Using Technology in the Social Studies Classroom

Elementary Lessons

Nov. 22, 2004 (Lexington 2 District Office)

 

The Roles of the Governor

Local Government – The Governor
Standard – 2-3.2 - Identify the roles of leaders and officials in local government, including law enforcement and public safety officials. (P)

Skill we learned today – using digital images
Objective – Students will identify and discuss the different jobs of the governor.
Procedures –
1. Take a “picture walk” through the Governor’s photo gallery (scgovernor.com) to inspire conversation and initial impressions about the role of the governor.
2. Hand out laminated photo copies of selected images that portray the governor carrying out various aspects of his job.
3. Identify vocabulary that the students will need to know (law, leader, capital, governor, election, budget)

The Cotton Gin

Objectives
The students will be able to compare and contrast pictures of the Cotton Gin using a graphic organizer.
The students will discover the major developments in the textile industry in South Carolina in the late 19th century.

Standards
3-5: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the major
developments in South Carolina in the late nineteenth century
and the twentieth century.
Indicators
3-5.1 Summarize developments in industry and technology in South Carolina in the late
nineteenth century and the twentieth century, including the rise of the textile industry, the
expansion of the railroad, and the growth of the towns. (H, G, E)
3-5.3 Summarize the changes in South Carolina’s economy in the twentieth century, including
the rise and fall of the cotton/textile markets and the development of tourism and other
industries. (E, H)

Procedures:
View pictures of the cotton gin.
Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast pictures of the cotton gin.Assessment
Students will visit the following website and create their own invention.


Introduction to Gullah Culture

Title: Introduction to the Gullah Culture

Standard: 3.2.7: Explain the transfer of the institution of slavery into South Carolina from the West Indies, including the slave trade and the role of African Americans in the developing plantation economy; the daily lives of African American slaves and their contributions to South Carolina, such as the Gullah culture and the introduction of new foods; and African American acts of resistance against white authority. (H, E, P, G)Objective: TSWBAT identify at least 3 musical styles from the Gullah culture that contributed to South Carolina History.

Materials:
http://www.knowitall.org/gullahnet/index.html
computer lab
internet access

Classwork: Students will explore music styles (Blues, Work Songs, Ring Shout, and Spirituals) from the Gullah culture using an interactive website. Students will originate lyrics based on A, A, B pattern.

Assessment: Informal Assessment/Teacher Observation/Teacher Created Rubric to assess authenticity of song.
Students can explore the following areas for further study through this website:
Gullah History, Language, Storytelling, Traditions, Food, and Songs

Jamestown and Plymouth Comparison

4-2.3 Identify the English, Spanish, and French colonies in North America and summarize the motivations for the settlement of these colonies, including freedom of worship, and economic opportunity. (H, G, E)
4-2.4 Compare the European settlements in North America in terms of their economic activities, religious emphasis, government, and lifestyles. (H, G, E, P)


Objective: Compare Jamestown and Plymouth in terms of religious emphasis, government, lifestyle, location, reasons for settlement.
Suggested Presentations: Powerpoint, poster, table, rap, poem,
Resources:
If You Lived in Colonial Times
Virtualjamestown.org
ColonialWebQuest

Comparison Chart- Jamestown and Plymouth


World War I


Exploring the technologies of “The Great War” through pictorial analysis
Standard:
5-3.6 Summarize actions by the United States that contributed to the rise of this nation as a world power, including the annexation of new territory following the Spanish-American War and the role played by the United States in the building of the Panama Canal and in World War I. (P, G, H)
1. Students will view pictures of tanks, guns on rails, trench warfare, chemical warfare, etc.
2. After World War 2, students will compare and contrast the technological advanced between the two wars.

