Unit Plans, Social Studies for Social Justice Assignment
Guide
Unit Plans a Social Justice Perspective Assignment Guide
Youve just been hired for a K-6 teaching job. You have the
whole summer ahead of you to make plans for your First Year of
Teaching. One of the most important planning activities for
teachers is to MAP out their year. This map is quite general, but
it gives you a roadmap for the year.
Part A.: In order to map the content appropriately, you need to have a
fundamental knowledge base of the concepts and connections in the Social Studies.
Students will develop a Background understandings Essay. Students will
research and write an essay that explains their background knowledge of the
fundamental concepts identified by each of the Social Studies for Elementary
Teachers Standards. Students will include a comprehensive definition of the
essential knowledge and concepts indicated by the standard area addressed. This
section should be written in essay format and demonstrate strong writing skills.
Background understandings essays should include:
1. Add the following readings to your prior knowledge:
a. National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). Curriculum Standards
for Social Studies. In particular, read: Section II. Thematic Strands
2. The following content benchmarks need to be addressed in your essay:
(1) concepts of:
(a) how people create and change structures of power and
authority and of governance;
(b) how people organize for the production, distribution,
and consumption of goods and services and how those
choices impact the environment;
(c) the relationships among science, technology, and
society;
(d) global connections and independence; and
(e) community involvement;
(2) the environment as an integrating concept through
understanding of how to use the sciences, social sciences,
mathematics, arts, and communications in the exploration of
environmental issues and topics.
3. Make a case in your essay for your STRONG content knowledge in Social
Studies. You may also include answers to the following questions:
a. What are your CONTENT strengths and weaknesses?
Unit Plans, Social Studies for Social Justice Assignment
Guide
b. What is Social Studies? What is History, Geography, Economics,
Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology?
c. Why study History, Geography, Economics, History, Political Science,
Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology?
d. What are the Themes of Social Studies?
e. What questions should K-6 learners be able to answer?
f. What is Social Studies from a Social Justice Perspective?
Part B: For the mapping component, students will:
1. Read Chapter 4: Reinventing the Social Studies Curriculum and Chapter 5:
Social Justice Themes and Skills in your text, Social Studies for Social
Justice: Teaching Strategies for the Elementary Classroom.
2. Visit the MN Education Department Website and pull down the Social Studies
standards for the grade level you have chosen. Bookmark this page for
future reference.
3. Visit 2 websites related to the National Standards:
NCSS National Council for the Social Studies: http://www.ncss.org/
NCHS National Center for History in the Schools:
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/nchs/guide.html
4. Find a Social Studies textbook for the grade level you have chosen.
5. Look carefully at the standards. Work very hard at putting some logical &
engaging organization to them. Develop a plan for how you will map
your standards across the school year from a SOCIAL JUSTICE
perspective.
6. Products:
a. One option is to use Inspiration software, build a year-long Curriculum
Map for just one grade level.
b. Answer the following Reflective prompts related to your curriculum
map:
i. Why build a year-long curriculum map?
ii. How will you meet the states Social Studies standards in the
classroom?
iii. What role does a textbook play in your classroom?
iv. How do the STANDARDS fit with the textbook you reviewed?
Unit Plans, Social Studies for Social Justice Assignment
Guide
Mapping the Content
1
Main concept not clearly
Main concept easily
Main concept easily
identified; subconcepts
identified; most
identified; subconcepts
don't consistently branch subconcepts branch from branch appropriately
from main idea.
main idea.
from main idea.
____/3
Linking lines connect
Linking lines not always Most linking lines connect
related
terms & point in
nks and Linking
pointing in correct
properly; most linking
correct direction; linking
Lines
direction; linking words
words accurately
words accurately
don't clarify relationships describe the relationship
X1
describe relationship
between concepts.
between concepts.
between concepts.
____/3
Design
X1
Some visual appeal; most High visual appeal; easy
Little visual appeal; font
text readable; amount of to read; perfect amount
too small; excessive text;
text is adequate; some of text; excellent use of
poor or no graphics.
graphics.
graphics.
