http://www2.education.ualberta.ca/css/css_39_1/ARgibson_SSteachers_internet_young_learners.htm

Our program has a "technology focus" and we get bombarded with suggestions to include technology in our classrooms. How do we know that we are not using technology just for the sake of using technology; how do we do it effectively? This article gives suggestions on how to incorporate WebQuests into your social studies classroom. Students are given a problem to solve, and a process to get there, they are scaffolded through the process of inquiry which will help them in future tasks. "The most effective technology uses for enhancing learning are those that help to develop students' higher order thinking and problem solving skills through engagement in inquiry centered around authentic, complex, real world problems." Take at a look at this article to discover how you can use technology effectively to enhance higher order thinking skills and for links to where to find social studies focused WebQuests.

Start your geography lesson with a song or rap to grab your student's attention! There are many different songs that you can model a concept or skill of geography with. They can then spur conversation or inquiry for the students. Grade 6 Social Studies discusses Canada and its World Connections, why not start off by having Yako spout out all of the possible nations in the world to get the students thinking about how big our world actually is! You can then narrow down your study and focus on specific countries. After viewing videos that help you to remember the five themes of geography or the concept of latitude and longitude, why not have your class make up their own rap or song to help them connect with the content! Have them respond to a critical thinking question through a rap or song by describing their views or opinions with facts to back it up. It could be a really engaging assessment tool! Try it out!

Animaniacs' Nations of the world!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Ml-tJuQ3o

Longitude and Latitude Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0c1idtn3e8&feature=related

5 Themes of Geography
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIqC79WrpKg&feature=related

http://education.alberta.ca/department/events/veteransweek.aspx

This article looks at Alberta schools celebrating Veteran's Week and Remembrance Day. They celebrate the week of November 5th- 11th. This article contains great links to many online resources that pertain to events or organizations that can help the students learn about the significance of Remembrance Day. The article highlights resources surrounding: Vimy Ridge, Canadian War Museum, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Juno Beach Centre, Literacy and Archives Canada, National Defense and the Canadian Forces, Public Broadcasting System, Royal Canadian Legion, Veteran Affairs Canada and personalities such as Marion Orr and John McCrae. The article also includes explanations of the resources. Someone like John McCrae has a local connection because he attended Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute which is a High School in Guelph. Take a look and see how you can incorporate this time to remember into your Social Studies or History classroom!

This article walks the reader through what GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is, how it functions, why you would want to use it in the classroom and links to lesson plans that you could use. "GIS is a computer-based system that collects, stores, displays, manipulates, and analyzes data, and then links the information to locations on a map." It has four basic components made up of hardware, software, data and human resources which all work together. Using GIS is perfect for connecting the sense of place and understanding to a location and offers opportunity for asking questions and submitting queries using geographic information. Students can discover solutions to real life problems using this software. There are a lot of opportunities for teachers to learn more about the software and how to implement it in the classroom. Check it out!

http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech186.shtml

http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/education/schoolsandresources/article/1062715--alternatives-sought-to-triple-grade-classes

This is a recent news article that highlights Parkdale Public School in Toronto District School Board and its four three way split classes. The school is looking for alternatives for the current model involving split classes that span over three grades since parents are upset. A parent comments, "Take geography. The Grade 4s learn about the provinces; Grade 5s study the federal government and Grade 6s learn about import and export markets. If the teacher can't cover them all, will our kids learn what they need to know?" This article is perfect for stimulating critical thinking in ourselves as we consider how we would teach social studies to split classes and what would the best options be but also in our students. Ask them what they think. Can they come up with a solution or compromise to a real life problem?

As teachers of social studies, we have a lot of responsibility. We are responsible for making our students socially, and culturally aware of their surroundings and providing a classroom environment that is meaningful, integrative, value-based, challenging, and active. We need to integrate social studies throughout the curriculum and foster critical thinking in order to prepare our students to be life-long citizens. Students need to be asked questions that stimulate decision making, problem solving, and issue analysis. Social studies are a valuable part of our student's curriculum and should be valued just as math and literacy are. North America is becoming more and more diverse and being an informed citizen is vital. As teachers we have a responsibility to our students to be prepared and enthusiastic and to integrate social studies throughout the day.

http://www.socialstudies.org/positions/powerfulandpurposeful

Link to article

This article looks at the use of web quests in social studies in order to stimulate learning and act as a tool in the classroom. As social studies teachers we need to make sure that we are culturally sensitive and relevant, not just teaching holidays and special people but making sure the whole experience of history is taught. Our students are 'participants in the world' and they need to be prepared to participate in our democratic society. This article also addresses scaffolding inquiry and connecting the present to past events. This is a must read for anyone who wants to make history current for their students!

http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/24400_thombs_ch1.pdf

This article helps put into perspective how important social studies education is in the elementary school grades. As teachers we need to give our students the skills and strategies that they need to interpret and understand their social world. There are a lot of messages being thrown at children through the media while watching TV and seeing advertisements. Students need to learn how to evaluate what they are taking in and understand that different people have different perspectives when solving problems and making decisions. Teachers need to understand where children are at developmentally and continue to get professional development so that they can teach social studies effectively and help students function personally and socially. Social studies are just as significant as reading and writing because it helps students to function in society.

http://www.socialstudies.org/positions/elementary

This article first identifies some of the major issues with personal technology in schools such as losing or damaging personal property, taking pictures or videos of others without their consent, and proving to be a distraction from learning. Although there are negatives he also recognizes that more students tend to own cell phones than even a home computer and there are many opportunities to utilize devices when there is a lack of technology in schools as well. Social studies can be perceived as dry and boring and incorporating activities that use technology can change some student's perceptions of the subject and their attitude toward it. A specific example of using technology to engage students could be accessing The World Facebook 2011 which is an "app that allows students to examine global demographic information, populations trends, navigate land masses and water ways, and better understand physical and cultural geography." Incorporating appropriate uses of technology is an awesome opportunity to foster more engagement in social studies and model new learning techniques.

http://globalandsocialstudieseducation.blogspot.com/