Social Studies, the the Heart;

1

• Social Studies, the the Heart
• Technology, the Beat in
• Primary Classrooms

Marilyn J. Eisenwine Marcia L. Broughton Angelo
State University San Angelo, Texas
2
Children are born into social studies. From
birth, they begin exploring their world. At each
stage of early development. They gradually learn
more about their expanding community and
eventually come to see themselves as
citizens. (Mindes, 2005)
3
The primary purpose of social studies is to help
young people develop the ability to make informed
and reasoned decisions for the public good as
citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic
society in an interdependent world. (NCSS,
1993)
4
Constructivism and technology are ideal
partners social studies students can construct
knowledge that is derived from personal context
and embedded in authentic experience
(Boyer Semrau, 1995)
5
Getting Started Questions for Teachers

• What are the big ideas?
• Why is it valuable for students to learn these?
• What will students do to build understanding?
• What new technologies would enhance teaching for
  understanding?
• How will they demonstrate their understanding?
• (Education with New Technologies Network,
  Harvard Univ.)

6
Making Technology Connections

• Meaningful teaching and learning
• Integrative teaching and learning
• Values-based teaching and learning
• Challenging teaching and learning
• Active teaching and learning
• (Fairey,Lee, Bennett, 2000)

7
Level I - Students

• 1st grade Shared Keyboard
• Teacher and students type together.
• Microsoft Word
• 1st grade Flat Stanley
• Students type letter to mail.
• 2nd grade Circle Writing
• Students type/draw illustrations by hand.
• 3rd grade Acrostics
• Students type/use graphics to illustrate.
• KidPix
• 1st grade Newspaper

8
Level II - Students

• KidPix or Microsoft Word
• 1st grade Biographies
• Students type and illustrate on computer.
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• 1st grade Project - Frontier Texas
• 4th grade Project -Cowboy History
• Students type and use graphics for illustrations.

9
Level III - Students

• Internet research and PowerPoint
• 1st grade project on Famous People
• with Products
• Internet research and Excel cards using
  Inspiration/Kidspiration
• 2nd grade project on Animal Habitats
• with Wild Card Game and Class Book

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Level I - Teachers

• Microsoft PowerPoint
• 1st grade Circus Template
• 1st grade Me Book Template
• With sounds
• 1st grade Where am I? Template
• Kindergarten Field Trip Presentation
• Kindergarten Insects Info for Centers

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Level II - Teachers

• Movies in PowerPoint
• 1st grade Fall play
• 1st grade Desktop/Laptop Theater
• 4th grade Desktop/Laptop Theater

• Movie in Adobe Premiere
• Kindergarten
• True Story of the
• Three Little Pigs

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Level III - Teachers

• Claymation Creations
• PowerPoint
• Claymation Movie - Windows version

sea take 2.wmv
13
Level III Teachers

• Adobe Photoshop, PowerPoint and Word with
  graphics
• 1st grade Through Childrens Eyes project
• San Antonio Missions PowerPoint,
• Matching Activity, Student Books,
• and Virtual Field Trip

14
Teacher Resources

• Products
• Qwizdom
• Drawing tablets
• Smartboard
• Alpha-smarts
• Reading pen

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Websites

• Find interesting sites in your state or visit
  ours! http//www.texasbeyondhistory.net/
• A great variety of history focused sites
  http//www.besthistorysites.net/LessonPlans.shtml
• A large library of social studies web resources
  http//eett.greenbush.org/vnews/display.v?TARGETp
  rintablearticle_id42c41c881a00a
• Always a good resource! http//pbs.org/teachersou
  rce/
• Virtual field trips http//www.nationalgeographic
  .com/xpeditions
• A searchable database for teacher resources
• http//www.bestpracticescenter.org/resources/link
  _search.aspresults

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Websites

• Something for every day of the year!
  http//www.earthcalendar.net
• Multicultural Calendar http//www.kidlink.org/KID
  PROJ/MCC
• Lessons and websites http//www.kn.pacbell.com/wi
  red/bluewebn/updates_list.cfm?year2001month9
• Social studies and technology resources
• http//www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/GNPS/Pages/elemlin
  ks/ssdocs.htm
• Technology projects for kids http//www.technokid
  s.com/cur_primary.shtml

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Websites

• Lesson Plans http//www.csun.edu/hcedu013/plans.
  html
• Interactive games with social studies themes
  http//www.primarygames.com/curriculum/social_stud
  ies.htm
• Over 300 virtual tours http//www.dreamscape.com/
  frankvad/museums.html
• Virtually There (Search for virtual tours)
  http//geocities.com/
• Keypals Intercultural e-mail Classroom
  Connections http//www.stolaf.edu/network/iecc/

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Websites

• E Pals http//www.epals.com/
• Elementary Online Projects http//www.siec.k12.in
  .us/west/online/join.htm
• Virtual tours, pen pals, and more!
  http//www.nationalgeographic.com/kids
• A collection of sites for Teachers TrackStar
  http//trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/index.jsp
  
• A Treasure Chest of project ideas
  http//globalschoolnet.org/GSH/

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• If information is changing, the tools are
  changing, the students are changing, and the
  society is changing, then surely teachers must
  also change.
• (Fairey, Lee, Bennett, 2000)

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Connecting Curriculum and Technology

• Communicate using a variety of media and formats.
• Access and exchange information in a variety of
  ways.
• Compile, organize, analyze, and synthesize
  information.
• Draw conclusions and make generalizations based
  on information gathered.

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Connecting Curriculum and Technology

• Know content and be able to locate additional
  information as needed
• Become self-directed learners
• Collaborate and cooperate in team efforts
• Interact with others in ethical and appropriate
  ways
• (Green, 2002)

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• Powerful teaching and learning that integrates
  technology has the potential to move social
  studies education beyond meaningless facts,
  inadequate connections, superficial coverage of
  content, and passive knowledge construction.
• (Martorella, 1997)

23

• Presentation can be accessed on
• Dr. Eisenwines website
• http//www.angelo.edu/faculty/meisenwine/Website/
  index.html
• Presenters may be contacted by e-mail
• marilyn.eisenwine_at_angelo.edu
• marcia.broughton_at_angelo.edu

24
References

• Boyer, B. A. Semrau, P. (1995). A
  constructivist approach to social studies
  Integrating technology. Social Studies and the
  Young Learner, 7 (3), 14-16.
• Education with New Technologies Network. (2005).
  The teaching for understanding framework.
  Retrieved from http//learnweb.harvard.edu/ent
  /workshop/ccdt_framework.cfm
• Fairey, C., Lee, J. K., and Bennett, C. T.
  (2000). Technology and social studies A
  conceptual model for integration. Journal of
  Social Studies Research. Retrieved from
  http//www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3823/i
  s200001/ai_n8891738/
• Green, L. C. (2002). Teachers and instructional
  technology Wise or foolish choices.
  Intercultural Development Research Association
  (IDRA) Newsletter, (27), 5, 1-2, 8-10.
• Martorella, P. H. (1997). Technology and social
  studies Which way to the sleeping giant? Theory
  and Research in Social Education, 25 (4),
  511-514.
• Mindes, G. (2005, September). Social studies in
  todays early childhood curricula.
• Young Children Beyond the Journal. Retrieved
  from
• http//www.journal.naeyc.org/btj/200509/mindes/as
  p
• Mindes, G., Donovan, M. A. (2001). Building
  character Five enduring themes for a stronger
  early childhood curriculum. Needham Heights, MA
  Allyn Bacon.
• NCSS. (1993). Definition approved. The Social
  Studies Professional, 114 (Jan./Feb.), 3.