Social Studies Issues & Trends

"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest" - Benjamin Franklin

This section of my blog includes useful resources to suit a variety of people interested in exploring the fascinating world of social studies: the present day educator, parents wanting to ensure their children have an exposure to and appreciation of everything social studies has to offer us, and students who have a hunger to learn more and apply their curiosity.

Book List - Included in this section is a list of relevant trade books for students in grades 1-8 that include social studies themes and concepts.  The suggested grade level is included, but this guideline may of course be modified and able to be enjoyed by other ages.  Many of these books were retrieved from: Notable Social Studies Books

1. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Kelly, J.  (2009).  The evolution of calpurnia tate.  New York: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.

6^th grade

   2.  Brown Girl Dreaming

Woodson, J.  (2014).  Brown girl dreaming.  New York: Nancy Paulsen Books.

6^th grade

3. Moon Over Manifest

Vanderpool, C.  (2010).  Moon over manifest.  New York: Delacorte Press.

5^th-6^th grade


4.  Turtle in Paradise

Holm, J.  (2010).  Turtle in paradise.  New York: Random House Children’s Books.

4^th grade


5.  Penny from Heaven

Holm, J. (2006).  Penny from heaven.  New York: Random House Children’s Books.

4^th-5^th grade


6.  Dead End in Norvelt

Gantos, J. (2011).  Dead end in norvelt.  New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. 

6^th grade


7.  I am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education and Changed the World (Young Reader’s Edition)

Yousafzai, M. (2014).  I am malala: how one girl stood up for education and changed the world (young reader’s edition).  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

6^th grade

  8.   Anne Frank’s Chestnut Tree

Kohuth, J.  (2014).  Anne frank’s chestnut tree.  Random House Books for Young Readers.
2^nd-3^rd grade


9.  Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909

Markel, M.  (2014).  Brave girl: Clara and the shirtwaist maker’s strike of 1909.  Balzer & Bray, Harper Collins.

1^st-2^nd


10.   Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People

Rubin, S.G.  (2014).  Diego rivera: An artist for the people.  Abrams Books for Young Readers. 

5^th grade


11.  Becoming Ben Franklin: How a Candle Maker’s Son Helped Light the Flame of Liberty

Freedman, R. (2014).  Becoming ben franklin: How a candle maker’s son helped light the flame of liberty.  Holiday House.

4^th-5^th grade

    12.  Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World

Kidder, T. (2014).  Mountains beyond mountains: The quest of dr. paul farmer, a man who would cure the world.  Random House.

7^th-8^th grade

13.  Look Up!  Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer

Burleigh, R. (2014). Look up! Henrietta leavitt, pioneering woman astronomer.  Paula Wiseman Books, Simon and Schuster. 

6^th-7^th grade

    14.  Nelson Mandela

Nelson, K.  (2014).  Nelson mandela.  Katherine Tegen Books, Harper Collins.

4^th grade

15.  Frog Song

Guiberson, B. (2014).  Frog song. Henry Holt, Macmillan.

2^nd-5^th grade

16.  Touch the Sky: Alice Coachman, Olympic High Jumper

Malaspina, A. (2013). Touch the sky: Alice coachman, Olympic high jumper. Albert Whitman and Company.

3^rd grade

    17.  Stolen into Slavery

Fradin, J; Fradin, D. (2013). Stolen into slavery. National Geographic Children’s Books.

4^th-5^th grade

    18.  Black Gold: The Story of Oil in our Lives

Marrin, A. (2013).  Black gold: The story of oil in our lives. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

6^th-8^th grade

    19.  The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Kamkwamba, W; Mealer, B. (2013). The boy who harnesses the wind. Dial.

2^nd or 3^rd grade

    20.  The Camping Trip that Changed America

Rosenstock, B. (2013). The camping trip that changed america. Dial.

4^th grade

    21.  Starry River of the Sky

Lin, G. (2013). Starry river of the sky. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

3^rd-4^th grade

22.  These Bees Count!

Formento, A. (2013). These bees count! Albert Whitman & Company.

1^st-3^rd grade

   23.  Saving Animals from Oil Spills

Person, S. (2013). Saving animals from oil spills.  Bearport Publishing.

3^rd-4^th grade

24.  Outcasts United: The Story of a Refugee Soccer Team That Changed a Town

St. John, W. (2013). The story of a refugee soccer team that changed a town. Delacorte Books for Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books.

