SOCIAL STUDIES 1997-98                  PAUL INGRAM                Back to opening page

Social Studies objectives        Skills taught         Methods used         Blooms      Evaluation methods

I) COURSE OBJECTIVES

A) 8 World Social Studies (Classical): (re: HBJ )
This course is designed to help students to build an appropriate skill base connecting Geographical, Historical, Governmental, Economical, & Cultural elements of world affairs in the past and present.

Personal Objectives :
To help students understand the cause and effect relationship of not only historical events , but of modern events as well. A special interest will be given to current affairs where appropriate

B) 7 World Geography: (re: MacMillian McGraw Hill )
This course is designed to help students to build a love of learning, a understanding that personal actions make a difference and foster a real appreciation for History and Geography.

Personal Objectives :
To help students understand the relationships of the places of the modern world with modern events . To give students a sound knowledge of political boundaries. A special interest will be given to current affairs where appropriate

C) 6 World Social Studies : (re: MacMillian McGraw Hill )
This course is designed to bring a meaningful balanced awareness of the physical and cultural geography of the eight major cultural regions of the world.

Personal Objectives :
To help students understand the relationships of the places of the modern world with modern events . To give students a sound knowledge of political boundaries. A special interest will be given to current affairs where appropriate

D) 8 Geography : Personal Only (no set text)
To have students be familiar with the layout of the earth including major physical and political landmarks.
 

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I) SKILL BUILDING

Students will be encouraged to develop skills at the various, grade appropriate, levels.

A) In the use of Text books - Students will use textbooks regularly and practice several simple strategies for effective text reading such as SRC, Herringbone, Outlining, & Mapping.

B) In Co-operative learning - Students will have opportunity to learn and use communication skills, small group dynamics skills, and learning with others.

C) In Creative Application - Students will be given several opportunities to develop creative skills as it applies to the content. These will include art, photography, creative writing , and individualized creative work.

D) In portfolio development - Students will be given several opportunities to develop portfolios of various hands on assignments.

E) In writing notes - Students will be given several strategies to practice effective note taking including outlining, main point identification, and paired notes.

F) In writing Tests - Students will use tests regularly and practice several strategies for effective testing such as prequestion development, prioritizing, linking, and time management.

G) In developing Questions - Students will use all levels of questions from KNOWLEDGE to ASSESSMENT ( Blooms taxonomy of education) and develop their own questions at all levels appropriate to the material they are working on.

H) In writing Essays - Students will have opportunity to develop and practice writing essays. Students will be given strategies on how and when to use basic essays, formal essays, test essays, creative essays, and persuasive essays.

I) In the use of Reference Materials - Student all have opportunity over the year to use Atlases, maps, encyclopedia, current magazines, academic journals, and historical folk tales.

J) In developing Projects - Students will use projects through out the year. They will have opportunity to learn and practice items such as formal written term project, oral presentation project, and written proposals.

K) In Vocabulary Building - Students will learn and use several strategies for building vocabulary

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III) CLASSROOM METHODOLOGY

These courses will use a large range of methods in an attempt to reach and motivate students.

A) Portfolios - students will have opportunity to develop a portfolio of small assignments. Pictures, letters, essays, time lines and other items will be included.

B) Co-operative learning - a significant portion of class time will be spent in the co-operative setting in both teacher directed and student directed learning activities.

C) Student directed learning - Throughout the year students will all have opportunities to lead presentations, present notes, and synopses and direct their own learning.

D) Individualized learning - students will be given opportunity to do teacher directed work as individual seat work through out the year.

E) Discussion based learning - Students will spend a portion of their time in both teacher lead and student lead discussions. Not only sharing relevant information but also learning large (?) group dynamics.

F) Techniques - A number of techniques will be used including notes, maps, films, worksheets, reading, games, and computer applications.

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NOTE : By using all the various methodologies and techniques it is assumed that all levels of the

COGNITIVE                and                  AFFECTIVE
Domains ( Blooms taxonomy of education) will be routinely used and expected from the students.

COGNITIVE                          AFFECTIVE

Knowledge                             Receiving
Comprehension                       Responding
Application                             Valuing
Analysis                                 Organizing
Synthesis                               Characterizing
Evaluation

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IV) EVALUATION

There will be a variety of evaluation tools and techniques used during the year in the courses.

A) PORTFOLIO - A variety of small projects which will enable to students cognitive and affective learning. These will include maps, chronicles, letters and other hands on tasks

B) PROJECTS - A variety of projects will be used as evaluation tools. These will include formal, creative and and cross curriculum application.

C) CO- OPERATIVE LEARNING - A percentage of certain units will be assigned on the rating of co-operative technique and application. (re: Johnson & Johnson )

D) STUDENT LEARNING - A percentage of certain units will use student work as the evaluation tool. Essays, presentations, student directed class learning, and other activities will be used.

E) TESTS - Tests in the Social studies area will tend to concentrate on what the students know not trying to find out what they do not know.

F) OTHER - Occasionally other tools will be used in evaluating student work. Participation, notebooks, homework, and others may be used.

G) SELF - ASSESSMENT - Used primarily with portfolios but also in other areas. Self - assessment allows student involvement in their own learning process to take another important step.

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