Recently, I’ve been focusing on the
social studies component of my clinical classroom. Each week science or social
studies is done from 2:20-2:50PM. This past month, my CT has chosen to spend
this time on social studies. This small 30 minute window also incorporates
literacy, reading, math and other skills with social studies. When I began my
clinical, they were working on the life of Abraham Lincoln. I had the pleasure
of helping assist students with a final presentation about the former president’s
life. They did a little of everything from making videos, clay dioramas and pictures.
The next unit was about Goods and Services; I had the pleasure of teaching my
own lesson within this unit two weeks ago.
During Social Studies instruction
my CT usually uses readings from a text as part of a mini lesson. This usually
requires students to begin lessons on the carpet area or at their desks as a
whole group. The texts read have been from fiction or non-fiction books, a
magazines or textbook reading. My teacher then creates an activity for students
to work on following this reading. Some days this activity is drawing, a
worksheet or projects. In my past social studies lesson, I chose to incorporate
math and language skills into my lesson on becoming a wise shopper. In my
lesson, I chose to begin with analyzing a picture and starting some whole group
discussion to get their juices flowing. Then, we pretended to shop and practice
being wise shoppers. My lesson required the students to alternate working in both
small groups and as a large group. This was something I had not done in past
lessons but my CT is very versatile in her teaching and in turn, so was I. I
found it really cool that I had a lot of leeway in my approach to teaching this
subject.
Personally, I have experienced a lot of
textbook curriculum when it comes to social studies and science. This was not
always very engaging for students to sit and read from a textbook. However,
students have a handful of engaging strategies when using these different types
of activities and lessons in my clinical classroom. One example of an engaging
social studies activity the students love is using iPads to make a short video
as a summative assessment. Students were able to share what they learned by putting
it in a video. Strategies like these, really excites the students, and I love
it! In my past clinical experiences the time spent on science and social has
never been shared in this way. However, I have learned in my 277 course that
teachers often time use this dual content time in their classrooms. It has been
a joy experiencing it for myself in my clinical classroom. I must admit I’m
anxious to see what types of activities my CT has lined up for science. Another
aspect of social studies that is new to me this clinical working with 2nd grade
students. The kinds of activities I am able to do with an older group of
students helped me expand my ideas for teaching social studies. This definitely
allowed me to think beyond what it is like for very young children to grasp key
concepts. Lastly, I have started learning to create a curriculum map of social
studies lessons based on learning objectives. I’m sure my CT maps out her year in
order to fit both social studies and science in that 30 minute window
throughout the year. I thought it was hard just mapping out social studies
lessons but I’m sure it is harder limiting lessons in order to squeeze in
science lessons too.
In my future classroom I hope my
school allows me the chance be just as open with my social studies lessons. I
would love to implement some of these lessons again. I have taken the time to
revise my previous social studies lesson and truly hope to use it again; the
students seemed loved it! Follow me on Pinterest and check out some of the amazing work-jobs I have created this semester. There is a social studies board full of great ideas for young children. Copy and paste the link to find me http://www.pinterest.com/christinea43092/social-studies/.
