Social Studies and Literature

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Social Studies and Literature

• Teaching with Childrens Literature

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Why teach with Literature?

• Children should be actively engaged in learning
  experiences
• Social Studies should be relevant to childrens
  lives
• Social Studies should be a shared learning
  experience
• Social Studies should deepen childrens
  conceptual understanding
• Von Heyking, A. Social Studies Through
  Literature, (2001), Scholastic Canada

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Appropriate use of Literature

• A literary selection, writing assignment,
  cooperative learning activity, or computerized
  simulation cannot be considered curriculum simply
  because it features social studies combined with
  some other subject or set of skills. Nor can
  such activities be substituted for genuine social
  studies activities.

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To qualify as worthwhile elements of social
studies curricula, activities must engage
students in using important ideas in ways that
promote progress toward social understanding and
civic efficacy goals. A Vision of Powerful
Teaching and Learning in the Social Studies
Building Social Understanding and Civic
Efficacy. So, Literature must address a Social
Studies general or specific outcome, whether
knowledge, attitude, or skill.
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Advantages to using Literature

• Stories place children in time
• Children are comfortable with stories
• A good way to start a lesson
• Social Studies is real-life based. Stories give
  another view
• Visual representation in stories to assist with
  understanding
• Adds variety to lessons and units

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Advantages (cont.)

• Stories clarify concepts. Children like to know
  the answer
• Promotes higher order thinking skills
• Promotes conversation and interaction
• Heightens moral and social awareness
• Develops positive attitudes towards other
  cultures
• Provides insights to self

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Cautions for Using Literature

• Social Studies content can distort the purpose of
  the story. Do not substitute stories for a
  textbook
• Fact or Fiction? Children may not know
• Stories can provide a superficial treatment of
  Social Studies concepts

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Guidelines

• Teach explicitly, directly and often the
  distinction between fact and fiction
• Give students opportunities to respond
  aesthetically to the story
• Select good books

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What are Good books?

• Broaden or deepen a Social Studies concept
• Interesting and developmentally appropriate
• Accurate and free of stereotypes
• Moral issues should invite critical thinking
• Illustrations complement the text
• Collection reflects multicultural nature of our
  nation and world

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