KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY
Department of Elementary Education
ELU 570 – Seminar in Elementary Social Studies Instruction
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an examination of historical antecedents, present practices and emerging trends in
elementary social studies instruction. Such topics as: planning a social studies program,
evaluation of teaching materials and examination of methods of instruction will be explored.
Provision is made for students to work on individual curriculum projects. 3 s.h. 3 c.h.
RATIONALE
Local, State, and National standards for social studies all dictate that elementary school teachers
have a thorough understanding of the methodology for teaching: 1). the social science
knowledge base, 2). democratic beliefs, 3). thinking and participation skills. The goal of this
process is to instruct and model social participation in a multi-cultural, global society.
OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:
1.
Identify the historical antecedents of Social Studies
2.
Explain the process of curricular change in social studies from 1700 through the present
3.
Identify the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) plan for the 21st century
4.
Identify the goals and objectives of elementary social studies programs
5.
Develop a curricular model of today’s social studies
6.
Identify and explain the rationale for the contemporary issues in social studies
7.
Identify and demonstrate the strategies appropriate for elementary social studies
8.
Evaluate and review current social studies curriculum resources
COURSE OUTLINE:
I.
Nature of Social Studies
A.
Definition
B.
NCSS guidelines
C.
State regulations
D.
Historical development
1.
Before 1900
2.
1900-1950
3.
1950-1970
4.
1970-1990
5.
1990 to present
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II.
Goals and Objectives
A. Types
1.
factual and conceptual knowledge
2.
skill development
3.
citizenship values
B. Sources
1.
NCSS
2.
Academic disciplines in social science
a.
History
b.
Geography
c.
Economics
d.
Anthropology
e.
Political Science
f.
Sociology
g.
Psychology
3.
Textbook series
4.
District curriculum guides
5.
National standards
III.
Curriculum Organization Models
A. Hanna Model
B. Twin Spiral Model
C. Social Issues Model
D. NCSS Curriculum Model
E. California Curriculum Model
IV.
Contemporary Instructional Themes
A. Global Education
B. Multicultural Education
C. Environmental Education
D. Law Related Education
E. Death Education
F. Values Education
G. Peace Education
H. Economic Education
V.
Instructional Strategies
A. Concept Teaching
B. Inquiry Method
C. Discovery Learning
D. Cooperative Learning
E. Role Playing and Stimulation
F. Computer Assisted Instruction
G. Oral History
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H.
I.
Action Learning
Literature Based Approach
VI.
Instructional Resources
A. Types
1.
Teacher made
2.
Commercial
B. Format
1.
Print
a.
Tests
b.
Periodicals
c.
Original documents
d.
Maps
2.
Non-print
a.
Video/film
b.
Other visuals
c.
Audio
d.
Manipulative
3.
Electronic
a.
Software
b.
On-line
VII.
Social Studies for the 21st Century
A. NCSS proposal
B. Emerging needs
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Instructional Resources
Alter, G. Monson, J., Larson, B., & Morgan, J. (2000). Social studies content for the elementary
school teacher. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc.
Banks, J.A. (2001). Cultural diversity and education: Foundations, curriculum, and teaching.
(4th ed.) Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon. LC3731 .B365 2001
Brophy, J. & Alleman, J. (1996). Powerful social studies for elementary students. Fort Worth,
TX: Hardcourt Barace & Company. LB 1584 B72 1996
Brown, C.S. (2000). Like it was: A complete guide to writing oral history. New York:
Teachers & Writers Collaborative. D16.14 .B76 1988
Chaplin, J.R. & Messick, R.G. (1999). Elementary social studies: A practical guide. (4th ed.)
New York: Longman Press. LB1584 .C47 1999
Davidman, Leonard & Davidman, Patricia T. (1994). Teaching with a multicultural
perspective: A practical guide. White Plains, NY: Longman Publishing Group.
LC1099.3 .D39 1994
Expectation of excellence: Curriculum standards for social studies. (1994). Washington, D.C.:
NCSS. LB1584 .E863 1994
Garcia, Jesus & Michaelis, John U. (2001). Social studies for children: A guide to basic
instruction. (12th ed.) New York, NY: Allyn & Bacon
Goode’s World Atlas (19th ed.) (1995). Chicago, IL:Rand McNally & Company.
G1021 .G6 2000
Grabe, M and Grabe, C. (2001). Integrating the Internet for meaningful learning. Boston, MA:
Houghton Mifflin Company. LB1028.3 .G72 2001
Hall, K.L. & P.D. Hall. (1982). The Lehigh Valley. Woodland Hills, CA: Windsor
Publications. F157.L6 H34 1982
Maxim, G.W. (1999). Social studies and the elementary school child. (6th ed.) Columbus, OH:
Charles E. Merrill Publishing Co. LB1584 .M378 1999
Metcalf, F. D. & M.T. Downey. (1982). Using local history in the classroom. Nashville, TN:
The American Association for State and Local History. 973.07 M565u
National geography standards geography for life. (1994). Washington, DC: National
Geography Research & Exploration. G 72 G46 1994
National standards for civic and government. (1994). Calabasas, CA: Center for Civic
Education. LB 1584 N37 1994
National standards for history. (Basic Edition). (1996). Los Angeles, CA: National Center for
History in the Schools. LB 1582 U6N37 1996
Nelson, M. (1998). Children and social studies: Creative teaching in the elementary
classroom. (3rd ed.) New York: Harcourt Brace Javanovich. HV6080 .H58 1996
Parker, W. C. (2001). Social studies in elementary education. (11th ed.) Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. No call number available
PBS. (1987). Frontline: A class divided. (Videotape 316).
Peters, William. (1987). A class divide. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. 6773
Pryor, Caroline R. (2000). Democratic practice workbook: Activities for the field experience.
Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.
Savage, T. V. & Armstrong, D.G. (2000). Effective teaching in elementary social studies.
New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. LB1584 .S34 1996
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Seedfeldt, C. (2001). Social studies for the preschool/primary child. (6th ed.) Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. LB1530 .S37 2001
Simon, S. B., L.W. Howe, & H. Kirshenbaun. (1972). Values clarification: A handbook of
practical strategies for teachers and students. New York: Hart Publishing Co. Inc.
BJ 1661 S55
What every young American should know and be able to do in geography: Geography for life.
(1994). Washington, DC: National Geography Research and Exploration.
G 72 G46 1994
Welton, D.A. & J. T. Mallan. (1999). Children and their world: Strategies for teaching social
studies. (6th ed.) Chicago, IL: Rand McNally. LB1584 .W42 1999
Wigginton E. (1985). Sometimes a shining moment: The foxfire experience. Garden City, NY:
Anchor Press/Doubleday. LA 2317 W49A38 1985
Zarrillo, J. J. (2003). Teaching elementary social studies: Principles & applications.
(2nd ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.
Revised 08/2005
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