Meaningful Well-Planned Social Studies Lessons

Social Studies lessons encompass numerous contents/subjects in which students learn about the world around them. Social Studies lessons should be powerful and meaningful learning experiences for students. During this time students venture into learning about different cultures, history, geography, civilizations, and more. However, most often Social Studies is not seen as the most important subject. With teacher's being pressed for time, Social Studies ends up becoming a quick 20 minute lesson thrown in once or twice a week. In order to flourish in the world around them students need to be offered all subject areas. There is an unmeasurable value that Social Studies has to offer our students. It is our jobs as teachers to ensure that all students are given meaningful and well-planned lessons.

Social Studies like the Arts, Science, and other subjects can easily be integrated into core subject areas of Math and Language Arts. As a teacher one should constantly be evaluating their lessons to see how they can integrate the subjects. When planning a Social Studies lesson it is important to integrate other subjects so that it does not stand alone. One great way to integrate LA is to read books, complete research projects, write essays, student notebooks, all of this relating to whatever Social Studies topic you may be covering. Social Studies can also be integrated to Science. Throughout history natural disasters and phenomenons have occurred, history of cultures and the way their beliefs about planets, stars, and the world around them; and how it affected their everyday lives. There are many ways that Social Studies can be integrated into other subjects! To create a meaningful well-planned Social Studies lesson you must integrate into other subjects.

As with any other lesson, it is important to have a clear concise lesson in which you have specific goals and objectives you want to meet. Teachers must be organized, prepared with materials ready, and clearly able to articulate the lesson. When students are given moments where the teacher is unorganized and has not created a well planned lesson, it leaves the students unengaged and room for misbehavior. Teachers need to be ready with all materials and know how they plan to implement the lesson.

One of the most important attributes of a well-planned Social Studies lessons should be creating a lesson that is hands on allowing students to become a part of their learning. Often times students are instructed to read chapters out of a book and not given a chance to learn through exploration. I still remember in 5th grade making a cookie of the United States and decorating specific aspects. Students are not going to remember or learn from merely reading a textbook and answering questions. Provide them with movement, a game, skit, or hands on activities that allow them to flourish. Through Social Studies students are able to learn more about where the world has been and where its going. Students need to understand the past of our country and others in order to better understand the future. Social Studies encompasses such a rich and meaningful part of life, and it is the the teachers job to find out what interests they have and motivate your students to become engaged in your lessons.