____/3
____/9
Content
X3
Paper only partially
Paper answered most to
Paper answered all
answered assigned
all assigned questions
assigned questions &/or
questions &/or
&/or was mostly accurate was accurate &/or strong
inaccurately &/or weak
&/or good demonstration
demonstration of
demonstration of
of assigned readings.
assigned readings.
assigned readings.
Arrangement of
Concepts
X1
Subject
Knowledge
X3
Student does not have
grasp of information;
student does not
address each element of
the Standard
Organizing the
Essay
Wrote well-organized
and clear essay
Mechanics
Made no errors in
grammar, spelling, and
punctuation (0 points)
Student is
uncomfortable with
information and only
gives a rudimentary
answer to each element
of the Standard
Wrote reasonably
organized and clear
essay
Student demonstrates
full knowledge with
complete explanations
and elaboration for
each element of the
Standard..
Wrote an essay with
some disorganized and
unclear sections
1-4 errors in grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation (MINUS 2
POINTs)
More than 4 errors in
grammar, spelling, and
punctuation (MINUS 4
points, returned
ungraded until ALL
errors cleared up)
____/9
_____/3
Total 30
per includes the following:
Why build a year-long curriculum map?
What is Social Studies? What is History, Geography, Economics, Political Science, Sociology,
Psychology and Anthropology? Why study History, Geography, Economics, Political Science, Sociology,
Grade Level:
4
North Unit Plans, Social Studies for Social Justice Assignment
September
October
November
December
January
American
Guide
Geography
Psychology and Anthropology?
Civic
Skills:
Government
Economics:
Geography:
Geography:
What
are
the Themes
of Social Studies?
al
How
will
you
meet
the
states
Social
Studies
standards
in
the
classroom?
Analyze how
Analyze how
Understandin Analyzing North
Institutions
What
role take
will a textbook
play in yourindividuals,
classroom.
citizens
g spatial
American climate
and
Political
How
do
the
STANDARDS
fit
with
the
textbook
you
reviewed?
action to
businesses
context within and human
Processes:
What
are your CONTENT
strengths and
weaknesses? geography
influence
and
characteristics
What
is
Social
Studies
from
a
Social
Justice
Perspective?
elected
Describe the
governments
Central
Focus
A description
ofthe
important
understandin
gsand core
concepts that
you want
students to
develop
within the
learning
segment.
officials on
local, state, or
national
issues.
major roles of
elected
government
officials that
serve at all
level of our
Government.
interact and
exchange
goods, serves,
and
resources.
MN Standards
4.1.1.1.1
4.1.4.6.1
4.1.4.6.2
4.1.4.6.2
4.2.4.5.1
4.2.3.3.1
4.2.1.1.1
4.3.1.1.1
4.3.1.1.2
4.3.1.2.1
4.3.2.3.1
Social Studies
Sub-Strand
-United States
Government
and
Citizenship
-Civics
-History
-Art
Governmental
Institutions
and Political
Processes
-Civics
-History
-Art
-Economics
-History
-Geography
-History
-Science
-Math
-Geography
-Economics
-History
-Science
-Language Arts
-Art
Skills
Identified in
the
Benchmark
Analyze a
political ad for
an issue.
Then create
one of your
own. Explain
why voting
and informing
ourselves on
issues are
important
Identify,
name,
research local,
state, and
national
political
figures and
their roles.
Understand
Judicial,
Executive,
and
Legislative
Branches in
Government.
Build a
research
project
around a
politician
Describe and
define
productivity of
a resource
and ways to
increase it.
Describe a
market as a
place where
buyers and
sellers
interact with
prices and
payments
exchanging
Contrast,
survey,
outline, and
differentiate
maps across
North
America.
Implement
TODALS map
basics
Describe and
compose
maps of North
America.
Photographs
to drive home
spatial
relationships
between
US/CAN/MEX
Locate and identify
the physical and
human
characteristics of
places in the United
States, and also
Canada or Mexico.
(Rivers, Mountains,
Geographical
Borders, Lakes)
Short answer
Research
Short answer
-Mapping
-Demographics
Assessments
Analyze
demographics that
encompass
population,
ethnicity, religion,
language and cities
