Social Studies Toolbox

I believe media literacy, and in particular news literacy has never been more important. Unfortunately, it's rarely included in the curriculum. Not because it isn't important, but because there isn't the time or the staff to teach it. In the past, I  made a point of incorporating media literacy into my Social Psychology classes with regard to gender bias in the media. In recent years, I've included more "news literacy" into my Civics, Social Studies, and Life Skills courses. Lately, I've noticed a decline in students' ability to discern fact from opinion. I've also noticed a tendency among my students to relentlessly "share" stories on social media with little to no regard to "truth." Many kids don't know how to fact check. I also think many don't think about the ramifications of spreading false or embellished news.  Over the holiday break, I've spent a great deal of time working on a couple lessons and activ...

This week my Civil Rights History students were wrapping up a unit, therefore I felt it would be a good idea to plan a review activity. We often play Quizlet Live or Kahoot when we're reviewing material, however, I thought it would be nice to try something different. Plus, it's always a bonus when I can get the kids out of their seats, moving around. I often find new ideas for classroom activities online, especially on Instagram and Twitter. I learned about gallery walks after reading an article someone shared on Twitter. I thought it sounded like a perfect activity for my Civil Rights History class so I created a "Gallery Walk" activity for my students. I implemented it this week and was very pleased with the results. My students were excited and engaged! I was impressed with the quality of small-group discussions among the groups, even among students who are often silent or "reluctant" participants. Click here to find my Civil Rights Gallery Wal...