Social Studies Curriculum
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

 What social studies topics and themes are to be taught in elementary schools?
 What basis do the social science disciplines provide for a social studies curriculum in the elementary schools?
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

 Identify reasons why there is controversy in social studies?
 Describe the Expanding Environments curriculum?
 Identify and explain the various social science disciplines?
 Explain how the social sciences relate to what students learn in social studies?
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

 Know all the social science fields that are included in social studies?
 Know how the social studies curriculum is organized?
 Know what an instructional theme is?
 Know the history of the term “social studies”?
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

 What did social studies mean to you as an elementary student?
 What curriculum was included in social studies?
 Discuss the details of your experiences and compare with classmates.
 Do your elementary experiences related to social studies share common attributes with those of others? If so, what attributes?
 What does social studies mean to you now?
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

 How is social studies a complex subject matter?
 How do certain elements make social studies a controversial subject matter?
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Cultural differences
Differing values, priorities, and viewpoints
Special-interest groups
Changing body of knowledge
 How has the history of social studies shaped the discipline today?
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

 What do you think about the example of thematic unit topics as it relates to…
 Insert Table 2.4
 topics that might be taught?
 connections to the standards?
 connections to a specific discipline?
 thematic threads?
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

 What are your reactions to Common Core Standards compared to traditional standards?
 Do you believe that Common Core Standards are more manageable and/or practical than traditional standards?
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

 Why do most social studies educators subscribe to the learning theory, constructivism?
 How do you feel regarding constructivism?
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

 How are the various social science disciplines incorporated into an elementary social studies curriculum?
 Is it fair to say one discipline is more or less important than others? Why or why not?
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

 The elementary social studies curriculum is constantly changing as its goal is related to expanding the world of the child.
 Each of the social sciences – history, geography, anthropology, sociology, economics, political science, psychology, and religious studies – offers a body of knowledge, a unique perspective about the world, and a method of inquiry from which students can learn.
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

 You have just taken a job. It is orientation night and you are meeting all of your new students and their parents. As you are sharing your daily schedule with the group, you mention that you will be teaching social studies from 1:05 to 2:25pm. A parent perplexed by your schedule raises her hand and asks “What is social studies?”
 Write down how you would answer the perplexed parent.
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

1.
2.
3.
4.
What factors contribute to controversy over what is taught in the social studies?
How does the Expanding Environments curriculum relate to the curriculum of contemporary social studies programs?
What is the difference between the terms the social sciences and the social studies?
How would you define constructivism?
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Why does the social studies curriculum often focus on history and geography?
How does anthropology relate to and differ from geography?
Why is economics important to elementary students?
Why do students need to be politically aware?
Does the study of religions conflict with the
American constitutional concept of separation of church and state?
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013

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National Council for the Social Studies. (2010). National
Curriculum Standards for Social Studies: A Framework
for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment. Silver Spring,
MD: National Council for the Social Studies.
The Council for Economic Education (CEE) http://www.councilforeconed.org
National Council for Geographic Education. (1994).
Geography for Life: The National Geography Standards.
Washington, DC: National Geographic Society
Committee on Research and Exploration.
Thornton, S. (2003). From Content to Subject Matter.
The Social Studies, 92(6), 237
–
242.
Essentials of Elementary Social Studies
By Turner, Russell, Waters Copyright 2013