Social Studies Toolbox

Geography teachers! If you've ever found it challenging to teach map skills in an engaging way, you're not alone.  Last week we reviewed map skills in my 7th grade Geography class. Rather than lecture or share a PowerPoint, I had my students rotate through five stations, each focusing on a different skill or content. For example, station 1 focused on maps and globes. (What are they and the pros and cons of each.) Station 2 focused on continents, oceans, hemispheres, etc. Station 3 focused on the parts of a map such as a compass rose, scale, legend, etc.  Station 4 focused on different kinds of maps (physical, political, special purpose), and station 5 focused on map projections. My students worked in groups of four or five. I selected the groups. (at the beginning of the school year I color-code my desks so grouping kids is quick and easy - all the kids sitting at a desk with a blue dot are in a group, all kids sitting at a desk with a red dot are in a group, and so on and so ...

Art isn't just for art class; it's a versatile tool that can enrich any subject, including Social Studies. For middle and high school Social Studies teachers, incorporating art into your social studies curriculum can offer a unique way to engage students, enhance critical thinking, and make historical events come alive.  Why Art in Social Studies? 1. Enhances Engagement: Artistic activities can capture the attention of students who might otherwise find historical facts and figures dull. 2. Promotes Critical Thinking: Analyzing art requires a different set of skills than reading a textbook, encouraging students to think more deeply about topics. 3. Cultural Understanding: Art can serve as a window into the culture, politics, and social issues of different time periods. Tips for Incorporating Art 1. Start with Visual Analysis Before diving into the historical context, spend some time analyzing a piece of art related to the topic you're covering. Ask students questions like: -...

If you've ever found yourself puzzled by your students' chronic procrastination—wondering why they wait until the eleventh hour to start on that major project or why their best work often emerges in a caffeine-fueled, late-night writing session—you're not alone. Understanding procrastination is something many of us grapple with, not just for our students but also for ourselves. Enter Tim Urban's humorous yet poignant TED Talk, "Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator." What's it About? In this hilarious talk, Tim Urban explores the world of procrastination, something most of us are all too familiar with. He navigates us through the quagmires of YouTube binges, Wikipedia rabbit holes, and the addictive allure of ...daydreaming.  More importantly, he encourages us to consider what we're really putting off before time runs out on us! Why It's Relevant for High School Students High school is a critical period for academic and personal development. S...