Workshop 4 Applying Themes and Disciplines Session Summary With so much to teach and so little time to teach it, organizing a social studies curriculum can be a daunting task. This session addresses the question: How do we decide what to teach? It is designed to help teachers use the NCSS themes and related academic disciplines as building blocks for the social studies curriculum, and to make teaching more comprehensive. To help you improve your lesson planning, in this session you will: Explore the themes and disciplines central to social studies. Learn how lessons can be organized around themes and disciplines. Analyze lessons in terms of the themes and disciplines they cover. Apply this discipline-based thematic approach to your own lesson planning. Learning Goals At the end of this session, you will be able to: Identify themes and disciplines in social studies. Identify theme-based concepts and strategies used to teach them. Apply content and methodology to your own teaching. FACILITATOR S NOTE: You will need to make copies of the following materials for all participants (pages 69 76): Graphic Organizer Viewing Chart Connecting Themes and Disciplines Planning a Lesson Summary Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop - 61 - Workshop 4
Explore Key Concepts Discipline-based content Authentic intellectual work NCSS themes Readings Before arriving for this session, read each of the articles listed below to learn how themes and disciplines provide building blocks for social studies teaching. After you read the articles, write answers to the following questions. Copy the Reading Questions form on page 68. 1. What is the relationship between themes and disciplines? 2. How can themes and disciplines be used to develop units? 3. What are the criteria for authentic intellectual work in social studies? 4. Explain how integrated lessons maximize students skills and understanding. Assignment: Bring your written work to the session, and save it to submit as an assignment. Visit the Web Site: These articles are available online at the workshop Web site at: www.learner.org/channel/workshops/socialstudies Go to session 4 and select Printouts. Articles NCSS Themes Provides a list of the10 NCSS themes useful in selecting social studies content. http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/toc.html National Council for the Social Studies. Executive Summary. Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. Operationalizing the Thematic Strands of Social Studies Provides an example of how to develop a unit based on NCSS themes. http://www.ncss.org/members/archives/0801/080103.html Krey, DeAn. Operationalizing the Thematic Strands of Social Studies for Young Learners. National Council for the Social Studies. Authentic Intellectual Work in Social Studies Provides criteria for authentic intellectual work in social studies. http://www.ncss.org/members/archives/6201/620103.html Scheurman, Geoffrey, and Fred M. Newmann. Authentic Intellectual Work in Social Studies: Putting Performance Before Pedagogy. Social Education, 1998. FACILITATOR S NOTE: Be sure that everyone has access to these readings. You may want to have a few copies available for those without Internet access. Workshop 4-62 - Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop
Engage FACILITATOR S NOTE: When the workshop session begins, you may want to spend a few minutes reviewing the Reading Questions and key concepts. Activity 1: Getting Started Watch the video introduction to familiarize yourself with the session, instructor, and participants. As you watch, consider these questions: What are the building blocks for your social studies curriculum? How do you incorporate social studies standards into lesson content? View Video Segment: Introduction: Go to this segment in the video by matching the image (to the left) on your TV screen. You ll find this segment at the beginning of the video. Watch for about 14 minutes. In this video segment, participants workshop participants explore a new organizational technique for lesson planning. Activity 2: What Do You Know? FACILITATOR S NOTE: Distribute the Graphic Organizer. A graphic organizer can help you see the relationship among themes, disciplines, and the concepts and processes taught. Follow the instructions on the Graphic Organizer. Activity 3: Reflect on Your Work After you have completed the graphic organizer, review your answers and consider the following questions: How was this similar to or different from the way you organize your curriculum? How can NCSS themes and disciplines guide your teaching? Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop - 63 - Workshop 4
Explain FACILITATOR S NOTE: Distribute the Viewing Chart. The following video segment provides classroom examples of theme-based lessons in social studies. As you watch, note the themes, disciplines, concepts, and processes demonstrated in the classroom examples. Use the Viewing Chart to record your observations. View Video Segment: Theme-Based Lessons: Go to this segment in the video by matching the image (to the left) on your TV screen. You ll find this segment approximately 14 minutes into the video. Watch for about 19 minutes. At the beginning of this segment, kindergarten teacher Meylin Gonzalez brings economic concepts to life for students by creating a bread-making assembly line. In the second half of the segment, Eileen Mesmer s kindergarten students use learning centers to explore the concept of seasons from different learning perspectives. After you ve completed the chart, write your answers to the following questions: 1. How do the two lessons differ in terms of teaching strategies? 2. How many disciplines does each lesson cover? What would you add? 3. What factors determine whether a lesson plan is based on a single discipline or multiple disciplines? 4. What are the advantages of an integrated lesson plan? Assignment: Save your written work to submit as an assignment. Workshop 4-64 - Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop
