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Brittany Lare » What We Are Doing in Social Studies This Week

What We Are Doing in Social Studies This Week

For parents/guardians, if you are curious about what your student is learning (or looking for other questions to ask students besides "How was school?") please see the information below. Each week will have a description of topics/activities covered and potential follow-up questions.
October 7 - 11 Colonial America Students will spend this week learning about the three general regions of Colonial America. After playing a vocabulary game, students will pretend to be a colonial person from a specific region and complete a station activity about their life. Students will end the week by comparing and contrasting the different regions and colonial life with life in America today. Possible questions to ask students: What can you tell me about your colonial person? Which colonial region would you have preferred to have lived in? How was colonial life easier/harder than life today?
September 20 - October 4 Jamestown - After reviewing the difference between primary and secondary sources, students will learn about Jamestown. Specifically students will examine two primary sources written by John Smith and then examine a "crime scene" related to a skeleton archeologists found at Jamestown. Possible questions to ask students : Which do you think are more trustworthy, primary or secondary sources? Do you think Pocohontas really saved John Smith's life? What do you think happened to "Jane" (the skeleton found at Jamestown)?
September 23 - 27 European Exploration of Americas - Students will begin the week exploring how Native Americans were effected and impacted by European explorers, specifically looking at the Columbian Exchange and small pox. Students will then examine either New France or New Spain and evaluate which group (if either) deserves funding for future expeditions. Possible questions to ask students: How do you define your community? Why did European diseases so greatly effect Native Americans? Would you rather support New France or New Spain (or neither) and why?
September 16 - 20 Native American Cultural Regions - After sharing their "Your Story, Our Story" assignments, students will review the difference between facts, opinions, and inferences. Students will spend the remainder of the week practicing distinguishing between the above while learning about different Native American cultural regions. Possible questions to ask students: What did you choose for your "Your Story, Our Story" assignment and why? What is the difference between facts, opinions and inferences? Which Native American cultural region would you want to have lived in and why?
September 9 - 13 Government Introduction - Students will spend this week reviewing basic information about the federal government and the election process. After learning about the three branches of government, students' will explore the current presidential candidates and play a game related to the electoral college. Possible questions to ask students: Which branch of government do you think is the most powerful and why? What do you think about the current presidential candidates? What are the pros and cons of the electoral college system?