Engaging Students in the Social Studies Classroom.

One of the greatest activities of a teacher’s life is to see students engaged in the subject matter. Watching your students focus on the key concepts of social studies and having to use the facts to justify their ideas is just an amazing experience. Recently, one of my former students thanked me for getting him turned on to learning social studies, I told him my job is to light the fire, yours is to make it happen. By the way he has, a state senator, U.S. Ambassador, and more. That is just one example of the impact we can have as teachers on some students (not all…lol). In a nine part series of articles I will address the following topics and give examples of suggestions on how to make your social studies class an interactive experience for students and the teacher. I hope you enjoy it! 

A nine part series

1. Developing a critical thinking mentality – using the controversy of key decisions.
2. Making the connection to current events
3. Thematic – project based units
4. Debates and Discussions
5. Using technology as a tool for learning
6. The role of international connections
7. Real world based units- the case for Global Studies
8. Using classroom simulations and activities
9. How to approach the online teaching of social studies – discussions, content, connections, and project based learning

Each of these topics are designed to give a new or experienced teacher some ideas that they can possibly incorporate into their classroom.