Apply Now that you have observed how teachers use themes and disciplines to plan lessons, apply what you have learned by completing these activities. Activity 1: Connecting Themes and Disciplines FACILITATOR S NOTE: Distribute the Connecting Themes and Disciplines form. This activity is designed to help you connect themes and content to teaching activities and strategies. Follow the instructions on the Connecting Themes and Disciplines form. Visit the Web Site: This activity is also available online as an Interactive Activity at: www.learner.org/channel/workshops/socialstudies Go to session 4 and select Apply. Activity 2: Planning a Lesson FACILITATOR S NOTE: Distribute the Planning a Lesson form. Assignment: Save your written work to submit as an assignment. Choose one of the teaching activities you listed in Activity 1 to develop a lesson. If you are taking all eight sessions, continue to work on the unit you began in session 1. Use the Planning a Lesson form to help you organize your lesson plan. Be sure to include: the lesson title; the theme; related disciplines; objectives; concepts and processes; and learning activities and assignments. Assignment: Save your written work to submit as an assignment. Note: If you are taking all eight sessions for credit, you may continue to work on this unit in subsequent sessions. Save a copy of your work. View Video Segment: Mini-Lesson: Go to this segment in the video by matching the image (to the left) on your TV screen. You ll find this segment approximately 33 minutes into the video. Watch for about 25 minutes. In this segment, workshop participants develop lesson plans based on the book How Many Days to America? Note how they use themes and disciplines as building blocks for their lessons. Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop - 65 - Workshop 4
Evaluate What Did You Learn? FACILITATOR S NOTE: Distribute the Summary form. In this session, you have observed how themes can serve as organizing strands for the social studies curriculum. You have also practiced developing a lesson based on themes and disciplines. Now write a summary of what you ve learned. Be sure to include: the relationship between disciplines, themes, concepts, and processes; how disciplines, themes, concepts, and processes help you plan content-rich social studies units and lessons; and organizing or teaching strategies you plan to apply in your own teaching. Assignment: Save your written work to submit as an assignment. Check the Assignments list that follows to be sure you ve completed all assignments for this session. Workshop 4-66 - Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop
Assignments Submit Your Work If you are taking this workshop for credit or professional development, submit the following assignments for session 4: Applying Themes and Disciplines. 1. Explore: Read the articles and respond to the questions that follow using the Reading Questions form. 2. Explain: Watch the video segment, complete the Viewing Chart, and answer the questions that follow. 3. Apply: Apply what you ve learned and complete the Connecting Themes and Disciplines activity. 4. Apply: Complete the Planning a Lesson activity. 5. Evaluate: Summarize what you ve learned and how you will apply new strategies in your teaching. For Next Week See Explore: Readings for session 5 for next week s reading assignment. Resources Print Hartoonian, Michael H., and Margaret A. Laughlin. Succeed With the Standards in Your Social Studies Classroom. Portland, ME: J. Weston Walch, 1997. National Council for the Social Studies. Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. Washington, D.C.: National Council for the Social Studies, 1994. Web Active Learning Practices for Schools http://learnweb.harvard.edu/alps/ Provides information about teaching for understanding. National Council for the Social Studies http://www.ncss.org/ Outlines the NCSS standards, Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People http://www.ncss.org/resources/notable/2002.shtml Lists trade books related to the 10 themes from the social studies standards. Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop - 67 - Workshop 4
4: Applying Themes and Disciplines Reading Questions After you read the articles, write answers to the following questions: 1. What is the relationship between themes and disciplines? 2. How can themes and disciplines be used to develop units? 3. What are the criteria for authentic intellectual work in social studies? 4. Explain how integrated lessons maximize students skills and understanding. 2003 WGBH Educational Foundation. Workshop 4-68 - Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop
