In my previous post, I discussed my GAME plan for bringing more real-world problems and examples to my classroom in social studies lessons. As I continue to work toward this goal and enhance my lessons, I will update the progress as the process continues.
In order to move forward in my GAME plan, I need to look at the resources that will be necessary to move forward in the process. One important resource that will be needed will be different real-world situations that I my students can relate to in order to help them understand history. It is tough for ten-year-olds to relate to Marco Polo leaving home and walking thousands of miles to explore and find spices. When I take this and talk about the reasons that my students would be willing to leave their homes to walk for years, they start to relate with Marco Polo. Researching these ideas, and in talking to my students, I can bring more ways to understand what happened 'way back then'.
Next, I need to start looking at lessons to come and start relating new concepts to ideas my students understand and make connections with the ideas. As I look ahead, I am looking for ideas on how to relate the scale of the Milky Way galaxy and the planets that make up our solar system for science. The explorers in social studies are also on my radar of real-world scenarios.
-Melissa
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Good post!! Anytime you can make those connections to students in a way they can relate to, you are always almost going to come out with a successful lesson. I remember when I was in elementary school, history was the one subject I absolutely dreaded going to because it was always so boring. We would just read out of a book things that happened centuries ago, and I remember thinking: Really, I barely got anything out of history. With a subject like history it is important to teach your student about the events of the past in a fun and connecting way to relate to the students in a manner as if the event was happening today. I think you are already taking some great steps toward achieving your game plan. Good job again!
ReplyDeleteMelissa- Do you have an online networking group or follow a blog posted by fellow history teachers? If not, you may benefit from searching for one, especially one that has educators who are using technology. This resource will be invaluable to you as you pursue this goal. I was lucky to locate a group on Ning that has become a wonderful resource for me. It saves so much time and is much better then just searching alone in the dark for resources. I just post a question or inquiry and within a few days I always have wonderful ideas show up at my doorstep. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteMelissa,
ReplyDeleteI am also working on integrating real-world issues into my social studies and science curriculum. Maybe you could use Google Earth to help them see a location that is a thousand or two thousand miles from you. Maybe that will help your students understand the enormous distances that Marco Polo and other explorers had to travel.