CCSD - Elementary Social Studies

Fall Social Studies Unit Drafts -- Use Them to Get a Head Start on Fall!

On May 7th, our social studies contact group met and worked in grade level collaborative groups to draft plans for the kick-off units for Fall, 2008. Each group worked together on one or more unit plans corresponding to Cobb's Course Guides (now on PICASSO.) Since we have more contacts from the intermediate grades, you'll notice more drafts from those levels, but there's at least one unit draft plan for every grade.

Be on the lookout for fully fleshed out unit and lesson plans on PICASSO this summer. We have writers busily at work even as we speak! In the meantime, hope this advance work by your contact group gives you a boost. Remember these are drafts and meant for you to refine and develop more fully.

I am also adding the course guides with standards clustered per unit that we will be using in Cobb County in 2008-2009. Note that skills from the Skills Matrix are referenced this way: MG1 (map and globe skills) and lower case letters in order to denote each skill AND IP1 (Information Processing skills) and lower case letters in order to denote each skill.

THANKS to our hard working contacts for sharing their time and talents so generously!

 

Kindergarten:
Download kunitwherewelive.doc
Download the_continents_song.ppt

Download kindcourseguidestandards.xls

First:
Download 1unitBenFranklin.doc
Download 1unitMapsandglobes.doc
Download 1stcourseguidestandards.xls

Second:
Download 2unitcreekscherokees.doc
Download 2unitearlyGA.doc
Download 2unitearlygacreekscherokees.doc
Download 2ndcourseguidestandards.xls

Third:
Download 3unitecon.doc
Download 3unitrootsofdemo.doc
Download 3unitrootsofdemocracy.doc
Download 3rdcourseguidestandards.xls

Fourth:
Download 4uniteconomics.doc
Download 4unitNativeAmerican.doc
Download 4thcourseguidestandards.xls

Fifth:
Download 5unitcitizenship.doc
Download 5unitcivilrecon.doc
Download 5unitintro.doc
Download 5thcourseguidestandards.xls

Elluminate sessions on Teaching Enduring Understandings for K-5

I am copying below information received from Sarah Brown, TSA with the State DOE, with whom we've been working this year for GPS training in Social Studies. She and Marlo Mong, the other TSA, are hosting virtual sessions this Wednesday and Thursday, which you are invited to "attend" from your site. If you haven't participated in a session like this before, you will want to read over the setup and prep directions, which I've attached. Note that session information is archived for later listening.

Here is the text of Sarah's message:
Good Morning! 

Marlo and I will be conducting two Elluminate sessions regarding Unit One (where we explicitly teach the enduring understandings for our grade level) to help you get ready for next year.  It seems like a long way off, but we know how quickly it will be here!  Please share this information with your colleagues, and with anyone else who might be interested.  If you are unable to join us for the session, it will be recorded and archived for later listening.

K-2 Social Studies GPS: Teaching Unit One - Wednesday, May 14, from 3:30 - 4:30 pm
http://elluminate.gavirtualschool.org:80/doe/join_meeting.html?meetingId=1209644338531 
password:  letmein


3-5 Social Studies GPS: Teaching Unit One - Thursday, May 15, from 3:30 - 4:30 pm
http://elluminate.gavirtualschool.org:80/doe/join_meeting.html?meetingId=1209644481515 
password:  letmein

If you have not participated in any previous Elluminate sessions, here is some basic information for you:
*All you need to participate, technology-wise, is a computer with Internet access and speakers.
*If you have a microphone, it will allow you to ask questions during the session.  If you do not have one, fear not!  You can type your questions and comments, as well.
*The first attachment below will guide you through some basic set-up procedures. PLEASE make sure you complete these before the scheduled start time of the session.
*To join the session, cut and paste the relevant link into your web browser, and in the login/password screen, enter your name and the password listed with the link.  The link will not work until about 20 minutes before the session is scheduled to start.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

Thanks, and hope to see you on the 14th or 15th!

Sarah

Sarah Blascovich Brown
Social Studies Teacher on Special Assignment (K-2)
Division of Academic Standards
Georgia Department of Education
1754 Twin Towers East
205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, S. E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Office: (404) 651-7859
Fax: (404) 656-5744
sbrown@doe.k12.ga.us
http;//www.gadoe.org

Here are attachments with further directions you may find helpful:
Download elluminate_preconfiguration_instructions.pdf

Download Elluminate_Live_V8_Participant_Quick_Reference_Guide.pdf

Download Elluminate_troubleshooting_guide.pdf

Registration now open for our elementary social studies workshop!

