Social Studies Learning in Elementary Schools:
Using Culture as a Lens to Inquire into Teaching & Learning

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To view the first assignment, click on »» Historical Perspectives & Dr. J ««

Prerequisite. Admission to the Teacher Education Program, and appropriate arts and science prerequisites. During Block 2, E339 and M301 must be taken as co-requisites.

Course Description. This course explores the sociological and cultural background of education and surveys subject matter, materials, and methods in the content areas of history, civics, economics, and geography. Special attention is given to concept learning, inquiry, decision making, and value analysis. It emphasizes the importance of active, inquiry-based learning, and is taught in a highly participatory style.

Purpose. Although a tool box of teaching skill does not a teacher make, you’ll need these skills until the real teacher arrives—you. Teaching takes time, infinite patience, and hours of planning and reflection. This course will provide you with an opportunity for develop the skills and dispositions you will need to survive and thrive in the organized chaos that is typical of an elementary classroom. The purpose of E325 is to provide you with the understanding and skills needed to create, teach, and evaluate social studies lessons which focus on inquiry and problem-based learning strategies. Students will have the opportunity to use these strategies when they teach elementary children during their field experiences. The course is also designed to help you learn how to meet the challenges of a multicultural, multilingual urban school environment so that you effectively prepare your students to become proactive citizens in a diverse, pluralistic, and globally-interconnected world. Throughout the semester we will focus on . . .

1. Hands-on/minds-on learning. Social studies is learned by engaging in activities that historians, economists, geographers, and social scientists typical employ in their work, which includes connections and integration across the curriculum. For example, an anthropologist might study bone structures of fossils Activities and assignments are designed to engage you in investigations of social studies teaching and what it means to be a effective K-6 teacher.

2. Observations of and reflections on how social studies is learned. You will develop insights into how children construct their understanding of social studies concepts through in-depth study AND application of what you learn in a real school setting. Your thoughts about social studies teaching and learning will be shared through open discussions, written reflections, and projects in which you will investigation your students’ social studies learning.

3. Collaborative work with others. Collaborative teaching and learning are essential “habits of mind” you must cultivate if you want to become an effective teacher. You are expected to practice this habit by participating in group activities and projects, and by becoming an active member of the E325 TEAM because Together Everyone Achieves More.

An Active Learning Approach. It is not unusual to spend the entire class involved in inquiry-based activities and discussions. As this may be your first experience with inquiry-based learning, you may be uncomfortable (and even confused) at the beginning of the semester. This is purposeful and necessary because real learning takes place only when the learner is engaged with his/her own questions. Masters teachers understand that their job is not to show students how smart they are, but to help students see how smart they are! The best resource you can bring to this course is your willingness to learn new ways of thinking about teaching social studies so that ALL children can learn.