Writing in Social Studies Made Simple:

Engaging Strategies for Student Success

Florida Council for the Social Studies

2011 Conference

Kathleen Kopp

Teacher on Special Assignment, Citrus County Schools

Author and Presenter: Maupin House Publishing

koppk@citrus.k12.fl.us

http://www.citrus.k12.fl.us/fre/kopp/ContentAreaWriting.htm

Today’s ObjectivesReview of CCSS ELA writing standards as they

apply to social studiesFabulous vocabulary writing strategies to

engage students’ thinkingQuick and easy learning strategies that require

students to think about and respond to learning through writing

Fun, creative, motivating writing projects that allow students to demonstrate their understanding of content while simultaneously addressing the CCSS Writing Standards for Literacy in Social Studies

ComparisonsComplete this thought:

Writing in Social Studies is like

_____________________

because_________________________________________.

Word Bank:

storming a castle jet skiing munching an apple

shopping NASCAR a day at the beach

AnalogiesComplete this thought:

Writing is to Social Studies as

___________________ is to

________________________________________.

Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, gr. 6-8

http://www.corestandards.org/

Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, gr. 6-8

http://www.corestandards.org/

Writing Strategies to Develop Social Studies VocabularyMine, Ours, TheirsFrayer modelGraphic organizers from http://freeology.com/graphicorgs/ Student-generated cloze (story, paragraph, or sentence)

Mine, Ours, Theirs

PROCLAMATIONTo prevent any more fighting with American Indians, Britain made a proclamation. The Proclamation of 1763 said that

colonists could not settle west of the Appalachian Mountains.

My DefinitionMy Neighbor’s

DefinitionGlossary Definition

How these definitions compare______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mine, Ours, Theirs

OBFUSCATIONThe senator’s continuous, disorganized, and irrelevant

prattle left his fellow elected leaders in a state of obfuscation.

My DefinitionMy Neighbor’s

DefinitionGlossary Definition

How these definitions compare______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Total confusion or opaqueness so as to be difficult to perceive or understand

Frayer Model

Total confusion or opaqueness so as to be difficult to perceive or understand

ConfusionLostIn a fogIgnorant

TESOL Conference

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Wise old owl

My dad

Using Graphic Organizers to Build Vocabulary

http://freeology.com/graphicorgs/

Vocabulary Cards Graphic Organizer

http://freeology.com/graphicorgs/

Vocabulary Word Cluster Graphic Organizer

Vocabulary Sketch Graphic Organizer

“Cognitive Dictionary” Graphic Organizer

Student-generated ClozeHave students write sentences, paragraphs, or

stories using all their vocabulary words.Collect the students’ work.Select the best sentences, paragraph, or story.Type them using a word processing program.Insert blank lines (_____________) for each

vocabulary term.Provide copies of the cloze student activity

sheet and terms.Have students complete this activity to assess

their understanding of the vocabulary presented in the reading selection.

Try it!

appointmentconcurrent powers

delegated powers

impeach

obfuscation representative democracy

reserved powers

veto

Choose one word. Write a sentence.Insert a blank line for your word.

Sample ClozeJeff, the Jamestown historian, began his tour. “The ____________ of Jamestown was established in 1607. The people who came here were some of the first ____________. The original colonists were mostly ____________ and ____________. They were searching for the freedom to live out what they believed to be the ____________ they shared with their God. The ____________ began to thrive when rules were changed. New rules allowed some colonists to grow ____________. One example is corn. Wheat is another. Other colonists could be ____________. Early shopkeepers were blacksmiths, coopers, and tailors. As you can see, life in Colonial America was very different from today.” Then, the tour ended.

colonist Puritan proprietorcash crop settlement pilgrimcovenant

Writing in Social Studies Resources Try it a la carte!

New Resource!

http://www.maupinhouse.com/

Writing Strategies to Develop

Concepts and Skills

PMI (Plusses, Minuses, and Interesting)Frayer modelGraphic organizers from http://freeology.com/graphicorgs/

Comprehension skills: main idea/details, compare/contrast, sequencing, cause/effect, etc.

Comprehension connections

Sticky Notes (anchor charts)Give One, Get One (review strategy)Concept map acrostic (review strategy)Writing Projects

PMIYES _____ NO _____

“Should we amend the Constitution to make flag desecration a crime?”

