social study websites for elementary students

Review the Web or print guide prior to running a study group or workshop.

The following facilitator tips can enhance the professional development experience: This section offers print and Web resources related to the lesson, for both teachers and their students. This section lists the National Council for the Social Studies themes and content standards that correlate to the lesson. This section includes Reflecting on Your Practice, questions that connect the video to your own teaching and Taking It Back to Your Classroom, practical ideas related to the lesson that you can implement in your class. Finally, Looking Closer has you take a second look at specific teaching strategies within the video. Reflecting on the Video presents questions to structure your review of your notes. Watch the Video asks you to take notes on points you find interesting, surprising, or especially important as you watch the video.

Before You Watch poses several questions to activate your current knowledge through reflection, discussion, or both. This section is divided into four parts: Before You Watch, Watch the Video, Reflecting on the Video, and Looking Closer. Read this section before viewing the video. The Lesson Background highlights each lesson’s content and methodology. Information from teacher interviews provides details about the lesson goals and objectives. The Classroom Profile establishes the larger context, including the school community, where the lesson fits within the course curriculum, and students’ prior knowledge. This section is divided into two parts: Classroom Profile and Lesson Background. Use this information to determine which lessons will best meet your content and/or methodology needs. This section includes a short summary of the videotaped lesson, a brief overview of the class, and a list of themes and national standards addressed in the lesson.

To help you get the most out of each video, the professional development guide is organized into six parts. If you are working in a group, discuss the questions provided in the guide if you are working alone, write down your responses for later reflection.

After watching, you can follow the viewing activities listed in the guide, including a second viewing of selected segments.

The guide is also available in print form, which you can download from this site. Before watching, review the Video Summary and About the Class sections of the guide. The Web guide was designed to help you get the most out of each video. Social Studies in Action can be used for individual or group professional development, viewed in real time.

Social study websites for elementary students