Newsela is a website that offers nonfiction news articles for readers of all levels. Readers can adjust the Lexile level of every article. Take the quiz after reading to check for understanding. Click here to explore current events around the world.
Showing posts with label Social Studies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social Studies. Show all posts
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Latitude and Longitude Games
The first social studies unit of the year is all about geography. ABCya! has a fun game that fits perfectly within the social studies map skills unit. In Treasure Hunt, players use latitude and longitude to find buried treasure. Click the screenshot above, or right here to play.
Monday, April 29, 2019
iCivics
As we explore our democratic heritage, the class will get to know how government works through interactive games at iCivics.org. The site was founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and according to the website, "iCivics provides students with the tools they need for active participation and democratic action, and teachers with the materials and support to achieve this. Our free resources include print-and-go lesson plans, award-winning games, and digital interactives."
Click here to visit the games page, or click the screenshots below to play specific ones (many more are available on the games page).
In Branches of Power, players experience how important compromise becomes when trying to get anything done in Washington DC. Click here to play.
In Lawcraft, players become members of congress from their home states. Learn how bills become laws, and the about the challenging process lawmakers navigate while representing constituents. Click here to join congress and get to work.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Comparing and Contrasting Refugee Stories
The students work in collaborative groups while comparing and contrasting refugee stories from Syria and Sudan.
Brothers In Hope, written by Mary Williams and beautifully illustrated by Gregory Christie, tells the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan. According to Lee & Low Books, it's "a story of remarkable and enduring courage, and an amazing testament to the unyielding power of the human spirit." Click here to read an interview with Gregory Christie.
The second story is a collaboration between Canadian author Margriet Ruurs and Nizar Ali Badr, an artist living in Lattika, Syria. The artwork is a series of stone arrangements depicting a family's journey during a humanitarian crisis. The publisher says, "Stepping Stones tells the story of Rama and her family, who are forced to flee their once-peaceful village to escape the ravages of the civil war raging ever closer to their home.
Claren and Tyler begin with character motivations and traits.
Zack, Lake and Louisa work as a team.
Cancieanna and Ruby contribute to different sections of the Venn diagram simultaneously.
The diagrams are now posted in the third grade hall, so come and see how Connor, Oren and the rest of the class respond to diverse stories about refugees.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
CBBC Newsround
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Children's BBC has a news page just for kids. Click here to explore the latest news, from Cecil the lion, to Lionel Messi.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Friday, April 1, 2016
Cesar Chavez and The Harvest/La Cosecha Trailer
In social studies we're exploring the lives of influential Americans who fought for freedom, justice, and equality. The list includes workers' rights activist Cezar Chavez, who fought for better conditions for farmworkers.
Director U. Roberto Romano's film, The Harvest/La Cosecha: The Story of the Children who Feed America, follows Zulema, Perla, and Victor, child migrant workers age 12, 14, and 16 respectively. According to theharvestfilm.com,
"Every year there are more than 400,000 American children who are torn away from their friends, schools and homes to pick the food we all eat. Zulema, Perla and Victor labor as migrant farm workers, sacrificing their own childhoods to help their families survive. THE HARVEST/LA COSECHA profiles these three as they journey from the scorching heat of Texas’ onion fields to the winter snows of the Michigan apple orchards and back south to the humidity of Florida's tomato fields to follow the harvest."
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Tactile Geography
The class creates major rivers and mountain ranges throughout the U.S. during a tactile geography lesson. First they locate physical maps in their textbooks, then shape the topographical features with hands and fingers. The last step is to label each one with tiny sticky notes.
Batiste admires his creation while searching for more mountains and rivers inside the container.
Aley is thrilled to be finished.
When it comes to geography (and most other things), Carl keeps a poker face.
Lincoln's Rocky Mountains are curiously uniform.
Is Madison eating part of the Mississippi?
Maya's Hershey's Kiss-like Rockies are similar to Lincoln's, but look closely and you'll notice that they're different than the Appalachian Mountains. Maya knows why (Appalachian Mountains are older and more weathered).
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Caylon's "Protest"
Last Friday we enjoyed watching Caylon construct this detailed illustration for the word protest.
Friday, November 9, 2012
If I Were President...
Leading up to the presidential election, the class analyzed key issues, then wrote what they would do as president. Click the play button below each photo to hear from "3rd party" candidates.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Shaun Tan Video Interview
One of the social studies Enduring Understandings is Movement/Migration. Watch the Scholastic interview as Shaun Tan reflects on the process and inspiration behind his beautifully illustrated story of immigration, The Arrival.
Click here to read a review of Tan's jump from books to film, in the animated short, The Lost Thing.
1. What is The Arrival about?
2. What was the genesis, or inspiration behind this idea?
3. How long did it take to make The Arrival?
4. How did your vision for The Arrival evolve as you were creating it?
5. What inspired the decision to keep all of the people human in an otherwise alien world?
6. How did you decide on the all-sepia color scheme?
7. What are the challenges for the writer of a wordless book?
8. What do the serpents above the city symbolize?
9. Were any drawings inspired by actual Ellis Island photographs?
10. What is the meaning behind the violent image with the giants?
11. When did you first discover you wanted to be an artist?
12. What did you like to read growing up?
13. How did your parents and teachers encourage your artwork?
14. How did you get your start as a children's book illustrator?
15. What are the steps in the process of creating a picture book?
16. Do you have any advice for kids who want to be artists?
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