Assignment Description for

Teaching Early Childhood Social Studies

 

Assignment: Unit Outline

Description:

Identify a social studies unit you would like to teach in your elementary-level classroom. The unit must explicitly align with the NCSS Standards and your objectives must appear verbatim from the GPSs. The unit plan must appear on the “unit outline form” available from the course website. You will need to explain the procedures you will undertake during each lesson and provide enough information for the reader to discern your overall plan. You also will need to include a unit assessment.

 

Be certain to choose a unit you think you will realistically be able to teach to one of your future classes of students based upon your practicum placement. It should be between five and seven days long and you may use as many or few objectives as necessary to adequately address your intended goals.

 

The unit must explicitly integrate at least two other subject areas (mathematics, science, or language arts), and must include use of:

•        Social studies trade books;

•        A textbook;

•        Advanced technologies (e.g., computers); and,

•        Primary source materials.

 

Unit Outline Grading Rubric

 

Name: ____________________________  Section: o 001 o002    Course: o 4250

 

o         Identifies NCSS Standards

o         Identifies GPS objectives

o         Includes all component parts of the unit outline form

o         The unit is teachable

o         Unit, standards, and objectives align

o         General unit descriptive information is clear

o         Unit theme and activities are age-appropriate

o         Scope and sequence clearly delineated

o         Sequence order is appropriate

o         Activities match objectives

o         Lesson activities clearly defined

o         Integrates 2+ non-social studies subject areas

o         Includes use of advanced technologies

o         Includes textbook and social studies trade book use

o         Includes primary document use

o         Correct syntax

o         Proper formatting

Total Score: _________

 

Unit Planning Instructions

 

A suggested method for developing your unit appears below. You will not need to turn in work from your development phases; you only need to turn-in your final unit outline.

 

Phase I:  Pre-Planning – Organize Subject Matter

 

  1. Identify the grade level. Choose a topic that aligns with the NCSS Standards and the GPSs.  
  2. Brainstorm ideas for the unit.
  3. Identify the main ideas you want students to develop through the unit.
  4. Identify related skills needed for the unit.
  5. Review the content material related to your unit. 
  6. Make a list of “kid-friendly” terms that will be taught to the children during the unit. 

 

Phase II: Select Instructional Resources

 

1.          Identify, describe, and reference (e.g., title, author, URL, publisher) available resources related to the unit including:

 

·         Children’s social studies trade books;

·         Educational technology resources (e.g., software, websites, WebQuests, virtual field trip, podcasts);

·         Primary documents;

·         Audio/visual materials (e.g., maps, globes, photos);

·         Textbooks

 

2. Select the most appropriate resources and justify your decision.

 

Phase III: Develop Learning Activities

 

1.      Create a timeline and sequence for your unit.

2.      Detail the objectives (GPSs) and activities to complete for each day in the unit.