The Hechinger Report

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

More schools around the country, from Baltimore to Michigan to Colorado , are adopting these content-filled lessons to teach geography, astronomy and even art history. Others say learning facts is unimportant in the age of Google where we can instantly look anything up, and that the focus should be on teaching skills.

Teaching 137

Teaching Charter School Social Studies Geography 137

TCI

JANUARY 14, 2025

Engaging students in social studies goes beyond simply covering the material; its about helping them connect historical events to current issues and develop critical thinking skills. Investing in HQIM for social studies can lead to substantial improvements in student achievement, both academically and beyond.

Social Studies 52

Social Studies Civics Civic Engagement Critical Thinking 52

Dangerously Irrelevant

MAY 31, 2017

Some folks know that I started my education career as a middle school Social Studies teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina. For instance, if I was teaching Social Studies today… My students and I definitely would be tapping into an incredible diversity of online resources. government as well.

Social Studies 76

Social Studies Teaching Archiving Geography 76

TCI

JANUARY 6, 2025

TCI, a leader in K-12 educational content and curriculum, is proud to announce that its K-6 and 7-12 Social Studies programs have received favorable reviews in the latest textbook adoption reports released by the Office of Instructional Materials & Library Services within the Mississippi Instructional Materials Review Board.

K-12 52

K-12 Social Studies Local History Critical Thinking 52

Passion for Social Studies

JANUARY 31, 2025

The Importance of Teaching about the Vietnam War There are many reasons why students must develop a strong understanding of the Vietnam War. Vietnam War Lesson This is the perfect resource to teach about the Vietnam War and the complex challenges the United States faced. Recent US History Unit Planning an entire unit is exhausting.

Lesson Plan 130

Lesson Plan History Psychology World History 130

C3 Teachers

MARCH 14, 2025

That search led us to the Inquiry Design Model (IDM), an approach that shifts Social Studies from rote memorization to deep, student-driven inquiry. Teachers grew as facilitators of inquiry, fostering discussions, debates, and deep analytical thinking** among students. IDM does just that.

Social Studies 40

Social Studies Public School Primary Sources Civic Engagement 40

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 4, 2013

You will hear from a science teacher, a social studies teacher, and an art teacher as each provides her take on how the Common Core and 21st Century learning goals affect what goes on in the classroom. The text includes the principles of Nazi Ideology that I teach to the students in two classroom lessons.

Museum 315

Museum Archiving Social Studies History 315

ED Surge

JANUARY 21, 2025

But by the time she was heading up her own elementary school classroom in Chicago, she found herself missing the library and longing to teach media literacy again. She teaches concepts as wide-ranging as American Sign Language, critical thinking, typing, conducting research and writing in cursive.

Library 105

Library Charter School Education Lesson Plan 105

Moler's Musing

JANUARY 24, 2025

This week in 8th-grade social studies, we brought history to life with engaging EduProtocols that helped students dive deep into the Early Republic and key moments like the Whiskey Rebellion. Wrapping Up with Gimkit We ended the class with a Gimkit featuring nine questions I pulled from the summative assessment for this unit.

Government 131

Government Social Studies Leadership History 131

TCI

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

By integrating classroom discussion strategies that promote movement, speaking, and listening, educators can foster critical thinking and deeper engagement with the material. Facilitating productive discussions in the classroom is essential for developing critical thinking and fostering a collaborative learning environment.

Critical Thinking 52

Critical Thinking Social Studies Teaching Professional Development 52

TCI

SEPTEMBER 16, 2024

Building a toolbox of teaching strategies can help educators meet the needs of students and bring social studies to life. By integrating activities that require movement and discussion, educators can foster critical thinking and deeper engagement with the material.

Social Studies 52

Social Studies Teaching Professional Development Geography 52

ED Surge

MARCH 26, 2024

He still has that concern, but as he stepped back to think about it, he also saw a way to “leverage” the tool for a goal he had long fought for — to help bring social studies education, and especially the teaching of civics, to broader prominence in the nation’s schools. He has long argued that U.S.

Civics 134

Civics Controversial Topics Education Social Studies 134

Students of History

JANUARY 3, 2023

It's the year 2023, and teaching social studies is more of a challenge than ever before. Between the students, administrators, parents, and the community, social studies teachers are feeling pressure from all directions. Another trend in social studies education is the emphasis on project-based learning.