K-5 Social Studies: Diving into the New Standards

Teachers are now able to register for this by clicking on Course Registration at 

http://www.cobbk12.org/Departments/SI/SIStaffDevelopment/

After logging in, and selecting the course catalog, select the course listing at the very bottom, which is CCSD Summer Teaching & Learning Conference, after which you can select the elementary social studies conference.

When you register for that, it is for two full days, May 29 - 30, for one PLU. We will meet at the Central Branch of the Cobb Public Library, in the large conference room to the left of the lobby. The attached flyer has more specific information.
Download flyerforsummer.doc

Hope to see you there!
JoAnn

Geography Action Summer Opportunity!

National Geographic has an exciting opportunity for K-12 teachers this summer, but the deadline is May 8th, so you must act quickly.  Applications must be e-mailed to Dr. Garrett Smith, at Kennesaw State (gsmith@kennesaw.edu) by May 8th, so that he can get them signed and turned in by the national deadline.

Details are in the nomination packet for download below:

Download ngs_geography_action.doc

The training takes place July 21-24, 2008, in Washington, DC, and all expenses are paid. You will need to join the Georgia Geography Alliance (no cost!) in order to quality. Act NOW if you are interested, since this will fill quickly! Call Dr. Garrett Smith for more info. at 770-499-3399.

Let me know if you make it! We like to keep up with our local celebrities!
JoAnn

Georgia Geographic Alliance - Spring Geofest

The Spring Geofest at Kennesaw State University is a chance for K-12 teachers and geography folks at the college level to share great ideas for teaching geography to our students. Teachers are invited to present their effective strategies, or just to attend to be inspired. The conference, held on Saturday, April 26th, from 8:30 - 2:00, is free, and lunch is provided (must RSVP in advance.)

Below you'll find the Geofest flyer with the basic information. Please RSVP by March 17th if you're planning to attend.
Download 2008GEOFestFlyer.doc

We would love to have our great Cobb teachers to present at Geofest. Download the call for presentations and application form below (deadline is March 17th!):

Download 2008GEOFestCallforPresentations.doc

Hope to see a HUGE Cobb turnout on April 26th.

"The Problem of the Color Line: Atlanta Landmarks and Civil Rights History" Summer Workshop Opportunity for Teachers

An amazing opportunity to explore buildings, historical figures, and primary sources related to the Civil Rights movement is awaiting you this summer in Atlanta. The workshop is running July 13 - 19 OR July 20 - 26 this summer, and is jam-packed with powerful experiences.

You will want to read the details very carefully to determine if this is for you, including information about residence and attendance, requirements, participation, stipend to cover expenses, and the application process. Note that the deadline for your application packet is MARCH 17th, and references are required, so you will need to start this process immediately if you are to make the deadline.

If you think this might be for you, please download the application below.

Download AtlantaApplication2008.doc

If you would like ALL the details, download the packet below. (Note that this is a lengthy document with many photos.)

Download Atlantacivilrightscourse.pdf

Do's and Don'ts for Making the Most of Social Studies Textbooks

As the new materials arrive in our schools, we have begun exploring how best to use the array of resources in the Houghton Mifflin program. Following are some Do's and Don'ts for Textbooks generated at our most recent quarterly training.

DO USE FOR:
• Background knowledge for the teacher
• Ideas for integration with other academic areas
• Ideas for reteaching
• Guides for helping with instruction: Main Ideas, Think Aloud
• Text lift for shared reading
• Teaching non-fiction conventions
• Assessment & test prep. practice options
• Differentiation Ideas
• Standards Focus
• Use the standards as a reference regularly
• Take advantage of the various resources, for example: graphic organizers, vocabulary cards, maps, and differentiation techniques
• At home connections to communicate learning with parents
• Text extensions to integrate to other content
• Become familiar with textbook & other resources
• Match PICASSO pacing guide with textbook
• Integrate textbook with Language Arts
• Differentiate for ELL, etc.
• Challenge using extension activities
• Use planning guide
• Audio CDs help some learners
• Readers to go with series
• Use charts & maps & pictures
• Use for shared readings
• Use map and graph skills
• Use lesson review & study guides
• Teach vocabulary using preview, practice, etc.
• Utilize technology/online components

DON'T:
• Start at Chapter 1 and go through page by page
• Use as the only tool or resource for teaching Social Studies standards
• Rely on the text to do the teaching
• Limit yourself to the book; branch out and pull in other supplemental information and materials
• Leave it on the shelf
• Assume all standards will be taught at sufficient depth with the textbook alone
• Neglect use of other primary sources
• Assume all students can read the text within the book
• Do round robin reading of text
• Feel obligated to use every single element of adoption (pick & choose)
• Just assign chapters for students and answers to follow

What Do's and Don'ts would you add to this list?

