Choice and Voice

Writing about Reading in the Social Studies

ObjectivesTeachers will enhance their skills:

Promoting reading and writing in social studies by using an inquiry based approach

Providing students an opportunity to write about a content connected topic of their choice by reading great texts at the right level.

Challenging students to write like social scientists

Support students writing utilizing the tools of social science inquiry.

Liz (Costanzo)Morrison

Parkway School DistrictSt. Louis, Missouri

What’s the issue? (Write your thinking (WYT))

Global Issues...Hot Topics at Any Level

WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE ONE COPY OF THE TEXT

What’s part of the problem?(WYT)

How are people part of the problem? (WYT)

Let’s TalkSTAND upHand upPair up

What can you learn from the map?

Select the area of the world that you wonder about.

- Write down three questions you have about the area (one question per postit note)

- Join the group.- Categorize your

questions.- Find the answers.- Share with your team

- Summarize your findings- Share with the class

Question StormWhat else do you want to

know?

Why Does It MatterWhat can you do?

Three Minute Write

Water is a Global Issue

All VOicES IN THE ROOM

Stand up...form a circle...share your thinking…

The Teacher ConnectionWhere was the voice?

Where was the choice?

What questions do you have?

The resource -

Going GreenGoing Green...what does that mean? (Think, Turn, Talk)

Review the Table of Contents

Take a picture walk…● Look at the photos● Jot down different ways a city might be “Going Green”● Cold Call - Be Ready to Respond

Going Green● Make your choice - what city would you like to learn more

about?● As you read -

○ Use the post it note to take notes ○ How is your city going green?

● After you read - ○ Meet with “like” city - determine three most important point (MIPs)○ Form teams with one representative from each city○ Share your MIPs

● Discussion○ Similarities○ Difference

Exit SlipIs “Going Green” important? Why or why not? Support your opinion with your learning from the day.

The Teacher ConnectionWhere was the voice?

Where was the choice?

What questions do you have?

The resource -

A Desert Community What do you see?

What do you think the climate is like in this community?

What would it be like to live here?

A B

C D

Different Communities

Living in the Mountains

Living in the Desert

Living on the Plains

Living on the CoastSocial Studies Circles

Social Studies Circles- Nonfiction Text on the Table

- Open text to the table of contents- Determine which article might be the best one to read to answer the

question “How does where we live affect how we live?”- Whip Around: Each person will share which article they believe would

be best and why.

Social Studies Circles- Look at the article you selected in the text

- Is it the BEST article to learn about how people live in the community? Why or why not?

- If not - what is the best article?

- Table share- Person #1 will share first- Rotate around the table

- Select the Article- Compare and Contrast- Pros and Cons (A City by the Water)

Social Studies CirclesVenn Diagram (Compare and Contrast)

- Title your organizer (interactive at readwritethink.org)- Learning Together

- Student #1 Reads - Student #2 Explains one way the communities are similar (all write)- Student #3 Explains one way the communities are different (all write)- Student #4 Checks to ensure everyone recorded the same answer- STUDENTS ROTATE ROLES ONE PERSON CLOCKWISE FOR EACH ROUND

Sharing Your Community: Merry-Go-Round- New Student Teams (1 Community in Each Group)- Form a circle of four (each community represented)

- Introduce yourself to your teammates (remember to shake hands)- Community Representative Shares Information (other group members

listen and write down one similarity to their own community)- Three minutes to share- One minute to write

- Repeat with the next community

- Thank team members and return to seats

-

Writing for Understanding - Most Important Point (Round Table)Number Off 1 - 4

- Each team will use one piece of paper and one pencil- First person writes down one important point they learned

today (as you are writing say it out loud)- Pass the paper to the person your left- Repeat the process until all students have shared their

MIP- Write and Speak then Pass

The Teacher ConnectionWhere was the voice?

Where was the choice?

What questions do you have?

The resource -