Social Studies 52

Social Studies Teaching Historic Sites Primary Sources 52

Passion for Social Studies

AUGUST 12, 2024

So, it is essential to teach students about forming political individualities while respecting other viewpoints. Luckily, the Political Socialization Lesson is ready to take on this challenge! What is Political Socialization? Teaching about the U.S. This is why using the Political Socialization Lesson is so essential!

Lesson Plan 130

Lesson Plan Government Critical Thinking Social Studies 130

Passion for Social Studies

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

While no one likes to study the tragically lost lives, students love World War I activities. However, the activities need to respect the lives of everyone impacted while teaching the truth behind what led to so much fighting. This is a great way to include critical thinking and inferences as students study the before and after effects.

Lesson Plan 130

Lesson Plan Critical Thinking History Social Studies 130

Let's Cultivate Greatness

JULY 5, 2023

In the five classrooms I’ve had in my career, I’ve discovered the must-haves that make my social studies classes run smoothly. While many of these are universal tips for any middle or high school classroom, several are social studies-specific. Students have the thinking; they just need a word bank!

Social Studies 52

Social Studies Civics Sociology History 52

Students of History

JANUARY 10, 2023

However, current events are a great way to connect your curriculum to the real world and work on social studies skills. Incorporating current events into your social studies lessons can also be a great way to engage students and help them see the relevance of the subject to their own lives. 3) Encourage critical thinking.

Social Studies 52

Social Studies Civics Critical Thinking World History 52

ED Surge

OCTOBER 9, 2023

Plenty of students find social studies lessons a bit dull. Eager to build a career out of his interest in social studies, he thought about museum curation, archival work and practicing law. But nothing felt quite right, until he considered teaching. But I did enjoy teaching. Not Caleb Brown.

History 128

History Museum Social Studies Geography 128

TCI

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Research shows that active learning increases student performance, reduces failure rates, and fosters deeper critical thinking. In the 1980s and 1990s, research confirmed the effectiveness of active learning , leading to its integration into modern teaching methodologies across K-12 and higher education. What Is Active Learning?

K-12 52

K-12 Education Critical Thinking Tradition 52

Passion for Social Studies

DECEMBER 31, 2023

Teach the challenges faced by the Gilded Age! Students will master complex critical thinking skills through 17 days of lessons. Add to cart The post Progressivism Lesson Plans appeared first on Passion for Social Studies. Students will deeply understand essential information with this unit!

Lesson Plan 130

Lesson Plan Critical Thinking History Social Studies 130

ED Surge

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

In educational settings, AR can be used in numerous ways to enhance teaching and engage students. Throughout her educational journey, she has spanned various roles, including teaching elementary math, instructing web communications for career and technical education students and serving as an edtech consultant and speaker.

EdTech 130

EdTech Junior High Geography Critical Thinking 130

The Hechinger Report

FEBRUARY 11, 2021

West, an associate professor, and Professor Carl Bergstrom teach “Calling BS: Data Reasoning in a Digital World” (although the actual course listing uses the more colorful language). Related: Can we teach our way out of political polarization? We’re teaching web credibility as if it’s 2002,” he said.

K-12 145

K-12 Civics Critical Thinking Middle School 145

ED Surge

MAY 15, 2024

STEM education is not just about science and math; it develops skills such as creativity, communication, empathy and critical thinking that complement technologies like generative AI and coding. As the demand for digital skills grows, schools must develop inclusive programs to engage diverse learners.

Education 136

Education K-12 Critical Thinking Public School 136

The Hechinger Report

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020

The rate of failure for aspiring Black and Latinx teachers is even higher than for aspiring white teachers, making lack of content knowledge preparation yet another obstacle to the diversification the teaching profession so dearly needs. Only 42 percent have said they felt very well prepared to teach social studies.

K-12 120

K-12 Civics Social Studies Geography 120

ED Surge

APRIL 3, 2024

Unfortunately, this portrayal isn't unique and reflects a broader issue with how social studies is perceived. Throughout this lesson, my students not only learn the content but also develop critical thinking skills as they analyze evidence, put together persuasive arguments and respectfully debate their peers.

