable webinars : - How does the Economic Crisis Impact me? - How does the Economic Crisis Impact me? - Investment Fraud - Investment Fraud - How to Prepare for Tax Time - How to Prepare for Tax Time ► Grade appropriate lessons, multi-media resources, contact information found at

Future Online Resources ► Integrating Oral History into the Middle Grades Classroom ► Service Learning Projects in Secondary Schools ► Using Primary Documents ► Kids In Action – Revised and Updated

Revised Newsletter ► The Social Studies Exchange ► Bi-monthly ► Thematic, curriculum connections, technology connections, resources, links to online resources ► Spotlight on educators ► DPI Sponsored Professional Development

Economics Professional Development ► Grant funded from NCCEE ► Teachers receive curricular materials and training ► Three high school sessions on Virtual Economics ► Middle grades session June 10 at Fayetteville State University ► Elementary School session July 2009 in Johnston County ► FREE!

NC Language and Life Project ► Partnership with NCSU Linguistics Program ► Free video, audio, and curriculum resources ► All (will be) available for download on their website ► Great for Eighth Grade

How Do I Keep Up To Date? ► Join our the Social Studies Listserv ► Fay Gore at

Contact Information Steve Molinari, Consultant (919) Tracey Greggs, Section Chief (919) Social Studies Website