As social studies teachers, we play an essential role in preparing the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to become informed and engaged citizens.
Studying the 13 diagnostic questions that make up the Keys election prediction system can help students understand what issues really matter to Americans when choosing a president.
The 50th anniversary of Earth Day offers an excellent opportunity for teaching about environmental legislation and fostering action-oriented engagement in climate issues.
Examining documents in the classroom related to an 1885 case filed by four African American sisters challenging segregation on a steamship can springboard into an interesting debate about civil disobedience and peaceful protest.
The featured photograph of a historical sign in Paterson, New Jersey can launch an exploration of the history, geography, and economics that shaped one community and can propel students to research their own local markers.
By integrating the process of critical questioning of media messages into the everyday classroom curriculum, we can help produce a citizenry with the skills needed to negotiate future threats to truth.
Incorporating census data into a range of social studies topics can help students enhance their statistical literacy skills while giving them a better understanding of the subjects they study.
The study of different aspects of the census such as age structure and the ratio of males to females can give students insight into how historical events have impacted our population.
By investigating statistics collected by censuses, students can obtain a deeper understanding of historical events and cultural milestones like the Battle of Gettysburg, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, or landing a man on the moon.
The Census Bureau’s emphasis on hiring census takers who reflect the communities in which they count has played a historic role in ensuring that neglected communities gain representation.
This review of censuses from 1790 to 2010 is told through 23 objects that will stimulate student interest and offer insight into the myriad of information provided by censuses.