Social Studies
Charting Your Course
Social Studies
Charting Your Course
Recommended Courses
Simply Smart Digging Into History
Preschool to High School
Social Studies for Older Students
KEYS TO SUCCESS
Make History Come Alive
Use a wide variety of resources, including hands-on activities, books, videos & fieldtrips. Bring history to life through reenactments, costumes, creative projects & activities that help students connect personally with the past.
Promote Critical Thinking
Move beyond memorization & reading others’ opinions. Teach students to analyze primary sources, evaluate evidence, discuss ideas & draw meaningful connections between the past & world today.
Have Students Teach & Present
Students deepen their understanding when they teach others. Encourage them to research topics, organize their ideas & present findings to peers. Co-op & family settings provide an ideal environment for meaningful presentations & collaborative learning.
Integrate Different Disciplines
Connect history to art, music, literature, culture & technology to create a richer learning experience. Have children read autobiographies & literature to better understand the perspective of others & historical context. Incorporate writing projects on historical topics to reinforce understanding.
Keep a Book of Centuries
Have students create a personalized history book. Include a master timeline to record each event studied in chronological order. Add dividers for major historical periods and organize research on key people, events, and themes within each era. Keep a master outline to track topics covered, providing flexibility while maintaining a clear record of each student’s learning.
Rotate How Study Is Structured
History becomes more engaging and effective when you vary your approach. Rotate between five complementary methods: 1) explore topics that spark a child’s interest, 2) follow a chronological timeline, 3) read biographies, 4) study history by geographic region, and 5) dive into thematic topics such as art history, or the development of transportation. By varying how your study is structured, students gain a broader, richer understanding of the past.
Independent Exploration for Kids
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Subscription crates are an easy & fun way for children to explore different countries on their own.
Podcasts are a great way to learn more about history. View some podcasts that our children have enjoyed.