NYS Council for the Social StudiesState Conference 2015

Syracuse, NY

Mary GossonChristine Wenk

“ Do it together! Creating a Holocaust Research Project for 8th grade Social Studies”

Welcome from North Syracuse Central Schools

North Syracuse Junior High

• Mary Gosson – Library Media Specialist, Syracuse University

• Christine Wenk- 8th grade Social Studies teacher, adjunct professor Le Moyne College

Do it together, how did you get started?

Where did it all begin?

• PALS – Build a relationship• Start a conversation, share!• Make time, process and conversations happen

over time.• You don’t have to do it all? I’m not supposed

to do it all?• This particular project has evolved, been

revised, and a work in progress.

Standards Based Research Project• Standards for both Social Studies, use of technology and Library (the

Big 6).• The new framework for Social Studies is shifting focus away from

coverage to inquiry.• This project meets that need. Also met the Common Core standards

that 7-12 Social Studies had previously.• Old Standard ( 1996) : page 65, To describe historic events through

the eyes and experiences of those who were there, E. New aspects of the war, 5. The Nazi Holocaust

• New : 8.6c The nature and consequences of warfare during World War II transformed the United States and the global community. The damage from total warfare and human atrocities, including the Holocaust, led to a call for an international organization to prevent future wars and the protection of human rights.

© M. Eisenberg 2011

1. Task Definition1. Task Definition

2. Info Seeking Strategies2. Info Seeking Strategies

3. Location & Access3. Location & Access

4. Use of Information4. Use of Information

5. Synthesis5. Synthesis

6. Evaluation6. Evaluation

The Big6™ Skills

Standards Based- Is this of value and importance?

Discussion of our ProjectChristine:

• Background with Holocaust Studies and the US Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.

• Why this topic is important and timely.

• Centered around the importance of how do we know something has happened in history? What evidence to we have?

• President of Iran and his remarks on the Holocaust.

Mary:• Supporting critical

thinking skills• Evaluation of websites

and resources with students/teacher

• Nothing is pre-selected for students

• How to share with students to gather

evidence.

Nitty Gritty

• Actual product and what was created for students.

• Samples of student work created.

So what, now what?

• Librarian is your friend and ally in the work educators need to do with our students.

• It is the growth of students in their own progress with research skills that is rewarding.

• Students engaging in material that is timely and sensitive in nature takes time.

• We must never forget !• Q+A