Starting the year with Map Work

Have you ever read a passage with your class, and discovered that they didn't fully understand it because they didn't know that the United States is not the only country in North America? Or, have you noticed your kiddos confusing states with continents and countries?  Taking the time to review map skills early in the year pays off, as students are better able to understand informational text and online articles if they can read the accompanying maps.  I do this to a certain degree every year.  

Bring in podcasts and the radio

Our reading curriculum offers a great number of stories that support integration with social studies.  While this is lovely, it doesn't stand on its own as a social studies curriculum.  Last year, our team added short videos and research projects to support learning.  This year, I'm hoping to add radio, because I've noticed that with the many visual advancements in technology, listening skills seem to be on the decline.  

NPR has a great variety of channels and articles freely available online.  The print version you see on screen is almost always an abbreviated version of the actual broadcast/podcast, so it's worth listening ones you are considering using.  

My first search for connected content uncovered a 3 minute story about  Mary Anderson, who invented the windshield wiper.  Although our textbook has a nice passage about her, I think the addition of a radio story will offer a bit more insight to the work we do in class.

UPDATE 9/17/17:  Today I found a great article about incorporating podcasts to boost listening skills.  It's well worth the read!  (http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2017/09/teaching_the_art_of_listening_how_to_use_podcasts_in_the_classroom.html?cmp=SOC-EDIT-FB)

UPDATE 10/14/17:  Another great article about how listening to podcasts supports student achievement!  https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2017/10/10/how-listening-to-podcasts-helps-students-read-and-learn/

Including the Arts

My students love, LOVE the invitation to create something to support what they are learning.  In my first few years of teaching, students would learn to conduct research, write a report, illustrate it, and present it to the class.  It was pretty standard fare.  While it was a valuable experience, there were always those who struggled with the motivation to do the project.  Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, there were those who would go above and beyond to not just complete the project, but create a replica or artistic work representing an aspect of what they learned.  

By the end of my second year, it dawned on me to include that concept of creating a replica or piece of artwork with the assignment.  By integrating the arts, engagement shot through the roof!  Some ideas I've used over the years:

• Biography trading cards:  Give students a template for their trading cards.  (I plan on uploading one soon.)  Make copies of their final products for students to pass out after they give a speech or presentation on their subject. 
• Student-Created Replicas:  One year, my kids were learning about explorers and conducting research.  The final part of the project required them to make a replica of something their explorer used to help them.  This little add-on kicked motivation into high gear, and students couldn't wait to share their creations with the class.  You don't need a lot of supplies either, because kids are resourceful!  I had students use rope to demonstrate specific knots that sailors needed to use, make models of boats out of milk cartons, use toilet paper tubes to create replicas of sextants, and even create elaborate world maps to track the explorer's journey.     
• Costumes:  What's better than a student reading his paper about Ben Franklin?  How about that same student dressing up as Ben Franklin, introducing himself, and hosting a question and answer session?  
• Digital Creations:  Powerpoint, Prezis, and other digital presentations encourage kids to use graphic design skills to put their work together into a format that can be shared.  I only offer this as an option for kids with the support at home, as my school does not yet have the time nor technology to support instruction in these areas.  Perhaps one day...
• Guided Drawing:  Guided drawing is an AMAZING way to open doors for discussion in an engaging manner.  Last year, my students were fascinated by Dolores Huerta.  I think it's possibly because she is still alive, which is unusual for many of the folks in our informational text selections.  Also, our textbook doesn't really go into enough detail, leaving my students with more questions than answers.  I decided to incorporate the guided drawing of Dolores as a way to support the additional research and writing we did surrounding her work.  The time we spent drawing became valuable discussion time, with an exchange of questions and answers that moved my students towards a deeper understanding of her activism.