Great Resources from the Federal Reserve of Richmond

At this week's Quarterly Training, we're excited to share a resource explored by Kim Roberts, Powder Springs kindergarten teacher. What sorts of things might you find at this site?

Historic figure bookmarks are available on a variety of American leaders, many of whom are included within our new GPS for social studies. You can order, completely FREE, sets of 100 bookmarks on these historic figures, including Lincoln, Washington, Carver, Sacagawea, Susan B. Anthony, Franklin, among others. There are also suggestions as to how you might use these with your students.

While at this website notice the "My Money" student workbook, and (especially appropriate for 4th grade) a colonial barter activity. All of these resources are FREE for teachers, so I hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity and order the ones that match your grade's standards.

Check them out at:
Federal Reserve of Richmond

Be sure and share with us your creative ideas for using these materials!

GPS Day 2 Training Support

For those of you who attended Performance Based Quarterly Training from January 29th - February 1st, 2008, the supporting materials you need to redeliver the Social Studies training to your team are available for download below.

Note that you should plan to redeliver just the economics segment of the presentation to your teams on the Professional Learning day on Feb. 19th. Since you will have only the morning to redeliver the QT, you will want to limit the social studies segment to the economics activity. You will need to find or borrow from colleagues 6-8 unsharpened pencils (enough for one per group you are training) and 6-8 containers of play-doh (enough for one per group you are training.) You will also need a piece of chart paper to record group results.

Here are the materials you will need:
Play money for the snakes and donuts activity.
Download 1dollarbills.doc

K-2 Day 2 GPS Presentation (focus on the economics slides from within the larger presentation.)
Download cobbk2gpsday2.ppt

K-2 Economics Reference Sheet & Activity
Download EconQuickReferenceSheetK2Day2.doc

3-5 Day 2 GPS Presentation (focus on the economics slides from within the larger presentation.)
Download cobb35gpsday2.ppt

3-5 Economics Reference Sheet & Activity
Download EconQuickReferenceSheet3D5.doc

New GPS Day 1 Training Support

For those of you who participated in Performance Based Quarterly Training Dec. 3rd - 6th, the supporting materials you need to redeliver this training to your teams are available for download below.

Here is the powerpoint with the notes that accompany each slide included (in the print window you can choose to print out the slides with the notes.)
Download K-5socstday1cobb.ppt

A downloadable copy of the new K-5 GPS for social studies is also attached (note that the last two pages are the very important skills matrices):
Download k-5socialstudiesgps.pdf

The QCC that we are currently teaching may be accessed on PICASSO, so that teachers can do the compare/contrast activity (activity one) in the powerpoint. If you need me to send a hard copy of the QCC and/or a hard copy of the 6-12 grade socials studies GPS for activity 2 from the powerpoint, e-mail donnie.thurmond@cobbk12.org and she can send you that via school mail.

Attached below are the course guide drafts that suggest what to teach and in what order, to cover all the new standards. Please share your suggestions for revisions, or your own course guide drafts, with me at joann.wood@cobbk12.org . The next 6 weeks or so is the optimal time to make suggestions. After that, we're going to begin mounting things on PICASSO to prepare for next  year and won't be doing as much revision. Here are the current course guide drafts:
Download kinddraftCourseGuide.xls
Download 1stdraftCourseGuide.xls
Download 2nddraftCourseGuide.xls
Download 3rddraftcourseguide_copy.xls
Download 4thdraftcourseguide.xls
Download 5thdraftcourseguide.xls

I'm attaching a document that tells you the weights per domain (percentage of test items for each social studies domain or strand) for the CRCT for this year (QCC in 2008)and for the new CRCT in 2009 (first GPS test).
Download CRCTsocstweights.doc

Look for in the next few weeks: grade level specific pages at this site where we can start building lists of literature links for the new GPS, field trip suggestions, highlighted features of our new Houghton Mifflin materials, ideas for using primary sources with your students, etc.

If you or a team member are interested in writing lesson plans for the new GPS, we are looking for and will pay for your good lesson plans written outside of work hours. E-mail me right away if you're interested!

Looking forward to learning with you as we embark on this new journey with the GPS!
JoAnn