There are ways to choose what to teach beside just following the state standards. Yes, they must be taught, or should be if you are homeschooling. But, there are other things to consider beside that for teaching fun social studies lessons. Social studies can be fun if you take a few things into consideration.
Getting a student interested in learning about the subject is the main thing about beginning to plan lessons. Most young children are very interested in the world around, and love exploring it. Anything currently happening is of interest to them, so lessons are best planned around these events.
In order to plan something that will interest students you must plan something about which you are passionate. Let that subject become incorporated in any lesson you plan, such as in read-aloud activities and others. It won't be long until the students pick up on your enthusiasm for that subject, and they will become excited about it, too. This can change a student who hates history into one that loves it.
Though you have standards as a guide, you don't have to follow a boring textbook. You can plan your lessons that will be of interest to both you and the student. Whatever you show interest in, the student will become more interested in and get excited about. The lessons will be appealing to all and lead to more interest in learning.
The whole idea is to let the student discover history with the teacher, rather than being taught history by the teacher. Researching and writing is one way to discover. Give them three scenarios and have them discuss and decide on which one they would decide. Try to encourage agreement in the whole group, teaching the correct way to give and take in making decisions. Then have them write about their decision.
Another method for teaching history is to take and event and have the student study the surrounding circumstances of it, without revealing the event to them. Then have them to discuss and/or write about what they would do in those circumstances. After they have discussed and come upon what actually happened in the event, or get close to it, let them know what people actually did at that time.
Children learn with different styles, but they enjoy visual input more than any other. As they develop writing and language skills, visual learning helps them. To start a new unit or concept, a large visual image will gain their interest. You can do search on the internet for images that will interest them about the subject. Present the images and have them make inferences about what is happening and the time or period. Not only does this develop social studies concepts, but it also builds the ability to make inferences.
The images used for presenting a concept should be large and visible to all the students. This is best done using a projector and screen. It should be very colorful so as to keep the attention and excite students about the image. Have the students keep a copy of their inferences, keep the images for pre-activities and post-activities to help them see and make comparisons to their inferences and what really happened.
Getting a student interested in learning about the subject is the main thing about beginning to plan lessons. Most young children are very interested in the world around, and love exploring it. Anything currently happening is of interest to them, so lessons are best planned around these events.
In order to plan something that will interest students you must plan something about which you are passionate. Let that subject become incorporated in any lesson you plan, such as in read-aloud activities and others. It won't be long until the students pick up on your enthusiasm for that subject, and they will become excited about it, too. This can change a student who hates history into one that loves it.
Though you have standards as a guide, you don't have to follow a boring textbook. You can plan your lessons that will be of interest to both you and the student. Whatever you show interest in, the student will become more interested in and get excited about. The lessons will be appealing to all and lead to more interest in learning.
The whole idea is to let the student discover history with the teacher, rather than being taught history by the teacher. Researching and writing is one way to discover. Give them three scenarios and have them discuss and decide on which one they would decide. Try to encourage agreement in the whole group, teaching the correct way to give and take in making decisions. Then have them write about their decision.
Another method for teaching history is to take and event and have the student study the surrounding circumstances of it, without revealing the event to them. Then have them to discuss and/or write about what they would do in those circumstances. After they have discussed and come upon what actually happened in the event, or get close to it, let them know what people actually did at that time.
Children learn with different styles, but they enjoy visual input more than any other. As they develop writing and language skills, visual learning helps them. To start a new unit or concept, a large visual image will gain their interest. You can do search on the internet for images that will interest them about the subject. Present the images and have them make inferences about what is happening and the time or period. Not only does this develop social studies concepts, but it also builds the ability to make inferences.
The images used for presenting a concept should be large and visible to all the students. This is best done using a projector and screen. It should be very colorful so as to keep the attention and excite students about the image. Have the students keep a copy of their inferences, keep the images for pre-activities and post-activities to help them see and make comparisons to their inferences and what really happened.
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