Powerful Social Studies

1. Challenging

1.1. When the students responded to the Winter solstice book the students listened carefully and responded respectful to the questions.

1.2. The students worked together to contribute to the class discussion.

1.3. Students working in groups at the different centres.

2. Active

2.1. The students had a discussion about how different cultures celebrate different holidays.

2.2. The teacher asked the students, prior to reading the story, to think about what the story is explaining.

2.3. Hands on activities, the centres, building different representation of light and it's association to different cultural holidays.

3. Meaningful

3.1. Student activities are based on rich language to help them understand different perspectives

3.2. The reflection discussion of St.Niklause day centered on common global humanity

3.3. A student mentions "We are all different but we are all the same."

4. Integrative

4.1. Reflective discussion of St.Niklause day allowed students to explore how the different ideas of this holiday were similar to other cultures and their holiday traditions

4.2. The Cherokee story links the past, the story is based on an aboriginal myth, to the present , the class studying holidays.

4.3. Tied in the story with explaining the meaning of solistics. Also explained the scientific meaning of how the sun revolves around the earth

5. Value-Based

5.1. Realizes social diversity - students understanding that different cultures within the U.S. celebrate different holidays.

5.2. The class read a book about a little girl & her loose tooth. The story explored different cultures that made up her community.