When you ask elementary students what subject they like the least, they will very often reply, "Social Studies". If you ask them "why Social Studies", the answer comes in a unanimous cry of "because it's borrrrrrrrrrrring!". Social Studies does not have to be boring to elementary students, in fact, with a little creativity, social studies can actually be....dare we say it....FUN! Here are some simple suggestions for ways to engage students in Social Studies curriculum.
Social Studies Field Trips There is no better way to learn about Social Studies than with the first hand experience that a field trip can provide. Trips can be coordinated with specific grade level curriculum and include trips to government offices, cultural centers and museums. Ohio and Michigan is full of world-class cultural field trip opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school students. Some of the more popular Social Studies field trip destinations are listed below.
Greenfield Village - Dearborn, Michigan Part of "America's Greatest History Attraction" on the Henry Ford Museum campus, Greenfield Village is among the best places in the world to experience history "come to life". Historical building, authentic craftsmen, a working farm, and a very knowledgeable "cast" of actors portraying colonial life make this a fully immersive experience. The village offers special pre-packaged field trip experiences and can design a trip around grade levels and curriculum.
SunWatch Indian Village - Dayton, Ohio This wonderful campus offers a museum, archeological site, and interpretative center. Currently SunWatch offers 5 different educational programs. Two of there programs are stand-outs for a Social Studies emphasis. 1. Who in the World is Indiana Jones? This field trip tour answers some of the common questions asked about archaeology and archaeologists. This tour emphasizes how Science, Social Studies and Math help archaeologists. The tour begins in a hands-on classroom then continues outside for an hour tour through the Village. 2. Lifestyles of the Rich & Prehistoric is a field trip tour that focuses on the material culture and lifesytles of the four different cultural periods of prehistoric Ohio. The tour includes a half hour multimedia presentation and introduction to the prehistory of Ohio in the classroom, and then continues outside through the Village.
Flint Children's Museum - Flint, Michigan This museum is a wonderful example of hands-on learning. There activities and displays incorporate lessons on Socials Studies, science, and more. The field trip planners at the museum can help you plan a visit that will help you get the most out the social studies lessons to be learned at the museum. The discount fees for school groups and "manageable" size of the museum make this an easy and "stress-free" field trip to plan. Recommended for up to grade 4.
Enrichment & Assembly Programs
If you don't have the budget or resources to send your students out on a field trip, you can bring a field trip to them with a Social Studies enrichment program or assembly performance. Social Studies assembly and enrichment programs take on many different forms. Some presenters offer hands-on interactive workshops where students learn about specific topics in small groups. Other presenters have scripted shows with stories, props, and entertaining routines based on social studies concepts. There are many unique Social Studies assembly programs available exclusively to Michigan and Ohio schools, including games shows, theatrical plays, cultural music presentations, and programs about the Great Lakes.
For grades K-5, we recommend an assembly "show" with a social studies theme. At these grade levels, students not only benefit from the social studies material in the program, but they also gain valuable experience about social behavior in a group and theatre setting.
For grades 6 and up, the hands-on workshops can be more valuable and these students get to ask questions and explore the concepts more in depth than they would with an entertainment-based assembly show.
Social Studies is a broad subject. Be sure to discuss with the assembly presenter exactly what specific curriculum topics will be covered in the show. If you are hoping to reinforce a specific key points with your students, be sure to mention this to the presenter at the time you are scheduling the program. They should be able to adjust their program to fit your needs.
To start your search for an assembly program for your school, try a specific search for "Michigan Social Studies Assembly Program" or "Elementary social studies school show in Ohio" in Google or MSN search. By being specific in your online search, you will save time in locating the right program for you.
A budget-savvy PTA parent or principal will always ask about discounts for block-bookings or if there are certain dates when the assembly program will be available at a discounted fee. You never know until you ask!
School-Wide Projects
Broad social studies themes such as "Government", "leadership", and "communities", can be related back to individual lessons at every elementary grade level. By basing a school-wide project on one of these broad themes, all grade levels can participate and benefit in their own unique way. These projects could include:
Mock elections: Have the students pick the next President, mayor, or governor.
Cultural fair: Invite parents to a "cultural night" where class rooms can display projects, put on skits, sing songs, and share food from around the world. As they prepare for the big night, students will be learning about the cultures and communities around the world.
Student government: Give students the opportunity to campaign and vote for their peer leaders in a school wide campaign. Remember that a school-wide project is about the students. Let them get involved. Let the students design the signs, banners, decorations, displays, and actively participate in the decision process about what the project should be all about. The process of planning and organizing the project is a Social Studies lesson too!
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Plants are shaped by cultivation and men by education. .. We are born weak, we need strength; we are born totally unprovided, we need aid; we are born stupid, we need judgment. Everything we do not have at our birth and which we need when we are grown is given us by education.
(Jean Jacques Rousseau, Emile, On Philosophy of Education)
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