Using Inquiry in Elementary Social Studies
Tina Heafner
Dr. Linda Kuhaupt
NOTE: There is no recording for this webinar.
Using Inquiry in Elementary Social Studies
Key Takeaways
The Necessity of Social Studies in the Elementary Grades
Elementary students need engaging, inquiry-based social studies to help them develop critical thinking skills, make informed decisions, and take positive action to influence their world.
When students have the opportunity to participate in inquiry-based social studies, what do they experience, develop, and become?
Students Experience
- Deep, active engagement in sustained investigations of disciplinary content
- Culturally responsive instruction and experiences
- Productive struggle to discern meaning and address real-world problems
Students Develop
- Personal Agency .
- Creative Problem Solving Skills
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Communication Skills
- Collaboration Skills
Students Become
- Resilient learners who can adapt to changing circumstances
- Engaged, informed, and socially responsible members of their communities.
- Critical consumers of information, goods, and services
Webinar Summary
During the webinar, we explored the challenges and opportunities of Using Inquiry in Elementary Social Studies. Thanks to our guests Dr. Tina Heafner (NCSS President) and Dr. Linda Kuhaupt (ELA and Social Studies, Appleton Area School District).
We started by examining trends in social studies education as a whole. Dr. Heafner shared some infographics that illustrate these trends.
We moved on to address the obstacles to elementary social studies, the challenges for teachers, and the benefits of social studies for elementary students in relation to literacy instruction and preparedness for civic responsibility.
Resources
Inquiry-Based Resources
- Inquiry-Based Elementary Social Studies: Inquiry Journeys
- C3 Teachers: c3teachers.org
- NCSS: socialstudies.org
- State Social Studies Councils: https://www.socialstudies.org/affiliates
- Elementary Specific Group: NCSS Elementary Social Studies Group
Conferences on Inquiry Teaching
- inquirED and NCSS: Elementary Inquiry Summer Institute
- C3 Teachers and NCSS: IDM Institute
- High Tech High: Deeper Learning Conference
Resources for Evaluating Inquiry-Based Instructional Materials
Keep reading
See more of this series
Start your journey
Inquiry Journeys, inquirED's K-5 social studies curriculum, engages students in inquiry-based learning, strengthens literacy skills, and supports teachers every step of the way.
inquirED was founded by teachers with the mission of bringing inquiry-based social studies to every classroom. Inquiry Journeys, inquirED’s elementary social studies curriculum, is used in schools and districts across the country to help students develop deep social studies content knowledge and build the inquiry skills that are essential for a thriving democracy.
