50 Social Studies Strategies for K-8 Classrooms

Here are 50 strategies for creating meaningful social studies experiences for K-8 students -- four overarching and forty-six specific strategies --organized alphabetically, accompanied by assessment tools, and introduced by grade level and National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) standards indicators.

* Gives students a guide for using the strategy in their own first classroom.
*References and Resources section with each strategy--Lists scholarly support, additional readings, websites, and/or helpful organizations.
* Provides reliable information for further study and research.
*Technology icons throughout the text--Tag strategies that call for the use of classroom technology.
* Illustrates ways to take advantage of the Internet, digital photography, software, and the like in real classrooms with real learners.

PART I: GENERAL SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES.
1. Discovery Learning.
2. Inquiry Learning.
3. Community Building.
4. Rule Making.
PART II: SPECIFIC SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.
5. Archaeological Digs.
6. Architecture and Landscape Design Significance.
7. Artifacts.
8. Case Studies.
9. Cemetery Studies.
10. Community Maps.
11. Concepts: Teaching Core Democratic Ideals.
12. Custom Boxes.
13. Decision Trees and Decision Grids.
14. Field Trips of Distinction.
15. Flannel Boards. 16. Folk Art
17. Folk Music.
18. Game Shows.
19. Genealogies.
20. Globes.
21. Graphic Organizers. 22. Guest Speakers. 23. Historical Characters.
24. Historical Reenactments.
25. Home Living Centers.
26. Interactive Bulletin Boards.
27. Learning Centers. 28. Literature Book Clubs.
29. Media Literacy.
30. Mini-Society.
31. Mock Trials.
32. Model Factory. 33. Museum Exhibits.
34. Newspaper Making.
35. Oral Histories.
36. Pen Pals.
37. Private Records.
38. Public Records.
39. Readers' Theater. 40. Reflective Choices. 41. Role Playing.
42. Sand Table Maps. 43. Service Learning.
44. Slide Show Oral Report.
45. Story Board.
46. Timelines. 47. Trash Trail.
48. Travel Ambassador.
49. Video Productions. 50. Virtual Field Trips.