Creative Adventures in Social Studies

The creative activities and resources in this book will help teachers improve their students' academic skills, inject humor into their classes, and illustrate the connections between American history, cultural changes, human behavior, ethical issues, current events, and students' lives. Students who complete these lessons will feel a connection with their teachers and will be motivated to make a difference in the world. This book is ideal for U.S. history and social studies instructors who have students in upper elementary, middle, high school, or college classrooms. The innovative lessons range from debates about Disney’s Pocahontas and an episode of The Simpsons to content analyses of I Love Lucy and Seinfeld, to the creation of political satire, to a paper airplane assembly line contest. The book also includes the following: fantasy Senate races; an examination of changes in the portrayals of African Americans and women in ads; American Revolution and 1920s Celebrity Meetings; a simulation of the American colonies in which students earn “money” and pay taxes; an animal rights debate about Ugg boots and NBA leather basketballs; college admissions interviews for influential people; and explorations involving music, architecture, movies, acting, art, and political cartoons. The exercises help teachers build a strong classroom community and reach students who have different learning styles and abilities by activating students’ multiple intelligences. Overall, the lessons promote thoughtful and enthusiastic participation, and they incorporate movement, music, architecture, movies, acting, art, political cartoons, and technology. This book provides social studies teachers and education professors with new ideas that will invigorate their classroom and energize students.