6^th-8^th grade

25.  My Heart Will Not Sit Down

Rockliff, M. (2013). My heart will not sit down. Knopf Books for Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books.

1^st-2^nd grade

26.  The Story of Silk: From Worm Spit to Woven Scarves

Sobol, R. (2013). From worm spit to woven scarves. Candlewick Press.

5^th grade

27.  Tua and the Elephant

Harris, R.P. (2013). Tua and the elephant. Chronicle Books.

4^th-6^th grade

28.  Crow

Wright, B. (2013). Crow.  Random House Books for Young Readers.

6^th-8^th grade

29.  Discovering Black America: From the Age of Exploration to the Twenty-First Century

Tarrant-Reid, L. (2013). Discovering black america: From the age of exploration to the twenty-first century. Abrams Books for Young Readers.

6^th-8^th grade

30.  Here Come the Girl Scouts!

Corey, S. (2013). Here come the girl scouts! Scholastic Press.

2^nd-3^rd grade

31.  The Great Molasses Flood: Boston, 1919

Kops, D. (2013). The great molasses flood: Boston, 1919. Charlesbridge.

4^th-5^th grade

32.  Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington

Asim, J. (2013). Fifty cents and a dream: Young booker t. washington. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

1^st-3^rd grade

33.  I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery

Grady, C. (2013). I lay my stitches down: Poems of american slavery. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

4^th-9^th grade

34.  Marching to the Mountaintop

Basum, A. (2013). Marching to the mountaintop. National Geographic Children’s Books.

8^th-12^th grade

35.  Jump Into the Sky

Pearsall, S. (2013). Jump into the sky. Knopf Books For Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books.

4^th-6^th grade

36.  Tracks

Wilson, D.L. (2013). Tracks. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

5^th-8^th grade

37.  Unspoken: A Story From the Underground Railroad

Cole, H. (2013). Unspoken: A story from the underground railroad. Scholastic Press.

3^rd-4^th grade

38.  Walking on Earth and Touching the Sky: Poetry and Prose by Lakota Youth at Red Cloud Indian School

Edited by: McLaughlin, T. (2013). Walking on earth and touching the sky: Poetry and prose by lakota youth at red cloud indian school. Abrams Books for Young Readers.

1^st-9^th grade

39.  I, Too, Am America

Hughes, L. (2013). I, too, am america. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing.

2^nd-5^th grade

40.  Drawing From Memory

Say, A. (2012). Drawing from memory. Scholastic Press.

6^th-9^th grade

    41.  Irena Sadler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto

Rubin, S.G. (2012). Irena sadler and the children of the warsaw ghetto. Holiday House.

3^rd-4^th grade

42.  The House Baba Built: An Artist’s Childhood in India

Koponen, L. (2012). The house baba built: An artist’s childhood in india. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

4^th-5^th grade

    43.  Me…Jane

McDonnell, P. (2012). Me…jane.  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

1^st-3^rd grade

    44.  Marco Polo: History’s Great Adventurer

Twist, C. (2012). Marco polo: History’s great adventurer. Candlewick Press

4^th-6^th grade

    45.  Queen of the Falls

Van Allsburg, C. (2012). Queen of the falls. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

1^st-3^rd grade

     46.  Music was IT: Young Leonard Bernstein

Rubin, S.G. (2012). Music was it: Young leonard Bernstein. Charlesbridge

6^th-8^th grade

    47.  Wild Women of the Wild West

Winter, J. (2012). Wild woman of the wild west. Holiday House

4^th-6^th grade

  

    48.  A Storm Called Katrina

Uhlberg, M. (2012). A storm called katrina. Peachtree Publishers

2^nd-4^th grade

     49.  Big Turtle

McLimans, D. (2012). Big turtle. Walker & Company

2^nd-4^th grade

     50.  Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of the Prohibition

Blumenthal, K. (2012). Bootleg: Murder, moonshine, and the lawless years of the prohibition. Flash Point/Roaring Book Press

6^th-8^th grade

Social Studies Films - This section highlights relevant social studies films in order to support learning and understanding of important historical events, current events and issues, and other significant themes.

• Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) - Lesson Plan Idea This film highlights the ruling of Elizabeth I over England during what was known as The Golden Age, in the 16th century; a time of great religious turmoil and tumultuous relations with neighboring Catholic Spain as Elizabeth was Protestant.  
• CT Elementary Social Studies Framework - INQ 6–8.6 Gather relevant information from multiple sources while using the origin, authority, structure, context, and corroborative value of the sources to guide the selection. INQ 6–8.7 Evaluate the credibility of a source by determining its relevance and intended use.

