A Vision for Powerful A Vision for Powerful Social StudiesSocial Studies

MeaningfulMeaningful

► not trivial not trivial ►  useful in and out of school useful in and out of school ►  centers on powerful ideas centers on powerful ideas ►  emphasizes authentic activities emphasizes authentic activities

and assessmentsand assessments

Value-BasedValue-Based► ____ engages students in making decisions ____ engages students in making decisions   ► ____ aware of social policy implications ____ aware of social policy implications   ► ____ realizes social diversity ____ realizes social diversity   ► ____ sensitivity to cultural similarities and differences ____ sensitivity to cultural similarities and differences   ► ____ commitment to social responsibility and action ____ commitment to social responsibility and action   ► ____ involves critical thinking ____ involves critical thinking   ► ____ recognition of opposing points of view ____ recognition of opposing points of view   ► ____ respect for well-supported positions ____ respect for well-supported positions   ► ____ involves ethics____ involves ethics

ChallengingChallenging► ____ expected to strive to achieve instructional goals ____ expected to strive to achieve instructional goals   ► ____ challenged to come to grips with controversial issues ____ challenged to come to grips with controversial issues

► ____ participate assertively but respectfully in group discussions ____ participate assertively but respectfully in group discussions   ► ____ work productively with others (a learning community) ____ work productively with others (a learning community)   ► ____ well-reasoned arguments rather than opinions voiced without ____ well-reasoned arguments rather than opinions voiced without

adequate thought or commitment adequate thought or commitment   ► ____ uses varieties of sources of information with different ____ uses varieties of sources of information with different

perspectives perspectives   ► ____ makes well-reasoned and informed decisions____ makes well-reasoned and informed decisions  

ActiveActive

► ___ flexibility requiring reflective thinking and ___ flexibility requiring reflective thinking and decision making as events unfold during instruction. decision making as events unfold during instruction.

  ► ____ captures "teachable moments" ____ captures "teachable moments"

► ____ physical activity as well as thinking activities ____ physical activity as well as thinking activities relates prior knowledge to current experiences relates prior knowledge to current experiences

  ► ____ via discussion, readings, writing, etc. ____ via discussion, readings, writing, etc.   ► ____ "hands-on" and "minds-on" ____ "hands-on" and "minds-on"   

IntegrativeIntegrative► ______crosses disciplinary boundaries______crosses disciplinary boundaries

►   _____ _____ across time and space across time and space

► ____ links past and present ____ links past and present   ► ____ links theory and reality ____ links theory and reality   ► ____ links research and practical applications ____ links research and practical applications   ► ____ involves new technologies ____ involves new technologies   ► ____ connected with life and social issues ____ connected with life and social issues   ► ____ involves knowledge and skills____ involves knowledge and skills