Elementary U S Geography Social Studies Teacher Guide

Pack a bag and prepare to go to some of the most interesting places in the 50 states. Learn about each state’s flag, motto, fun fast facts, and more as you fill up your passport crisscrossing the country! From Native American history to how immigration impacted the nation, you will explore some of the sites and stories that make this vast land remarkable. Did You Know: Montgomery, Alabama, was the site of the first citywide electric trolley system in 1886. Tennessee is home to the largest underground lake in the United States, the Lost Sea, discovered by a 13-year-old boy in 1905. Ohio was home to the first professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1869. Benny Benson, an orphan, designed Alaska’s distinctive state flag in 1927. Montana’s Triple Divide Peak in Glacier National Park is the only place in North America that allows water to flow in three directions — the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and Hudson Bay. Texas is the only state to have flags of six different countries fly over it, and it was an independent nation from 1836 to 1846.

This little book is confined to very simple “reading lessons upon the Form and Motions of the Earth, the Points of the Compass, the Meaning of a Map: Definitions.” The shape and motions of the earth are fundamental ideas—however difficult to grasp. Geography should be learned chiefly from maps, and the child should begin the study by learning “the meaning of map,” and how to use it. These subjects are well fitted to form an attractive introduction to the study of Geography: some of them should awaken the delightful interest which attaches in a child’s mind to that which is wonderful—incomprehensible. The Map lessons should lead to mechanical efforts, equally delightful. It is only when presented to the child for the first time in the form of stale knowledge and foregone conclusions that the facts taught in these lessons appear dry and repulsive to him. An effort is made in the following pages to treat the subject with the sort of sympathetic interest and freshness which attracts children to a new study. A short summary of the chief points in each reading lesson is given in the form of questions and answers. Easy verses, illustrative of the various subjects, are introduced, in order that the children may connect pleasant poetic fancies with the phenomena upon which “Geography” so much depends. It is hoped that these reading lessons may afford intelligent teaching, even in the hands of a young teacher. The first ideas of Geography—the lessons on “Place”—which should make the child observant of local geography, of the features of his own neighbourhood, its heights and hollows and level lands, its streams and ponds—should be conveyed viva voce. At this stage, a class-book cannot take the place of an intelligent teacher. Children should go through the book twice, and should, after the second reading, be able to answer any of the questions from memory. Charlotte M. Mason

Journey through the United States to discover culture and traditions, God’s natural wonders, history makers, history markers, science and technology, economic resources, exploration, and industries. Elements include statehood dates, capital cities, state flowers, state birds, and state nicknames. Discover fascinating facts, places, and people who have helped define this unique nation, including: The economic and natural resources of each state, along with the year of statehood, capitals, nicknames, highest points, and state seals Acknowledgments of God and His providence in the forming of this nation and the individual states, famous landmarks and geographic locations, maps, national parks, and monuments Archaeological sites, quotes from governing documents, state attractions, famous sons and daughters, a helpful glossary, a list of holidays, and more!

The author wrote this new edition of the most popular elementary social studies methods text on the market with the following three goals in mind: to present the most powerful social studies content and pedagogy for children in elementary school, to offer the material in simple and accessible ways, and to write in a first person active voice. The purpose of this book is to introduce new teachers to the world of social studies teaching and learning in elementary and middle schools. Geography, history, government and the other social sciences are delivered into the palm of the new teacher’s hand along with a suite of tools for bringing social studies to life in the classroom. The book is organized into three sections–the first orients the reader to the mission of social studies education to the increasingly diverse children we teach, the second concentrates on the curriculum, and the third deals with instruction, how we plan and teach this curriculum. Three central themes continue to pervade the book–democratic citizenship, diversity, and the social sciences–to ultimately encourage teachers to excite their students about closing the gap between social realities and democratic ideals. An exceptionally strong chapter on multicultural issues (Chapter 2) helps future teachers truly understand the changing demographics of the American classroom. Abridged NCSS standards and their classroom applications are automatically packaged with every copy of the book.

This text gives a helpful overview of both U.S. and world history, in addition to basic knowledge in geography, economics, and civics for pre-service and in-service teachers. The wide history coverage will allow the pre-service teacher to see historical events in overall context. It is an invaluable resource for the in-service teacher who needs both and overview for planning and help in answering student questions. Geography, economics, and civics concepts are clearly explained, so the book will be helpful when used in writing lesson plans. It saves professors of methods courses from having to re-teach social studies content and remain focused on the methods. Beyond the text, the book contains extensive resource lists for teachers and students, including relevant Websites and student literature. Major subject area organizations, museums, and U.S. government sites, especially the resources of the Library of Congress and the National Archives will be particularly useful to the reader. Additionally, there is an extensive index that allows teachers to look up subjects and answers at a glance.