• The Help (2011) - Lesson Plan Idea  This film depicts the plight of the African American maid during the 1960's in the South.  A young white woman returns home from college and interviews black maids to gain a first hand perspective on their trials and tribulations in a powerful, moving account of the cruel and unfair treatment African Americans endured during this time period.
• CT Elementary Social Studies Framework - INQ 6–8.15 Draw on multiple disciplinary lenses to analyze how a specific problem can manifest itself at local, regional, and global levels over time, identifying its characteristics and causes, and the challenges and opportunities faced by those trying to address the problem.  HIST 8.5 Analyze how people’s perspectives influenced what information is available in the historical sources they created.

• Smoke Signals (1998) - Lesson Plan Idea  This film shows a young Native American boy named Victor living on a reservation in Idaho who must make peace with his now deceased father.  Modern Native American culture is represented and it is very interesting to see how Native Americans cope with living on reservations in the modern day U.S.
• CT Elementary Social Studies Framework - HIST 8.1 Analyze connections among events and developments in historical contexts. HIST 8.2 Classify series of historical events and developments as examples of change and/or continuity.  HIST 8.5 Analyze how people’s perspectives influenced what information is available in the historical sources they created.

• The Color of Friendship (2000) -  Lesson Plan Idea A family of an African American congressman hosts a foreign exchange student from South Africa.  The daughter and visiting student, Mahree and Piper, form a friendship that transcends challenges of apartheid, racism, and intolerance.  
• CT Elementary Social Studies Framework - HIST 8.3 Analyze multiple factors that influenced the perspectives of people during different historical eras. HIST 8.4 Explain how and why perspectives of people have changed over time (e.g., American Revolution, slavery, labor, the role of women).  GEO 2.6 Identify cultural and environmental characteristics of a place/region.

• Ben And Me (1953) - Lesson Plan Idea  A poor mouse named Amos befriends Benjamin Franklin in a cute tale that depicts Franklin's complex life as a patriot, scientist, inventor, and author.  
• CT Elementary Social Studies Framework - HIST 2.2 Compare life in the past to life today. HIST 2.3 Generate questions about individuals and groups who have shaped a significant historical change.  HIST 5.5 Explain connections among historical contexts and people’s perspectives at the time.

Technology & Apps to Support Learning - In the 21st century, using technology in the classroom can greatly amplify any lesson and make the learning goals more accessible for each and every type of learner.  As educators, it is imperative that we are aware of new and useful apps to incorporate into our classrooms to elevate the quality of our daily lessons and activities.  Our elementary students will be expected to be technologically literate and able to navigate through various apps in order to be successful learners and citizens in our world.  Here is a list of useful and interesting apps to enrich learning:

• Atlas for iPad - this free application provides access to maps and world facts, including waterways and clear labelling of countries and capitals.  Atlas for iPad could be utilized in various ways and may introduce students to places they've never heard of before or have no background knowledge on the geographic location.
• 3D National Parks Lite - this application, available for iPads, takes users on a virtual tour through U.S. National Parks in a graphic, 3D experience.  Students will have the opportunity to experience the wonder National Parks offer us without having to travel there.  Also great for incorporating into ELA lessons through writing narratives about the different sensory experiences while observing the beauty of the parks.
• United States Puzzle Maps & Europe Puzzle Maps - these applications are great for allowing students to practice and learn the various shapes of each state in the U.S. and the shapes of countries in Europe.  Students may learn more about the geography of the U.S. and Europe while playing a game that requires them to drag states/countries to their appropriate positions and once they have succeeded, they win.
• Constitution for iPad - allows students to review and analyze the U.S. Constitution as a primary source document, reviewing all of the contributors who signed off on the Constitution, as well as the values and laws important to the Founding Fathers at the very pivotal point of our country's history.
• Civil War America's Epic Struggle - this application features over 1,000 high resolution photographs, over an hour of multimedia presentations, over 100 authentic maps, numerous first-hand accounts, text articles, and biographies.  Great to introduce students to Civil War or to contribute to their repertoire of knowledge.

Local Connecticut Field Trips  - Below is a list of local field trips that would allow students to experience sites rich in history, people, and issues that have shaped the world and their town.

