Social+Studies+Resources

**Social Studies**

 Within in the **Social Studies** subject there are several different topics that need to be addressed. The National Council for the Social Studies categorizes these specific topics into **ten strands**. These strands are extremely important to include in the Social Studies curriculum, and provide insight into what it should accomplish. The ten strands and their correlating icons are listed below.



 The ten Social Studies strands listed above provide specific topics and organization to the Social Studies curriculum. There are also several broad aspects of Social Studies that illustrate the curriculum and the Social Studies subject itself. One large aspect is the relationships within the world. These relationships include studying about the the self and moving up to the world. The idea of relationships is evident throughout the Social Studies strands and curriculum, and a large part of relationships within the world is communication. Places around the world is another key element that encompasses Social Studies. In broad terms, Social Studies is the study of the world and the connections and relationships within in the world from the past to the present.

 Technology can be used to enhance key components of Social Studies, such as communication and relationships within the world. Pen pals have always been a great way to communicate with people from different places and cultures, but in today's world, there are many types of technology that can connect people much faster. Another type of technology that can reinforce Social Studies standards is virtual travel. There are many different types of programs that allow us to see pictures, information, and recreations of places around the world. Students can explore different technologies to enhance their experiences with the world and relationships within the world.

**Technology and Social Studies**

==Google Earth: http://earth.google.com/  ==

//Heather Sox- October 1, 2009//


 **Google Earth** is provided by Google and can be downloaded to do many things. It contains **satellite pictures of the entire world** to explore in just one click of a button. This software that can be downloaded to your computer through the website above can be an extremely valuable part of classroom Social Studies instruction. Students using Google Earth are able to travel all of the world and view different sites, cities, or landmarks. It can also be used to show students where they live in relation to the rest of the world. Google Earth is not only used for present day pictures and information. Students can also explore topics of the past, such as migrations, journeys, or important places.

==Second Life: http://secondlife.com/ ==

//Heather Sox- October 1, 2009//


 This software is an **3D virtual world community** that allows you to make your own person, collaborate with other people, and travel to many places around the world. So many aspects of our world have become virtual; therefore, teachers can really benefit from using a virtual world to connect to their students. It can be an environment for students to **collaborate** and complete assignments. They could also **travel** to different places around the world (example: the Sphinx in Egypt) and make **observations** or experiment. **Second Life** can also be used to hold class meetings on the virtual world and maybe complete an assignment or visit somewhere interesting. Teachers should become familiar with technology, such as Second Life, because more and more students are using and "living" in these worlds.

==National Geographic for Kids: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Places/ ==

//Heather Sox- October 1, 2009//


<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> **National Geographic** has a site especially for kids. The section of this site called **people and places** provides information about different countries and the people from those countries. People and places is a topic that is directly related to Social Studies and can really enhance students learning and knowledge about **current events around the world**. This website has links to several **countries** that you can learn about. It also contains animals, activities, games from those countries and current stories involving those countries. This is a great resource for students and teachers to use as a research source or to just explore present day information about the world.

==<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">PowerPoint Museum ==

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">//Heather Sox- October 1, 2009//
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> **PowerPoint** is a Microsoft product that can be used to make slide shows, but it can also be used for more fun and **interactive lessons**. By simply using the geometric shapes and linking techniques, a **classroom museum** can be created in a short amount of time. This simple resource, PowerPoint, can be used in new and creatives way to explore a topic in Social Studies. When using this in the classroom, students are actively engaged because they can explore the **different rooms and galleries** in museum. This is great when projected onto a smart board because the students can actually "enter" the different rooms by going up to the board and touching the painting or door. An example of using a PowerPoint museum in a classroom setting is the screen shot above about the regions of South Carolina. Each region has a "painting" of that region, and when it is clicked on, the students are redirected to an informational slide on that region. This is a simple and easy to use resource that can turn your classroom into an active learning environment.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">//Lorenzo Gaines- October 1, 2009//
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Skype is the great software application that clearly will add on to the depth of any Social Studies class. The basic idea behind Skype allows for the **extension of global communication**. While pen pals and such are educational sound, Skype allows for users to communication via **voice calls**. This application will be beneficial in the classroom because of countless reasons. For starters, it is imperative that teachers use approaches that are appreciated by the students. Instead of the typical approach of sending post cards to students in other locations, you can now actually “talk” to other students. Not only will the “fun” of talking be enjoyed by students, you will be able to speed up the communication process. Now instead of waiting on letters to travel you can get **immediate responses**. A primary goal of Social Studies is to connect students to the world around them. Using Skype not only allows for quick communication to the world but does it in a manner that is appealing for all ages.

