Using Authentic Activities to Increase Tolerance in the Classroom Community Hallie Caron, Education 538 University of Portland Dr. Jacqueline Waggoner, Research Advisor Spring 2012

Purpose The purpose of this mixed methods study is to assess whether and/or how authentic activities affect student tolerance within their community. More specifically, this study will test how authentic activities increase student understanding of their own culture and background, and any impact authentic activities have on student tolerance of other cultures and backgrounds in their classroom and school community.

Significance The significance of this study is to observe and quantify the effect that authentic and hands-on activities have on the acquired knowledge of tolerance in the social studies curriculum.

Research Participants  Archbishop Howard School  A private, Catholic school in Portland, Oregon  22 Third Grade Students  15 Male Students  7 Female Students  Classroom Demographics

Results & Conclusions To be determined…

Review of Literature Authentic activities used correctly in the classroom can help bring history to life, create personal connections for each student, and help students form a higher level of historical thinking (Lanman, 2006).  “The best way children learn ‘the basics’ is through direct inquiry about their world. As their world is a social world, their inquiry should include social studies. Inquiry learning is an effective method to help children learn about social studies directly” (Crawford & Burriss, 2002, p. 95).  “The key to developing sample problems is to remain close to the problems actually or potentially faced by students, so they may build skills that transfer to situations outside the classroom” (Gehrig, 1991).

Limitations & Delimitations  The term of this study is only from January 2012 to April 2012  Study does not control for selection  22 participants is too small to be statistically significant  Unable to compare results to other classrooms or schools

Research Questions  How does the use of authentic activities impact student learning in social studies?  How does the use of authentic activities help students appropriately understand the concepts of community and tolerance in a community?

Methods The use of authentic activities in the social studies curriculum…  Authentic activities generally refer to hands- on activities related to real-world experiences that support the student as an individual learner.  Authentic activities provide movement and interactive work that is essential to making personal connections and creating a positive classroom learning environment (Crawford & Burriss, 2002; Gehrig, 1991).