• Town Fire & Police Stations - Ideal for younger elementary age grades, K-1, field trips to a student's local town police station and fire station is an informative experience to gain exposure to the important roles of these facilities.  Students will increase their understanding about rules, laws, how communities work together, citizens' roles, etc.  HIST K.8 Generate possible reasons for an event or development in the past.  CIV K.1 Describe roles and responsibilities of people in authority (local/state/national e.g., judge, mayor, governor, police) CIV K.2 Explain how all people, not just official leaders, play an important role in a community. CIV K.3 Describe how communities work to accomplish common tasks, establish responsibilities, and fulfill roles of authority.  CIV K.6 Explain the need for and purposes of rules in various settings inside and outside of school.  CIV K.8 Identify and explain how rules function in public. CIV K.9 Describe how people have tried to improve their communities over time.
• Harriet Beecher Stowe Center - Harriet Beecher Stowe  This field trip would be ideal for grades 4 and above and may be customized to suit the grade/ability level. HIST 5.9 Explain probable causes and effects of events and developments. HIST 5.10 Use evidence to develop a claim about the past.  INQ 3–5.15 Draw on disciplinary concepts to explain the challenges people have faced and opportunities they have created, in addressing local, regional, and global problems at various times and places.
• The Mark Twain House & Museum - This field trip would suit grades 3 and above and may be modified to suit various grades/ability levels.  HIST 3.2 Compare life in specific historical time periods to life today. HIST 3.3 Generate questions about individuals who have shaped significant historical changes and continuities.  HIST 3.8 Infer the intended audience and purpose of a historical source from information within the source itself.
• Mashantucket Pequot Museum - This field trip is best suited for grades 4 and above.  CIV 3.5 Identify the beliefs, experiences, perspectives, and values that underlie their own and others’ points of view about civic issues.  HIST 3.5 Describe how people’s perspectives shaped the historical sources they created.  HIST 5.4 Explain why individuals and groups during the same historical period differed in their perspectives. HIST 5.5 Explain connections among historical contexts and people’s perspectives at the time.
• Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History - The Peabody Museum is an ideal field trip for any grade level, as the museum provides many programs suited to each and every grade level that covers a plethora of topics, as seen here: Programs by Grade Level (art, biology, anthropology, Indians, geology) HIST 5.9 Explain probable causes and effects of events and developments. HIST 5.10 Use evidence to develop a claim about the past.  GEO 5.1 Use maps, satellite images, photographs, and other representations to explain relationships between the locations of places and regions and their environmental characteristics.

Strategies in teaching Social Studies - 

• Allowing students the opportunities to analyze a piece of information to gather evidence and form conclusions in collaborative experiences.  Firsthand primary accounts representing various issues, people, and places that require use of literacy skills and contribute to self awareness as well as the ability to relate to a multitude of experiences and situations is a primary goal of Social Studies teachers in the 21st century. 
• While analyzing primary source documents, the utilization of graphic organizers is a very useful supplement; as they may be differentiated for all types of learners and students, they are beneficial to organize the ideas and concepts presented in all types of work.
• Providing an assortment of tools and resources for students to use in analyzing issues and being presented with new concepts, such as: pictures, drawings, photographs, audio conferences, booklets, biographies, interviews, maps; it is also important to have oral and visual forms of literacy to allow for differentiation.
• Collaborative, cooperative learning opportunities in which students work together in small groups to pick apart a document, a letter in a text, a new law or concept fosters a shared learning goal and shared feelings of achievement and accomplishment when that goal is reached.  It provides a chance for all types of individuals and types of learners to work together toward a common goal.
• Social Inquiry opportunities allow students the chance to become detectives and examine the backgrounds of various issues through asking questions and gathering information from different sources and various perspectives in order to arrive at their own opinions or conclusions.  Presenting opportunities that require students to shift their perspective and leave their own personal perspectives and/or roles behind for a bit is a beneficial exercise for growth and expansion.    

The Importance of Social Studies - 

• "Social Studies is the reason for public schools" - TedTalk by James Kendra  Kendra argues that social studies is an extremely important pivotal part of our curriculum, but not when focusing solely on historical facts.  Kendra argues for the implementation of relating past to present so students can understand why society is the way it is and what has shaped and changed the ways in which society operates, so that students are able to make informed decisions about their own futures.
• Secretary of the State Denise Merrill presents her outlook on the importance of teaching social studies and civic engagement in our schools.  Denise Merrill
• National Geographic  Highly acclaimed National Geographic provides a plethora of useful and interesting information, in a visual and literacy format for people and students of all ages and levels, bridging the relation between social studies, science, sociology, anthropology, and more.