Social Studies When I Was In School Vs Now

Social Studies When I Was In School Vs Now

My earliest memories of school remind me of my favorites teachers, doing arts and crafts, science experiments, spelling tests, and recess. But, when I think of my time in elementary school, I never really think of the time I spent on the topic of social studies. I don't have any memories, in any class, of doing any sort of engaging activities in social studies. I do fairly remember field trips to local museums but I do not remember any content learned, just the thrill of getting to leave the school grounds for a few hours. I do however, remember taking out big, heavy, old textbooks and using them to find and define vocabulary words. I remember memorizing flashcards for tests on The Civil War and important eras. But, if you ask me to recite any of that information today, I couldn't tell you one thing. Social studies has such a bad reputation in my mind from my experience with it in elementary school, yet it is one of the most important topics we can teach to our students. 

Social studies is more than just learning about our countries history. It is learning how our society and economy developed and changed, how we thought about certain things at certain times and why, how the world interacts with one another, why things are the way they are today, etc. Social studies is something that should be the central focus of todays learning because everything has a history: a purpose. As a teacher, you should want better for your students than what you got. So, if my memories with social studies is dragging out an old, gross textbook, then that is the last thing I would ever give to me students. Social studies should be just as hands on as any other subject. It is more than just reading about the past; it is learning how to move forward in the future in a better manner. Growing students can use what they learn in social studies in everyday life, therefore as teachers we should be doing our best to provide them with the most engaging and interesting lessons we can. Social studies if fun, unlike math, so it gives us the opportunities to do fun things with our students, not just textbook readings!

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