Making Connections in Elementary and Middle School Social Studies

A practical, holistic approach to integrating social studies with language arts and other content areas

This comprehensive, reader-friendly text demonstrates how personal connections can be incorporated into social studies education while meeting standards of the National Council for the Social Studies. Praised for its wealth of strategies that go beyond social studies content teaching—including classroom strategies, pedagogical techniques, activities, and lesson plan ideas—this book presents a variety of methods for new and experienced teachers.

Key Features

• Thinking Ahead invites readers to link their own experiences with the chapter content before reading
• How Do I? boxes give explicit, step-by-step instruction that demonstrates how to implement and apply the strategies, techniques, and activities described in the chapter
• Making Connections activities help readers make personal connections with the material

New to This Edition
The Second Edition has been significantly refined to incorporate new topic coverage and strategies needed by elementary and middle school social studies teachers

• New sections divide and organize the text into six thematic sections: foundational concepts, planning and assessment, instructional strategies, literacy, teaching subject area content, and enhancing democracy
• Differentiating instruction provides an additional focus on students with special needs and differentiating instruction
• Additional lesson plans and examples are offered throughout the text

This book revolves around the idea that making personal connections with the material to be learned is what creates powerful learning experiences. Making Connections in Elementary and Middle School Social Studies is a comprehensive, reader-friendly text that demonstrates how personal connections can be incorporated into social studies education while meeting the National Council for the Social Studies' thematic, pedagogical, and disciplinary standards. The book examines a variety of methods both novice and experienced teachers alike can use to make social studies more interesting and to help students make their own personal connections.  

Dr. Johnson is a Professor of Holistic Education in the Department of Educational Studies: Special Populations at Minnesota State University, Mankato.  He specializes in literacy education, strategies for the inclusive classroom, social studies education, holistic education, and gifted education.  He worked for 9 years in the public schools as a first, second, and sixth grade teacher and as a gifted education coordinator before moving into higher education.  He is the author of many books and articles related to education, teaching, and learning.  Currently, his areas of interest include action research, thinking skills, spiritual intelligence, mental health and emotional intelligence, and academic and creative writing.  He is available for workshops, teacher professional development, consulting services, and other educational opportunities.