//Toni Wardlaw- October 1, 2009//
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> This is a great resource for more interactive lesson for student videos. It is very engaging because students can watch historical videos instead of just reading textbooks. ETV also gives great Social Studies lesson plans that correlate with the standards. This site also gives images that the students can scroll over and get a brief description of the pictures. On the side scroll bar students can narrow their subject to better find information about the topic they are learning such as: civics, geography, American history, ancient civilizations, and world history etc. Lesson plans and quizzes are also a great resource to use for activities and accessing students.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">PBS Teachers: []
==<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span class="wiki_link_ext"> ==

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">//Heather Sox- October 15, 2009//


<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">PBS Teachers is an online resource **for teachers**, but it also has **links and activities** that are directly useful with students. When using this resource, teachers can research **classroom resources**, participate in a **discussion board** with other teachers, and also receive help with professional development. All of these areas are pertaining specifically to Social Studies. Some examples of classroom resources that teachers can utilize from this website are an interactive map to explore Lincoln statues across the country or learning about the civil war through a collection of artifacts owned by a Union soldier. These resources are great and updated, and not only does this resource provide classroom resources. It also delves in to helping teachers with communication and even assessment. This interactive website can be used for many aspects of the Social Studies Classroom, so take advantage of it!

=<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">**Blogger**: [|http://www.blogger.com/home] =

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">[[image:cutech:sox3.png width="43" height="36"]] [[image:cutech:sox8.png width="36" height="42"]][[image:cutech:sox9.png width="39" height="42"]]
Lorenzo Gaines - October 23, 2009



<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Blogger serves as Google's online publishing system. Along with being free there many opportunities to be taken advantage of when using this in a Social Studies environment. One of the primary purpose of Social Studies is to have real exposure to the surronding world thereby ensure are greater capacity of respect to self and others. While this goal may appear daunting, blogger creates a setting that exposes students to the world around them but allows them the opportunity to **express** their views on life as well. Blogger is just as it sounds. It allows it users to blog. Incorporating this in the classroom, there can be extensive "pen-pal" activities. Ranging from other students in the **local communities** to school on other **continents**, students will not only be able to blog their ideas on certain prompts from instructors but also get to read the views of others. This will enhance their **writing skills**, their **reasoning abilities** and practices the idea of respecting the views of others.

==<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Wetpaint: []<span class="wiki_link_ext">  ==

//<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Heather Sox- October 23, 2009 //
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Wetpaint is a **wiki** that would be easy for students to use as long as you monitor their use. This resource can be utilized in many different ways in a classroom. It can be used to **make a website** about a specific topic or it can be used to **communicate** with other people around the world. It would be a fast and easy way to have "pen pals" in your classroom. The students could communicate with each other through wiki posts. Students could also create their own website about a certain social studies topic. Wetpaint is very **user friendly**, and it would also give the students some experience in making a website. There are many ways that a wiki can be used in a social studies classroom.

=Discovery Kids: http://kids.discovery.com/= Toni Wardlaw- October 23, 2009

Discovery kids is a wiki that lets children **explore** science, history, space, technology etc. This website can be used to watch videos, learn how real mummies are made, play informational games, or visit Wendall to ask a yucky question you may have. This website also has a very useful television guide with the name of the series and the time for everyday, which can serve as a visual learning tool at home or in the classroom. Students will love this website due to the fun and games and teachers will find it very resourceful and fun as well.

