Preserving Elementary Social Studies Through Integrated Instruction
Sweeney, Meryl
:
2011-06-15
Abstract
The goal of this project is to evaluate the merits of implementing integrated instruction at the elementary level. A particular focus is the use of social studies concepts to organize integrated instruction around significant problems or issues. This is considered as a valuable instructional approach for combatting the marginalization of social studies and other non-tested subjects in elementary classrooms due to the pressures of No Child Left Behind.This
investigation includes a description of concept-based integrated instruction,an examination of
elementary social studies in the current educational climate, and a discussion of the
benefits that integrated instruction affords
students and teachers. An integrated fifth grade
unit on immigration, "Coming to America", helps
serve to bring the discussion of integrated
instruction from the theoretical to the
practical.