1. Social Studies Methods for the Elementary School and Preservice Teachers Timothy D. Slekar 1/27/99 State University of New York: Cortland

2. Student Experiences “In elementary school, I don’t recall one unit relating to history or even social studies. I assume that it must have existed but I just don’t remember.... To be quite honest, when I think or hear of the word history, there are few topics that make me cringe more.... For years, I sat at my desk frantically trying to copy down all the required material to memorize....” David “When I think about social studies classes,... I’m not sure why I learned it. The teachers said it is... important to know.” Kristen

3. Student Experiences Recalling my experiences, I think about how I might teach social studies... and my first instinct was to say that without a doubt I want to be a student centered teacher. But I have not been exposed to that sort of social studies teaching, so the chances of me actually becoming that kind of teacher are slim.” Beth

4. Self Examination Construct New Understandings http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/k12/livetext/curricula/general/webcurr.html

5. How Case Study Research Ramona Palmer: Storyteller Modeling Mr. Cockrell. He made things interesting. I remember he would dress up in Civil War outfits and other costumes. Everyone could see his enthusiasm shining through. It was obvious that he loved the subject. Now, I look back on teachers like him when thinking about my own teaching style.” Warren

6. How Thematic Content 1) Allows for the integration of all the social studies. 2) Allows for the integration of current events. 3) Promotes critical analysis. http://www.learn.umd.edu/presentations/slekweb/histpage.html

7. Why National Council of Social Studies Thematic Standards 1.. CULTURE AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY 2. TIME, CONTINUITY, AND CHANGE Teachers can begin to help learners recognize that individuals may hold different views about the past and understand the linkages between human decisions and consequences. Teachers of these grades can lay the foundation for the development of historical knowledge, skills, and values. 3. PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ENVIRONMENT Teachers of the early grades can use learners' immediate personal experiences to have them reflect upon elements in their environment and how we use and think about the physical and built environment. They can also stimulate learners' interest in things distant and unfamiliar and help lay the foundation for concern about the use and abuse of the physical environment. 4. INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT AND IDENTITY

8. 5. INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, AND INSTITUTIONS 6. POWER, AUTHORITY, AND GOVERNANCE 7. PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONSUMPTION Teachers of the early grades can help learners begin to differentiate between wants and needs. They can have learners explore economic decisions as they compare their personal economic experiences with those of others and consider the wider consequences of those decisions on groups, communities, the nation, and beyond. 8. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY Teachers of young learners can also challenge them to consider ways to monitor science and technology to protect the physical environment, individual rights, and the common good. 9. GLOBAL CONNECTIONS 10. CIVIC IDEALS AND PRACTICES

9. The grade five program stresses geographic, economic, and social/cultural understandings related to the United States, Canada, and nations in Latin America today.... Where appropriate, the grade five program should use contemporary examples of case studies to help students understand the content understandings that follow. Why New York State Department of Education: The Social Studies Resource Guide

10. History Different people living in the Western Hemisphere may view the same event or issue from different perspectives.Geography Industrial growth and development and urbanization have had important impacts onCanada, Latin America, and the United StatesEconomics Science and technology have influenced the standard of living in nations in North, Central and South America. Exchanges of technologies, plants, animals, and diseases between and among nations of the Americas and Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa have changed life in these regions.