==Lovely Charts: http://www.lovelycharts.com/ ==

//Heather Sox - November 5, 2009//

 * Lovely Charts** is an online **diagram drawing program** that allows users to create concept maps, flow charts, graphic organizers, sitemaps, wireframes, and more. There are many topics in Social Studies that would be able to use concept maps and diagrams to help students. These types of organizers help students to put their thoughts and learned information into **organized schemas**. An example of using a concept map in Social Studies is studying the geographic regions of South Carolina. Each region has different characteristics, so a great way to help the students identify these characteristics with each region is through a concept map. This provides the student with **visual representation** of a large concept that normally they would not be able to visualize. This technique could be used for several aspects in the Social Studies curriculum. Dates and times are a large part of history. Lovely Charts could be used to create a time line or chart to organize the dates. Those are just a couple examples of how Lovely Charts can enhance learning in the elementary classroom.

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/ Toni Wardlaw-- November 6, 2009 Social Studies for Kids is a site with **articles**, and tons of links for all subjects of social studies. This website includes current events, book reviews, real **eye witness accounts** on events such as Pearl Harbor and every subject in Social Studies. This website touches on different religions, geography, languages, cultures, holidays, time lines, ancient civilizations, Middle Ages, explorers, the Renaissance and many more fun kid-friendly sites. This website can help a lot in the classroom and serve as a great resource for children.

Toni Wardlaw teachervision.fen.com/educational-technology/teacher-resources/43743.html Technology Resources for Teachers This website is filled with great technological social studies resources for teachers. The website consist of **basic computer skills, internet research tips, internet safety resources, lessons, and worksheets to help integrate technology across the curriculum**. This website helps teachers learn history of the internet and how to get help using computer word processors, find out how to create PowerPoint presentations, understand the difference between podcast and a blog, research interesting science projects online, use the computer to extent a literature activities and other engaging activities. Encourage your students to use technology in school and at home. The possibilities are endless, when it comes to how the internet, computers, and other forms of modern technology that can benefit your classroom instruction.

//Lorenzo Gaines - December 4th, 2009//
Kids.gov is an **interactive site** with tons of information for **both students and teachers**. While there are numerous outlets to take it, this site provides a rather insightful outlet for **American History**. Major areas of the U.S history are not only discussed but there are activities to reinforce understanding as well. Many inquires a student may have on American icon biographies, historic areas, and the nation’s developments are covered with **slideshows, movies,** **games**, and **virtual tours**.

The World Almanac for Kids: []
//Lorenzo Gaines- December 4th, 2009// For any child, an **almanac** presents a wealth of information right at their fingertips. Despite the benefit of such a product, it can appear rather boring for some. **World Almanac for Kids** takes this into consideration and in turn produces a site with fun, stylish and an interactive presentation that allow for students to learn about the world around them. Material highlighting details in **sociology**, **psychology**, and **geography** are all well represented. Insightful videos, colorful pictures, and a social networking systems help ensure students throughout **the world stay connected**.

Teachers Domain: []
==<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span class="wiki_link_ext"> ==



//Lorenzo Gaines December 4th, 2009// It is imperative that the name “Teacher Domains” does not fool students for there is great deal of information for both teachers and students to take advantage of through this site. If ever there was need for **research**, this site provides the much needed detail to understand the **key elements** in all subjects. **Pictures, videos, interactive chat rooms**, and other tools make this site worth personal evaluating. Particularly in social studies, there is a great focus and US and World History. This site provides is great tool to **research**, **compare**, and **create** great amount of material on the United States.



Toni Wardlaw
====This useful wiki has **student, parent, and teacher resources** available for free. This website is a virtual middle school library with many integrated **links** that are just a click away. Ranging from lesson plans, to how to blog about current events for students, there is something here for everyone to learn and enjoy. Click on the Xpeditions link to go on a **virtual field trips,** plan a lesson or look at a map. With the main focus on current events, geography, government, and history, you are sure to find loads of informative resources, games, assessments, and links to many more social studies websites.====