Integrating Language Arts and Social Studies in Sixth Grade

"If history were taught in the course of stories, it would never be forgotten" – Rudyard Kipling

Social studies is more than just teaching kids facts, dates, states and capitals. It'southward near the stories — it's the "why" behind each private's choices, their interactions with each other and the world.

Social studies also has the unique ability to powerfully tap into the whole student. It challenges them intellectually and asks them to reason and remember while connecting with them emotionally every bit they larn about the highs and lows of the human feel.

Social studies also can be the gateway to better learning in all subjects. That's why nosotros blueprint our social studies content with an integrated learning approach. Our standards-based curriculum covers the 5 strands of social studies — history, geography, civics and government, economic science and culture — but uses social studies practices and English Language Art strategies to help students perfect their knowledge and skills.

Incorporating social studies into your linguistic communication arts block enriches student linguistic communication acquisition, reading, writing, listening and speaking. For instance, ELA standards ask for individual, guided and whole-grouping reading, and Studies Weekly'due south format works perfectly for all of these. We present history in clear, curtailed, content-rich sections — perfect for any reading strategy.

Additionally, our curriculum is perfect for learning new vocabulary through context clues. The words students learn through their social studies reading is background knowledge for other subjects — even math and science.

"Integration of ELA strategies into social studies gives students an opportunity to use and refine ELA skills while using relevant content," said Kelly Jeffery, ELA curriculum managing director at Studies Weekly.

Here are four ideas to alloy social studies and ELA:

ane. Utilise Interactive Notebooks

"[I]nteractive notebooks are simple spiral-bound notebooks into which students glue or tape my handouts," said Christina Gil in a 2016 commodity for Edutopia. "It'southward but a elementary, functional manner for students to create, write, and explore ideas all in the same place."

Jeffery explained that interactive notebooks are a way for both the teacher and student to see what students are learning and thinking. Students use them to take notes, explore ideas, ask questions, reflect and respond. They then become a sourcebook for students equally they review for assessments.

"They pair very well with Studies Weekly considering information technology is a perfect way to eat our publications," Jeffery added.

two. Create a Presentation

All students need opportunities — across writing — to share their understanding. Presentations are perfect for this.

Brochures, posters, Google Slides, Nearpods, etc. are all interactive avenues for students demonstrate their knowledge while working individually or collaborating with a group. Similarly, students can create video journals where they storyboard and answer to historic events. The goal is non a perfect analysis of the event or the historical figure they are studying, but a reflection on it.

Additionally, students can create reader's theaters or brusk plays based on historic events, and perform them for the course. Others might opt to write a poem nigh a historic figure, or create a "children's volume" explaining the formation of their state, or a comedy sketch about the 3 branches of government.

3. Create a Supported Response

Using informational texts from their weekly units, students can create a reasoned persuasive argument that shares their stance almost an issue or person.

This response can take the form of a small paragraph post-obit the TEES Template as explained in our blog on open up-concluded questions. It could also be a written or artistic response recorded in their interactive notebooks. Whichever tool yous utilize, students must include a main idea or opinion, and supportive evidence from texts to support it.

In older grades, you lot could set upwardly a contend. Students tin can "selection a side" regarding an event or event, and so research the pros and cons of that topic. You can create a simulation where they civilly share their opinions and factual bear witness, but also heed to their opponent. The goal of this exercise is non to "win" but to endeavor to detect a compromise betwixt both positions.

4. Agree Collaborative Groups

This is similar to #iii, but information technology involves the class as a whole. Later reading an article or articles within the Studies Weekly publication, requite students time to analyze the information and reflect on it within their interactive notebook.

Adjacent, put all the desks or chairs in the classroom in a circle. With their notebooks and/or articles in front end of them, encourage the students to open upwards a dialogue about what they read. Encourage them to consider all voices and "sides" to an issue or issue, and use additional sources, if needed, to deepen their agreement.

These ideas volition get you lot started on your journey of integrating and blending social studies and ELA. As you lot implement this more within your classroom, you will see students deepen their learning and better understand and employ language.

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These are simply a few ideas for using Studies Weekly to heighten your ELA educational activity. For more ideas, review your Teacher Resources tab at Studies Weekly Online.

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Source: https://www.studiesweekly.com/blending-social-studies-and-ela/

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