History 138

History Primary Sources Artifacts Social Studies 138

The Hechinger Report

JANUARY 12, 2022

I was so excited to teach this class, I spent the summer collecting articles and artifacts from the local library and historical society. Social studies was the class I excelled in because it felt most meaningful. Cultural and social relevance. The best class I ever taught centered on the history of Washington, D.C.

Heritage 127

Heritage Artifacts Local History Social Studies 127

ED Surge

MAY 8, 2023

It takes critical thinking and a sense for the numbers to even understand how or why a student’s approach might be wrong, Barclay says. Although it’s not as obviously contentious as say, social studies, educators and researchers (not to mention students and families) have strong feelings about math instruction (remember New Math ?

K-12 135

K-12 Critical Thinking Middle School Pedagogy 135

Let's Cultivate Greatness

DECEMBER 10, 2024

Its easy to focus on just the President when teaching the Executive Branch, but its important also to stress the role of the four million other people who make up this branch of government. Here are some of my favorite lessons and activities for teaching the executive branch in my high school Civics and Government class.

Civics 52

Civics Government Critical Thinking Social Studies 52

The Hechinger Report

MARCH 8, 2021

Four new studies on project-based learning. 2nd grade social studies. Four new studies released in February 2021 are helping to fill this void. The thing that we’re trying to debunk with this research is to actually show that project-based learning is a rigorous form of teaching and learning. Curriculum.

Project-Based Learning 145

Project-Based Learning Middle School Social Studies High School 145

The Hechinger Report

DECEMBER 28, 2020

What stands out for me is how readers remain interested in basic research into how kids learn, from reading to critical thinking to collaborating with peers. A study on teaching critical thinking in science. Policymakers underfunded public colleges and universities as they steered people toward them.

Research 115

Research Tutoring Education Critical Thinking 115

TCI

JANUARY 21, 2025

In a recent TCI Summit session on gamification, we explored how incorporating games into teaching can transform the learning experience. Effective Review and Teaching Tool: Gamification is an excellent tool for reviewing content or even introducing new material. What Are the Elements of a Good Game?

K-12 52

K-12 Lesson Plan Critical Thinking Social Studies 52

TCI

OCTOBER 15, 2024

With schools facing the challenges of remote learning, different learning styles, and changing dynamics, video teaching strategies have become an important tool for teachers. While watching videos can be passive, video teaching strategies engage students in active learning.

Teaching 52

Teaching Education K-12 Critical Thinking 52

TCI

OCTOBER 15, 2024

With schools facing the challenges of remote learning, different learning styles, and changing dynamics, video teaching strategies have become an important tool for teachers. While watching videos can be passive, video teaching strategies engage students in active learning.

Teaching 52

Teaching K-12 Critical Thinking Tradition 52

ED Surge

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

As an example inspired by my time as a social studies teacher, instead of asking students to write a paragraph about continuity and change in a historical era, you could have them choose an era, pick a topic that shows continuity, and design an imaginary propaganda poster from that period. It removes that fear of the blank canvas.

EdTech 134

EdTech Advocacy Critical Thinking Social Studies 134

The Hechinger Report

MARCH 18, 2018

Leave this field empty if you're human: Social studies is typically considered the most suitable subject area for developing citizenship skills and knowledge. Yet, social studies has been on the chopping block at schools across the country for nearly two decades now, especially in schools serving largely poor and minority students.

Civics 86

Civics Social Studies Critical Thinking History 86

The Hechinger Report

JULY 7, 2022

The Sunnyside district, where roughly 90 percent of students are Hispanic, signed on at the start of the pandemic, after discovering that many of its ninth graders were struggling with the demands of recently adopted state standards for social science. There was much more emphasis on critical thinking and primary source investigation.

Primary Sources 123

Primary Sources Social Science Professional Development Critical Thinking 123

Studies Weekly

OCTOBER 18, 2023

Teaching Science with and without Resources Using Studies Weekly Oct. 18, 2023 • Studies Weekly When taught efficiently, science lessons can foster critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of the natural world.

Teaching 52

Teaching Museum Interactive Learning Lesson Plan 52