World War I pictures

Using Technology in the Social Studies Classroom

Elementary Lessons

Dec. 15, 2004 (Sangaree Middle School)

Middleton Place

Standards:

K-1.1 Compare the daily lives of children and their families in the United States in the past with the daily lives of children and their families today. (H, E)
2-1.2 Compare the historic traditions, customs, and cultures of various regions in the United States, including how traditions are passed between and among generations. (G, H)

Lesson Objective:
Students will be able to identify several historic traditions and customs and compare to present day traditions and customs.

Materials:
Digital Camera, computer, printer, paper

Procedure:
Students will attend a field trip to Middleton Place. Students will participate in the tour of the stable yards at Middleton. Students will take digital pictures of the living quarters (beds, wash basins, kitchen area). Students will also discover how tools, clothing and house hold items were made.
Students will print out pictures from the field trip and write captions for each picture. The pictures will be put into a student made scrapbook. Students will then take turns taking the camera home to photograph their homes and tools, clothing and house hold items. Students will print out and label those pictures as well.

Assessment: Students will compare and contrast the lifestyles of past and present South Carolinians.Resources: Additional information can be found at www.middletonplace.org

 

Branches of Government

Standard 3-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the American Revolution and South Carolina’s role in the development of the new American nation.
Standard: 3-3.4 Outline the current structure of state government, including the branches of government; the names of the representative bodies.

Objectives
At the end of this lesson students will be able to:

Materials Needed:
1) Ben's Guide to US Government
2) Graphic Organizer

Prior to this lesson teachers should discuss how the constitution structures the state and local government.
1) Start by asking the children what they know about government figures now.
2) Guide the students to research Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government. Students click on Branches of Government. Give students a graphic organizer to complete by using the diagram on the computer screen.
3) Have students research and read about each of the branches of government. Give them time to explore the branches and each of their purposes.
4) Call the class together. Recreate a class diagram of the branches of government and discuss the roles of each branch and the representatives.

Assessment: Journal Entry: Write 3 ideas that you learned today. Share your ideas with your group. If someone has an idea that you don’t have on your list, then add it to yours until you have 5 ideas.

Stock Market Crash

5-4.2 Summarize the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression, including economic weakness, unemployment, failed banks and businesses, and migration from rural areas. (P, G, E, H)

Objective: The student will draw on visuals to summarize about the
effects of the Great Depression on American life.

Procedure:
Student will view photographs from the following websites:
Images of the Depression Era
Photo Essay from the Great Depression
America from the Great Depression to WWII
Students will analyze the photographs using the following evaluation
tool from the National Archives:

Photo Analysis Worksheet
Step 1. Observation

A. Study the photograph for 2 minutes. Form an overall impression of
the photograph and then examine individual items. Next, divide the photo
into quadrants and study each section to see what new details become
visible.
___________________________________________________________________________

B. Use the chart below to list people, objects, and activities in the
photograph.

People
Objects
Activities
     
     

Step 2. Inference
Based on what you have observed above, list three things you might
infer from this photograph.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Step 3. Questions
A. What questions does this photograph raise in your mind?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

B. Where could you find answers to them?

Constitutions

STANDARD

7-2.3 Outline the role and purposes of a constitution, including such functions as defining a relationship between a people and their government, describing the organization of government and the characteristics of shared powers, and protecting individual rights and promoting the common good. (P, H)

OBJECTIVES:

1. Students will be able to define the word Constitution
2. Students will be able to explain the purpose of a Constitution

PROCEDURE:
1. Teacher will introduce lesson by showing students a picture of a document. Afterwards, a brief discussion about documents
2. Students will write the definition of Constitution and discuss the word.
3. Teacher will assign students to cooperative groups and each group will make a presentation explaining the purpose of a constitution.

COOPERATIVE GROUPS INSTRUCTION
Students will research three world constitutions (The United States, Japan (1946), and
Great Britain). Afterwards, they will create a presentation explaining the purpose
of a Constitution. Students will complete the chart below for their
power point presentation.

A CONSTITUTION’S PURPOSE FOR THE FOLLOWING:

The People
Organization of Government
Welfare of the Country
     

 

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