This resource was created as part of the CESA #1 EL OER Project to help EL students (primarily levels 1 & 2) access social studies curriculum and text related to the 5 themes of geography. It can be used to introduce/pre-teach the 5 themes of geography vocabulary and/or as an assessment tool. Students could answer unit questions by pointing to a picture or they could complete the sort to show understanding of the 5 different themes.

5th Grade Historical Literacy Curriculum outlines the content of social-studies integrated units taught within the readers' and writers' workshop framework and taught daily for 90 minutes. Each six week unit contains standards, teaching points, vocabulary, and assessments. Readers' and writers' workshop naturally differentiates for all learners. By June of 2020, each unit will have a slide deck associated with it that contains the teaching points, integrated grammar work, vocabulary, and strategies for partner practice. Our district places careful emphasis on vocabulary, as we have a high percentage of English Language Learners.

8th Grade Historical Literacy consists of two 43 minute class periods. Writing is one 43 minute block and reading is another. The teacher has picked themes based on social studies standards, and a read-aloud novel based on social studies serves as the mentor text for writing and reading skills. More social studies content is addressed in reading through teaching nonfiction reading skills and discussion. Standards reflect CCSS ELA, Reading, and Social Studies Standards for History.

Through a series of three learning experiences, taking place across multiple weeks, students will participate in inquiry-based learning about the county in which they live and learn. Students will write informative pieces to teach others about the natural and cultural communities of Adams County.

This agenda is to accompany the 2nd workshop in the UDL and WiSSS series.  Facilitators may use the agenda to divide the half-day workshop into smaller meetings.  Participants will find all resources linked in this one document.

 This agenda for "WiSSS Building Background" makes it easy for facilitators and participants to quickly access the presentation, linked resources, and share ideas in one place.

This agenda is to accompany the 3rd workshop in the UDL and WiSSS series.  Facilitators may use the agenda to divide the half-day workshop into smaller meetings.  Participants will find all resources linked in this one document.

Explore the conditions and circumstances of Alexander Hamilton’s youth and the strengths he carried with him into his adult life. He rose from being a poor boy in the Caribbean, to a key leader in the founding of the United States government.
As a culmination, students are encouraged to reflect on their own lives and think about how, like Hamilton, they might translate their childhood experiences into success later in life.

This Wide Angle video looks at the advantages and disadvantages of running a small-scale, female-only business.

In this video from Wide Angle, learn about the influence of the communist values of organization, discipline and collectivism on North Korean society.

Recommended resources that Lucille Barr has used in her classroom. Lucille has graciously shared them with the Advancing Environmental Literacy through Culturally-Relevant Text Sets group.

This site examines the job of a president, the balance of power with the Supreme Court and Congress, and ways presidents have communicated with the public. Features include the battle sword of George Washington, the lap desk on which Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and the top hat worn by Abraham Lincoln the night he was assassinated.

Botswanans express some of their attitudes toward the influx of Zimbabwean migrants in this Wide Angle video segment.

This Wide Angle video segment illustrates Islamic and secular elements of life in Turkey, and introduces Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first president of Turkey, and his reforms.

Consider the opposing views on the policy implemented at the University of Brasilia in this Wide Angle video.

This excerpt from WGBH's Evening Compass news program summarizes events of the first year of the 1974 Boston school desegregation plan.

Learn about the achievements and national problems of the African nation of Botswana in this video segment from Wide Angle.

In this Wide Angle video, the people behind Kalam Nawaem, or "Sweet Talk", a popular Arab television, discuss how they must carefully choose their topics and tone to not only increase audience interest, but to keep their program on the air.

Carolyne DeGrammont of the Cedar Lane Stables in Queens, NY talks about why she enjoys horses in this video segment from Wild TV.

The Problem: Claims and evidence flow rapidly online. We aid in the spread of misinformation if we don’t ensure that a claim or evidence is accurate before we share it. Luckily, the internet also allows us to check claims and evidence by consulting other sources. Although verification takes time, it helps to ensure that the information we read, use, and share is trustworthy.

This short lesson will introduce students to the importance of checking what other sources say through a relatively straightforward example. Students practice evaluating a claim made on social media by clicking on the provided link to see if the argument in that source matches the claim in the post.

Note: Civic Online Reasoning is motivated by three driving questions: Who's behind the information, What's the evidence and What do other sources say? This lesson is an introduction to one of the main concepts. Registration is required and free.