Powerful Social Studies

1. Challenging

1.1. The students work productively with others (a learning Community) by working in groups.

1.2. The teacher asks open ended questions to ensure that the students would participate assertively but respectfully in group discussions

2. Active

2.1. The teacher incorporate different types of activities and centers physical activity as well as thinking activities that related prior knowledge to current experiences

2.2. the teacher incorporated hands on and minds on activity through centers and also discussions

3. Meaningful

3.1. The information the children were learning about was useful in and out of school.

3.2. The teacher also emphasizes authentic activities and assessment by having the children taste the different types of food that coresponded with the country and the celebration.

4. Integrative

4.1. The teacher linked past and present by asking the children if they remembered things that they learned about or did earlier in the year

4.2. The teacher crosses disciplinary boundaries by using concepts from different subjects to help the students make sense of what was being taught e.g. using the global rotation(science)

5. Value-Based

5.1. The teacher helps the students realize social diversity by studying other countries and the different ways that they celebrate holidays

5.2. The teacher addressed sensitivity to cultural similarities and differences by introducing that every culture/country celebrates differently and that is what make people unique