4: Applying Themes and Disciplines Graphic Organizer Review the NCSS themes and related academic disciplines, then list concepts and processes you teach. Note: A concept is a topic and a process is a way of examining a topic. NCSS Themes Culture Traditions, beliefs, and values Related Disciplines Anthropology Concepts and Processes Example: Colonial America/artifacts Time, Continuity, and Change Stability and change over time History People, Places, and Environments Spatial concepts and relationships Individual Development and Identity Personal identity, cultural contexts Individuals, Groups, and Institutions Relationships among groups, institutions, and individuals Power, Authority, and Governance Structure and variety of governments Production, Distribution, and Consumption Decisions about resources Science, Technology, and Society Influence of science and technology Global Connections Links between peoples and societies Civic Ideals and Practices Values, ideals, and practices Geography, Anthropology Psychology Sociology Political Science Economics History, Sociology, Science History, Economics, Geography, Anthropology Political Science, History, Sociology After you have completed the graphic organizer, review your answers and consider the following questions: 1. How was this similar to or different from the way you organize your curriculum? 2. How can NCSS themes and disciplines guide your teaching? 2003 WGBH Educational Foundation. Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop - 69 - Workshop 4
4: Applying Themes and Disciplines Viewing Chart page 1 As you watch, list the NCSS themes and related disciplines each teacher is building on in her lesson. Then list the concepts and processes being taught. Lesson Theme Discipline Concepts/Processes Making Bread Together: Meylin Gonzalez s class creates an assembly line and studies needs and wants. Video 2: Ms. Mesmer Video 1: Ms. Gonzalez Celebrations of Light: Eileen Mesmer s class studies the common thread in holiday celebrations among different cultures. Workshop 4-70 - Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop
4: Applying Themes and Disciplines Viewing Chart page 2 After you ve completed the chart, write your answers to the following questions: 1. How do the two lessons differ in terms of teaching strategies? 2. How many disciplines does each lesson cover? What would you add? 3. What factors determine whether a lesson plan is based on a single discipline or multiple disciplines? 4. What are the advantages of an integrated lesson plan? 2003 WGBH Educational Foundation Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop - 71 - Workshop 4
4: Applying Themes and Disciplines Connecting Themes and Disciplines This activity is designed to help you connect themes and content to teaching strategies and activities. Begin by thinking of your social studies frameworks and unit goals. Next, review the NCSS themes listed here and use the check boxes to identify related disciplines. Then, practice developing lesson ideas by typing in new concepts you would teach and activities you would use to teach them. An example for "Culture" is provided. Use the check boxes to identify related disciplines. Then, practice developing lesson ideas by writing in new concepts you would teach and activities you would use to teach them. An example for "Culture" is provided. Culture Check related disciplines: Anthropology History Geography Civics Political Science Economics Concepts/Processes: Strategies for Teaching: People, Places, and Environments Check related disciplines: Anthropology History Geography Civics Political Science Economics Concepts/Processes: Strategies for Teaching: 1 Workshop 4-72 - Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop
Individuals, Groups, and Institutions Check related disciplines: Anthropology History Geography Civics Political Science Economics Concepts/Processes: Strategies for Teaching: Power, Authority, and Governance Check related disciplines: Anthropology History Geography Civics Political Science Economics Concepts/Processes: Strategies for Teaching: Production, Distribution, and Consumption Check related disciplines: Anthropology History Geography Civics Political Science Economics Concepts/Processes: Strategies for Teaching: 2 Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop - 73 - Workshop 4
Civic Ideals and Practices Check related disciplines: Anthropology History Geography Civics Political Science Economics Concepts/Processes: Strategies for Teaching: Sample Answer Culture Check related disciplines: Anthropology History Geography Civics Political Science Economics Concepts/Processes: Colonial America/Examining Artifacts Strategies for Teaching: Working in groups, students study and re-create artifacts and time capsules. 2003 WGBH Educational Foundation. 3 Workshop 4-74 - Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop
4: Applying Themes and Disciplines Planning a Lesson Use this form to create a draft of your lesson. Lesson Title: Theme Related Disciplines Objectives Concepts and Processes Learning Activities 2003 WGBH Educational Foundation. Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop - 75 - Workshop 4
4: Applying Themes and Disciplines Summary Write a summary of what you ve learned. Be sure to include: the relationship between disciplines, themes, concepts, and processes; how disciplines, themes, concepts, and processes help you plan content-rich social studies units and lessons; and organizing or teaching strategies you plan to apply in your own teaching. 2003 WGBH Educational Foundation Workshop 4-76 - Social Studies in Action K 5 Workshop