The American poet Robert Penn Warren stated: “History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity so that we can better face the future.”
Social Studies instruction K-12 has evolved from memorization of facts to teaching skills-based methods of finding and evaluating sources of information. Here is one example:
|
Traditional |
Current |
| Lecture-based instruction on the Civil War. | An inquiry-based investigation based on actual (primary) sources from the time period of Northern and Southern leaders to analyze both sides of the conflict. Students work in small groups to debate the issues of the time period. |
What do Social Studies classes look like today?
- The goal of instruction is for students to understand how to evaluate all sides of a historical event.
- Students are encouraged to arrive at their own conclusions with evidence to back up a claim.
- Memorization of facts is not as crucial as knowing how to find information and understand how to critique the bias and point of view of multiple sources.
How can families support Social Studies instruction?
- Discussion of local, national and international events. CNN10 (formally CNN Student News) is a great resource! It is a daily 10 minute kid-friendly summary of events around the World.
- Explain your own understanding of past and current events. Family discussions spark interest and foster further investigation.
Together, we will encourage students, our children, to critically evaluate issues and determine their own opinions. Further information can be found at Engage NY!