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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.
April 22 - 26 Westward Expansion Students will begin the week by examining how Westward Expansion affected Native Americans, focusing on topics such as the Trail of Tears, the Carlisle Indian School, and the Battle of Little Bighorn. Later in the week students will finish researching and create a project about a person with an unknown or lesser-known story related to Western Expansion. Possible questions to ask students: How were Native Americans affected by Westward Expansion? How did Native Americans respond? Who are you researching for your project and how do you think that person should be remembered?
April 15 - 19 Westward Expansion Students will continue and finish the Oregon Trail game this week, focusing on the US War with Mexico, the influence of the Chinese and Californios on the West, and life for settlers after arriving in the West. Towards the end of the week students will choose and begin researching a person from the West whose story is unknown/not as well known. Possible questions to ask students : What has happened to your "family" in the Oregon Trail game? How do you think we should remember US expansion West? Which person are you researching?
April 8 - 12 Westward Expansion Students will start the week by learning basic information about the Oregon Trail and Westward Expansion. Students will then engage in a simulated "Oregon Trail" game and, in the process, learn about early Western explorers. Possible questions to ask students: What were some reasons why people living in the eastern US moved West? Who is in your wagon for the Oregon Trail game? What has happened to your "family" so far on the Oregon Trail game?
March 25 - 28 Foreign Policies Students will be guided this week in writing letters addressed to the President (or a politician of their choice) about the foreign policy topic they researched last week. Students that wish to will be given the opportunity to mail their letters. Students will end the week sharing and discussing each other's topics in small groups. Possible questions to ask students: Which foreign policy topic did you focus on? How do you think the US should handle that issue? Will you be mailing your letter?
March 18 - 22 Foreign Policies Students will spend the beginning of the week exploring the difference between being involved and isolated from world affairs. They will then research a modern foreign policy issue or country of their choice and develop a plan for how the US should handle the issue/how the US should interact with that country. Possible questions to ask students: In general, do you think the US should be more isolationist or more involved with other countries? Which modern issue are your focusing your research on? How do you think the US should handle that issue?
March 11 - 15 Modern Political Parties Students will finish researching their chosen domestic issue from last week and create a plan for how they feel the US should handle this issue. Students will then practice and engage in civil conversations with others in their class about their domestic issues. Possible questions to ask students: Which issue are you focusing on and why? How do you think the US should handle this issue? How did the conversations with your classmates go?
March 4 - 8 Modern Political Parties Students will begin the week with taking a quiz on Early Political Parties and listening to a story about the friendship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Students will then complete an escape-room type activity that focuses on modern political parties. At the end of the week, students will choose a domestic issue of their choice and begin researching that issue. Possible questions to ask students: What is one take-away you got from the story of Adams and Jefferson? What questions do you have about modern political parties? Which issue are you choosing to focus on and why?
February 26 - March 1 Early Political Parties After sharing their Bill of Rights projects on Monday, students will begin learning about two of the first political parties, the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. Specifically students will be looking at how those political parties influenced George Washington and John Adams' presidencies. Possible questions to ask students: Which Bill of Rights project stood out to you the most and why? How did political parties influence the first two Presidents? If you had been alive back then, which party would you have supported and why?