Amanda Vickery, University of North Texas

This recommended list of films offers teachers a wealth of resources for engaging students with contemporary China.

NCSS Publications Steve Armstrong 85 Years of Social Education Michael Simpson Coming of Age: The Emergence of Middle Level Learning Tedd Levy Past, Present, and Future of Social Studies and The Young Learner Scott Waring The Research that Leads to Classroom Practice: Theory & Research in Social Education Wayne Journell At a Crossroad: NCSS and Technology Ilene R. Berson, Michael J. Berson, and Joe O’Brien A Revolution in Inquiry: The C3 Framework and the Inquiry Design Model interview with Kathy Swan, S.G. Grant, and John Lee by Rozella G. Clyde NCSS, Scholarship, and the…

“The Fresh Market: Connecting Content, Children, Families, and the Community,” outlines the “fresh market project” and lays out an argument for a cross-curricular approach to teach social studies in a preschool classroom. The authors outline a process in which teachers met weekly to think of ways to embed content in science, technology, reading, engineering, art, math, and social studies in an effective and engaging manner. Their narrative highlights the power of interdisciplinary work with young children, with an emphasis on social studies as the connecting thread.

—James S. Leming, Lucien Ellington, and Mark SchugThis survey of more than 1,000 elementary and middle school teachers nationwide offers a unique view of social studies practices and challenges in our schools today.329

—Lee Ann PotterThomas Jefferson was shocked when war veteran Jacob Koontz wrote to him asking for presidential help seven years after Jefferson’s presidential term had ended. A look at Jefferson’s letter noting Koontz’s lack of civic awareness highlights for students the importance of civic literacy.360

In the article “Inspiring Americans: Creating a Community of Engaged Citizens” (pp. 12–16), the authors suggest that children can study biographies of less-known citizens that are diverse in many ways. In this Pullout, we offer an extension activity that brings the topic close to home and school.