PLUSSES MINUSES INTERESTING

Frayer Model

Frayer Model

Main Idea and Details Graphic Organizer

Tree Diagram (main idea/details) Graphic Organizer

Compare/contrast Graphic Organizer

Triple Venn

8 Events Sequencing Chart

“Chain of Events” Graphic Organizer

Cause-effect Graphic Organizer

Note Taker Graphic Organizer

“Open Mind” Making Connections Graphic Organizer

Thinking Stems:•I wonder…•This makes me think about…•This reminds me of…•This relates to…•I imagine•I predict… •I remember when…

Guest SpeakerNotebook Entry

Notes

Issue: Should Parson City develop land in a protected wetland?

Personal Reflection/connection“I think…”

Review Strategy: Give One, Get OneFold paper twice vertically and horizontally

(nine squares)Write three facts about a topic in any three

squares.See six friends (maybe more). You “give”

them one of your facts, and in exchange, you “get” one of theirs.

No facts can repeat on the page.Use this as a concept or topic review.

What It Looks LikeTopic: Latitude and Longitude

Latitude lines are shown every 10 degrees.

Longitude lines are shown every 15 degrees.

Latitude lines run parallel to the equator.

Review Strategy: Concept Map AcrosticUse chart paper. Make enough charts so that no

more than six students are in a group.Write one essential term or concept vertically on

each paper.Give each group a marker.Each student, in turn, writes one sentence related

to the concept using the letter of the concept as the first word of his sentence.

Every student writes a sentence. Encourage collaboration.

Students can use notes, text, or other resources to write their facts.

Use this as a concept or topic review.

Project-based Learning in Social Studies

An opportunity for students to show what they learned through authentic, novel, and creative writing projects

Writing Project ResourcesLots of great authentic writing project ideas

in the Learning through Writing Series (Maupin House Publishing, Inc.)

Award-winning Series!

Why Learning Projects?Dynamic Authentic InterdisciplinaryEmphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, problem

solving, and communication: 21st century skills Students explore real-world problems and

challengesActive learningEngagingMotivate students to find out more about a given

topicGive students a reason to learn and apply learned

skills and information

What would you rather do?Your principal has assigned your team to read an

article related to homework practices. She asks for some evidence of learning. This will be part of your overall year-end appraisal.

Would you rather…1. Write a summary of the article2. Create a Power Point of key points from the article3. Write a narrative which includes examples of best

homework practices described in the text4. Create a poster to explain best practices with regard

to homework with meaningful examples of homework assignments

5. Interview other teachers regarding their homework practices and compare their ideas with those in the article

6. Keep a journal of your own homework assignments throughout the year and analyze how they are aligned with the ideas in the article

7. Other

Jazzed-up Reports“States”Write an acceptance speech as if you have just been

elected Governor of your state. Tell what you plan to do to improve life in this state. Include ideas related to the economy, agriculture, and historic or ecological preservation.

“Historic People”The “People Channel” wants to do a show about this

famous person. Develop three or more scenes or segments for the show. Each scene should highlight an important event in this person’s life.

“Government”Write a script between a former politician and a

present-day politician. Develop a possible dialogue between them as they discuss a past or current issue of interest.

Student StoriesMad LibsRAFTSAnecdotesArticlesBiographiesBook jacketsBook reviewsDiariesFolktalesGhost storiesInterviewsLegends

LettersMysteriesPlaysPostcardsProposalsReviewsScience fictionSpeechSummariesTall talesTraveloguesTributes

Try This!TERMS

colonistPuritanproprietorscash cropsettlementpilgrimcovenant

Begin a graphic novel about the Colonial period. Include all seven vocabulary words in your narrative.

Write a ghost story that takes place during Colonial times. Include all seven vocabulary words in your narrative.

Write a Colonial town tour script as if you were a tour guide leading visitors through a living history museum. Use all seven words in your description of the town.

ON MY OWN

Don’t forget the assessment tool!

CriteriaPoints

PossiblePoints Earned

Effective and appropriate use of seven terms 35

Format is appropriate for purpose 20

Accuracy of facts and information related to the Colonial period 20

Appropriate and effective text structure 10

Correctness of grammar, spelling, and punctuation 10

Attention to audience 5

TOTAL 100

Write Now!Writing allows students to internalize their

learning.Writing about reading helps students build

needed vocabulary.Writing about reading allows students to

organize the content they are learning.Writing strategies can be done before, during,

and after learning.Writing is a great formative assessment

strategy.Writing can be used to assess student learning

of any subject matter, but should include clear, measurable expectations. (And, students should know these expectations ahead of time.)

Thank you for spending time with me!

koppk@citrus.k12.fl.ushttp://www.citrus.k12.fl.us/fre/kopp/ContentAreaWriting.htm