Class- Sept. 9, 2002

 

Objectives:

q      P.T. will be able to define the multiple perspectives held by teachers of elementary social studies and define what position is most congruent with their belief system.

q      PT will be able to list the underpinnings of the NCSS definition of social studies.

q      PT will be able to provide a complex understanding of democracy.

 

Syllabus:

q      Distribute

q      Discuss Grades

q      Sign Contract

 

Announcements:

q      Holocaust Field Trip

q      Robinıs Form

q      Book Club date

 

What are the multiple perspectives on teaching social studies:

Powerpoint

 

Democracy:

q      Write down your definition of democracy

q      Break into 5 groups of 4 (5 articles)

q      Read the article and chart the components and characteristics of democracy as discussed in your article.

q      Regroup so that each group has a member that discussed each article (4 groups of 5)

q      Develop a chart that lists all the components of democracy discussed

 

Literature Circle Formation:

q      Form 5 groups of 4

q      Discuss Wolk chapters 1-3 on Web CT

q      Directions for Discussion

Role One: Passage Master

Locate a few special sections of each chapter that the group should discuss.  The idea is to help people notice the interesting, puzzling, or important parts of the text.  Identify the location of the passage and your reason for picking it.

 

-The special sections I found areŠ  These are my reasons for selecting themŠ.

 

 

Role Two: Discussion Director

Develop a few questions that your group might discuss about the reading.  Donıt worry about small details; your task is to raise big ideas in the reading and clarify the text.  You are the discussion monitor.  In addition to their roles, group members will also bring things they have questions about or donıt understand in the reading.  You need to make sure those questions get asked and addressed-whether part of their role or at the end of the discussion.

 

-Possible discussion questions or topics for today includeŠ

 

Role Three: Discussion Reporter

At the end of the on-line discussion, you are responsible for writing an open ended test question and summarizing the key ideas discussed on-line by posting to the ³Literature Circle Summary² on Web CT.

 

-Our group focused on the following ideas in our discussionŠ

 

Role Four: Connector

Your job is to find connections between the material your group is reading and the world outside.  This means connecting the reading to your own life, to happenings at school or in the community, to other learning you have, to other knowledge you have, or within the reading itself.  There are no right or wrong answers here- whatever connections you see are worth sharing.

 

-Some connections I found between this reading and other people, places, events, authors includeŠ