Chapter 1: Social Studies as a Canadian Discipline Learning Topics for Chapter 1 Examining the Role of Social Studies in Canada Views of the Social Studies Learner Values Systems and The Evolving Social Studies Curricula Values and Attitudes: Developmental Influences The Evolution of Values and Norms Innovative and Transformative Strategies in Social Studies Programming Choices in Social Studies Reflective Practice for Professional Learners in the Teaching Profession Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

What is Social Studies? Relatively new area of study in Canadian schools Started to be a distinctly Canadian focus in the 1930s Social Studies presents a coordinated vision of disciplines that make up the unique perspective of this area of study. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

Social Studies draws from… Archeology Philosophy Anthropology Political science Economics Psychology Geography Religion History Sociology Law Space sciences Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

Approaches to Social Studies Curriculum Development Four approaches to curriculum development may be used: * Expanding horizons/environments * Social roles * Developmental studies * Regional or area studies Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

What approach does your local guideline use? Examine a local provincial or territorial social studies guideline to determine the approach or approaches to curriculum development being used in your area. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

This is reflective practice. As teachers, we must examine what we are doing in the classroom by focusing on the learning goals in an effort to improve practice and therefore improve the likelihood of achieving those learning goals. This is reflective practice. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

Learning Skills Young children and junior level students benefit from being able to interact with objects and people as they learn. Learning skills include: * active listening * initiative * active participation * organization * conflict resolution * problem solving * cooperation * study skills * goal setting * task completion * independence * use of information Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

Social Studies is always evolving Issues change over time and place. Factors that may have significant influence on Social Studies programs in the future include: * Science and technology * Space and ocean explorations * Cultural interactions * Communication and transportation improvements worldwide * Peace initiatives * Treaty rights * Generic research, aging, and evolving concepts of privacy and human rights * Sustainability concepts * Global stewardship Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

Values Instruction in Social Studies Social Studies educators will address instruction about values in three instances: * examining historical and geographic situations that require a value laden perspective * involving students in simulated experiences that require perspective taking * including direct instruction about a common local value Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

Some values are inherent in topics of study within the discipline Example: When we teach complex skills such as comparison or correlation  students will learn more about active listening, inclusiveness and respect for diversity When we teach about sustainability and global stewardship  students will learn more about responsibility, sharing, and fairness Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

The resources we use can support the ideas we teach Age appropriate software Local officials for interviewing Artifacts Magazines Calculators Maps Collections Newspapers Computers Photographs Costumes and culturally accurate dress samples Reference texts Designated space for ongoing work Samples Display boards Scanners Literature Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

Topic Elaboration Topic elaboration is introduced in this chapter. Details about the skills and questions of topic elaboration are developed in Chapters 2 through 8. Topic elaboration skills help students engage in project-based learning. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

The questions of Topic Elaboration include: What is it? How does it work? What are its interesting characteristics? How do those characteristics change over time/space/location, etc.? What are those changes related to/ What would happen if…? What could/should/can be done about it? Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

The skills of Topic Elaboration include: Concept clarification Comparison Model building Correlation Narration Causal reasoning Description Decision making Map making Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

Chapter Review Social Studies is relatively new as a subject in Canadian schools. Creating social studies curricula that is uniquely Canadian, and independent of American curriculum influence is an ongoing task. Social studies is multi-disciplinary in nature, drawing its knowledge and techniques of inquiry from many areas of expertise. There are major strands or key ideas that focus the specific objectives or expectations for any part of our Social Studies curriculum. Teaching social studies involves teaching appropriate values; character education initiatives are one way to do this. Critical thinking is a key skill in social studies and can be applied to the examination of moral dilemmas. Cognitive and social constructivism approaches help students make meaning of new experiences.  Social values and norms evolve and our social studies curriculum needs to remain responsive to their evolution.   Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada

Social studies classrooms need to be resource rich. Practising professional reflection is a desirable trait in a teacher and helps us focus our professional improvement efforts. The characteristics of transformative instructional strategies that are responsive to cognitive and social constructivism theories will create a dynamic Social Studies learning environment. Backwards design of the curriculum helps us to keep a focused match between what we are intending to teach and how we will ask students to demonstrate that they have learned what was intended. Both teacher modeling and directed activity have valuable roles in our classrooms. Social studies classrooms need to be resource rich. Reflective practice is a professional responsibility that focuses our instructional improvement efforts. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education Canada