Using Resources

Now that you have watched teachers using resources in social studies lessons, apply what you know in the following activities.

1		Using Artifacts

In the early grades, images can be effective tools for engaging students while teaching social studies. Old photographs and artwork turn your classroom into a history lab by offering students a glimpse into the past, and an image from which to think about daily life, culture, and change through time. In this activity, you will view an engraving and two photographs from U.S. history. As you view these resources, think about what you can identify and interpret through the images, and what kinds of questions you might generate if you were using these images to teach your students.

Using Artifacts Go to Interactive Activity >>

A non-interactive version of this activity is available as a PDF document.

When you've completed the activity, choose one image from the activity, assume the role of a newspaper reporter, and write a short article (250-300 words) about the image. Be sure to include:

• A headline
• Historical backdrop or context
• Descriptions of the people and their surroundings in the image
• An analysis of what's taking place
• What the impact might be on the community or country

You can use the Writing an Article form (PDF).

	Save your written work to submit as an assignment.

2		Developing a Lesson

This activity is designed to help you plan a lesson with specific learning goals and resources in mind. Before you develop your own lesson, watch the adaptable mini-lesson in the workshop as a model.

		<< View Video Segment: What Makes a Good Citizen? Go to this segment in the video by matching the image (to the left) on your TV screen. You'll find this segment approximately 42 minutes into the video. Watch for about 15 minutes.

Now it's your turn. Develop a lesson that maximizes resources to teach social studies. Use the Developing a Lesson form (PDF) to help you organize your lesson plan. Be sure to include the following:

• Lesson title
• Objectives
• Two or three teaching activities to address your learning goals and help diverse learners reach the same goals
• Resources that will best address the learning activities and learning goals

Once you've drafted a lesson, write your answers to the following questions:

1. How do the resources engage students and address your objectives?
2. How does each resource address diverse learners?
3. Which resource covers the widest range of learners?

	Save your written work to submit as an assignment.

If you are taking all eight sessions for credit, you may continue to work on lessons and materials for this unit in subsequent sessions. Save a copy of your work.

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