Social Studies Education Homepage

INTRODUCTION

Social studies draws its content from the following social science disciplines: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology. It utilizes content, concepts, skills, values, and methodologies from other discipline areas such as mathematics, philosophy, law, the arts, humanities, the natural sciences, and religion.

The study of social studies helps young people learn about their social, cultural, and physical world and their own place in that world. It provides a context where young people can understand the structure and processes of our society and apply their knowledge and skills to make informed personal and social policy decisions and to adapt to changing social, political, and economic conditions.

Social studies is both single discipline and multi-discipline oriented. Since social scientists do not have a single theory about society, specialists from each discipline observe society from different frames of reference. Often these perspectives are superimposed upon one another to help explain social phenomena.

Free Summer Study Trip to Germany

I am happy to announce a great opportunity for Wisconsin Social Studies teachers. The Atlantik-Brücke organization has agreed to partner with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to offer 12 Wisconsin Social Studies teachers the opportunity to participate in a two-week study program to Germany.

With the intention of increasing awareness in the United States as to how Germany has changed and developed since the end of World War II, Atlantik-Brücke invites teachers who cover materials in their classes about the Holocaust. These informational trips to Germany concentrate on giving teachers first-hand knowledge about modern Germany and how younger generations deal with the Holocaust. For more information on Atlantik-Brücke, click here.

While in Germany, Wisconsin teachers will meet with their German counterparts, high school students, political figures, as well as business and trade union leaders, which gives them a unique look into Germany today. They will also experience everyday life in Germany by visiting schools, political institutions, corporations, museums, Holocaust memorials, and sites of German resistance against National Socialism.

The theme for the 2009 Wisconsin Study Tour is "Developing Curriculum with a Focus on Global Connections and Comparisons." The trip is scheduled April 19 – May 1, 2009. The Atlantik-Brücke is organizing the program in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The costs for the study trip are covered by Atlantik-Brücke.

Please take a few minutes to review and fill out the application. Contact Beth Ratway or 608-266-2207 if you have any questions. Applications are due March 2, 2009. Don't miss this exceptional professional development opportunity.

2009 - Time to Celebrate the Lincoln Bicentennial

2009 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. In 2000, Congress passed Public Law 106-173 establishing a national Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (ALBC) to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. The National Commission has put together a website that has resources for students, educators, and parents. President-Elect Obama has connected his inauguration theme to the bicentennial. The theme will be "A New Birth of Freedom," commemorating the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. Governor Doyle issued Executive Order #245 which called for a Wisconsin Bicentennial Commission to develop activities throughout the state to promote and “recommend activities that may be carried out by the State of Wisconsin to honor Abraham Lincoln during the year of his bicentennial.” Listed below are some resources and activities to be involved in throughout the year. Special articles will be sent out to the social studies listserv biweekly that focus on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. To get on the listserv and to share lessons, resources and activities, send them to Beth Ratway.

Special Awards for Students Researching Abraham Lincoln:

Wisconsin's Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission will be sponsoring special awards for students creating research projects that explore Abraham Lincoln and his importance to America's history. Through these prizes the commission also hopes to encourage a lifelong love of history and of "our greatest president."

How to Participate

All Wisconsin students in grades 6-12 are eligible and welcome to compete for the $1600 in prizes for historical research related to Lincoln.

• For schools (or students) in participating National History Day classrooms, all students need to do is research a Lincoln-related topic. If the project advances to a regional or state competition, the entry will automatically be considered for the Lincoln prizes.
• If a school (or student) is not already participating in National History Day, but interested in creating a project related to Lincoln, they are also welcome to get involved. All a student needs to do is create a research project about Lincoln that meets the National History Day criteria and enter it into the National History Day competition cycle. Students are invited to create a variety of projects, including websites, documentaries, exhibits, papers, and performance. Projects will be judged and prizes awarded at regional and state National History Day competitions.

Creating a Project

• Students can learn more about the rules for National History Day projects on the Student Research Page. The Wisconsin Student Guide and NHD Rulebook provide great information about National History Day projects and criteria as well as information about the historical research process.
• Teachers can learn more about the National History Day program and project criteria by requesting a 2009 Curriculum Packet online and visiting the Teacher Resource Page, which also provides useful information on creating projects and advising students.

Entering the Projects in National History Day Competitions

Evaluation of projects will take place as part of the National History Day in Wisconsin events in March and April. Students can submit projects at one of seven regional National History Day events in Wisconsin. Regional assignments are determined by county. Space restrictions will limit the number of entries eligible to attend a regional competition from any given school and entry deadlines are in effect. More information can be found on Event Information section of our website.

Competition at the state event on May 2, 2009 will be only for projects advancing from a regional competition as National History Day state finalist. Winning an Abraham Lincoln Special Award at a regional competition does not guarantee that a project will be selected as a National History Day state finalist. More information about the state event will be distributed to state finalists.

Additional Information

For more information, contact National History Day in Wisconsin state coordinator, Sarah Clement, at Sarah.Clement@wisconsinhistory.org or by telephone at 608-264-6487.

Lincoln Bicentennial National Website: The website has an interactive timeline, podcast, lesson plans and lists events happening throughout the year.

Lesson Plans

Reading Lists

Professional Development for teachers

Lincoln Museum and Presidential Library

CSPAN

As part of the network’s bicentennial programming, C-SPAN has created a special website dedicated to Lincoln events associated with the two-year long celebration.

Lincoln’s Birthplace

Ideas for themes to explore**:

• Compare and contrast the positions taken on slavery in 1860 by Abe vs. the abolitionists, Stephen Douglas and the southern secessionists.
• Describe how Lincoln’s views on slavery changed between 1859 (as Presidential candidate) and 1862 (Emancipation Proclamation) and 1865 (passage of the 13th Constitutional Amendment).
• Describe how Lincoln’s words in his two inaugural addresses tried to preserve the Union and then restore the Union.
• Describe Lincoln’s strategy as commander-in-chief of the army to defeat the South and win the civil war?
• Describe how soldiers in Wisconsin’s Iron Brigade saved the Union for Abe at the Battle of Gettysburg.
• Imagine that Abe were alive and running for President in the 2008 election – and that you were his campaign manager. What would you be telling people about Abe’s qualifications and why they should cast their votes for him.
• Describe the various influence these women had on Abe and on the Civil War: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Sojourner Truth, Clara Barton, Harriet Tubman, Dr. Mary Walker, Pauline Cushman, Mary Lincoln, Jesse Fremont, Varina Davis and Anna Dickinson.
• Select and display photographs of Lincoln taken between 1855 and 1865 and discuss how they reveal the burdens of his years as President.
• Describe in your own words what Abe was trying to say to all Americans in his Gettysburg Address.
• Read some poetry of Walt Whitman and describe what he was trying to tell America about the Civil War and about Abe.

**A special thank you to Bob Drane for developing this list

For questions about this information, contact S. Paul Sandrock (608) 267-3726

Last updated on 9/1/2009 9:08:33 AM