|
|
This course is designed to introduce
elementary education majors to the content of the K-6 Social Studies Curriculum
for North Carolina students and to the national standards for teaching
Social Studies. In addition, students will also address several INTASC
and NETS-T standards in the process of completing assignments for this
course. In this course you will develop appropriate knowledge, skills,
and attitudes for teaching the Social Studies curriculum to elementary
grade students. However, you should know that this is not a content course;
rather, it is a teaching methods course. Therefore, you will need to research
and learn important social studies content as you learn about ways to teach
that content. Furthermore, in this course there is an emphasis on integrating
children’s literature and computer-based technology into the Social Studies
curriculum and on personally experiencing the kinds of instructional methods
and strategies recommended as best practices for teaching the Social Studies
curriculum.
One of my personal goals is to serve as
a resource for you and to model a variety of methods for teaching the Social
Studies. Toward this end you will engage in several cooperative group tasks,
discussion of readings and instructional strategies, collecting oral and
family histories, reading and teaching with children’s literature books,
virtual and actual fieldtrips, developing webquests, presentations about
notable women, Paideia seminars, and other effective instructional activities.
Another goal is to help you develop a teaching style of your own that incorporates
a gender-fair, global, and multicultural perspective, and one that is sensitive
to the developmental needs of all your students. Finally, I strive to create
activities and assignments that will foster discussion and critical reflection
about Social Studies curriculum and instruction.
Required
Readings/Resources
Sunal, C.S., & Haas, M.E. (2002). Social
Studies for the Elementary and Middle Grades: A Constructivist Approach.
Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
All of the following children's
literature books: The Little House; The Oxcart Man; Angel
Child, Dragon Child; Molly's Pilgrim; Everybody Cooks Rice;
We
Are All Alike, We Are All Different; and How to Make Apple Pie and
See the World.
NC DPI Social Studies Curriculum Guidelines
for K-5 (aka the NC SCOS - North Carolina Standard Course of Study): http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/curriculum/
NCSS National Standards for Teaching
Social Studies: http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/2.0.html
Grading/Evaluation
Grading is based on your attention to these basic components:
1. attendance, punctuality, and active participation
in every class
2. completeness and thoroughness (all required elements
included)
3. alignment with the assignment instructions and rubrics
4. assignments accurately reflect references and materials
presented in class, additional references located out of class, and use
APA style for all citations
5. all writing uses appropriate language structures,
vocabulary, punctuation, and spelling, and is word processed or typewritten
6. written assignments are well-organized and presented
aesthetically
7. all assignments reflect creativity and individuality
and/or evidence of group cooperation where appropriate
8. all assignments are submitted on time and points
will be deducted for late assignments
Please note that an "A" grade is reserved
for work that is exemplary and shows evidence of going above and beyond
the basic requirements of the assignment with regard to demonstrating appropriate
knowledge, skills, and attitudes for teaching the Social Studies. Accuracy,
creativity, organization, effective presentation, comprehensiveness, and
ample effort are expected in order to earn an A (or the maximum points)
on any assignment. Extra credit may be awarded for exemplary work
making it possible to earn an A+ or more than the allocated number of points
on any one assignment. Extra credit may also be awarded for using/adapting
some of your assignments in your internship class to teach your students.
UNCG Official
Graduate Grading System
GRADING SCALE:
A = >250 B+ = 238-228 B- = 216-206
C = 184-164
A- = 249-239 B = 227-217 C+
= 205-185 D = 163-0
|
|
Points
|
|
Oral History Projects due 9/23
|
40
|
|
Notable Women Project due 10/7
|
40
|
|
Virtual Fieldtrip Plans due 10/20
|
40
|
|
Videotaped Lessondue 11/11
|
40
|
|
WebQuest due 12/2
|
60
|
|
Textbook/Class Reflections due weekly
|
30
|
|
|
UNCG
©
UNCG, Last update:8/16/02
|
|
