Activities for Elementary School Social Studies

Children learn best through experiences and activities. They learn by doing. Real, hands-on materials, associated with a theme or topic of study, are the essence of developing interest, motivation, meaning, and true understanding in social studies classrooms. This important resource volume for prospective and current social studies teachers thoroughly presents over 100 activities that are wide-ranging and can be adapted for many grade levels by increasing or decreasing the complexity of the activity. Each activity offers the same easy-to-follow format, making the transition from one activity to another smooth and less troublesome. The key elements of each activity plan are: topic; grade level; activity time; materials needed; objectives; introduction; major instructional sequence; closure or evaluation. A convenient feature of the Second Edition is an NCSS standards key for each activity. By engaging pupils in meaningful, worthwhile social studies activities, teachers are emphasizing the processes of learning rather than the products. The experience should be enriching to pupils and teachers alike!James W. Stockard Jr. is the author of 'Activities for Elementary School Social Studies', published 2003 under ISBN 9781577662426 and ISBN 1577662423.