Strategies for Teaching Social Studies.

Picture this: Elizabeth, a seventh-grader complete with technicolor nails and braces on her teeth, twirls her hair and tries to look attentive. Her teacher, Mr. Bogel, is waxing poetic about the marvels of the West Indies. In theory, Elizabeth is taking careful notes, recording Mr. Bogel's lecture. In practice, Elizabeth is compiling a list of cosmetic products that are prerequisites for the spring dance. Somewhere on the edge of her consciousness Elizabeth hears, " ... chapter 13 on next Tuesday's quiz." Elizabeth is fully aware that receiving poor grades in social studies results in mall restrictions. Somewhat reluctantly, Elizabeth leaves the world of makeup and trods page by page through the chapter to discover the wonders of Central America as defined by the Chapter Review on page 120. To find the answers to the chapter questions, Elizabeth reads line by painful line. Too bad that she doesn't know how to use section headings to locate information-an activity that takes most kids 30 minutes takes a whopping 4 hours for Elizabeth. No wonder she hates social studies. In the next room, Jorge has just finished placing the final sugar cube on top of the Great Pyramid. Last week he mummified a comish game hen, and next week he is going to finish writing a play about ancient Egypt. His part is that of a pharaoh called Ramses who meets aliens from outer space. Jorge is not quite sure who Ramses is or even if Egypt exists, but he is thrilled that his mother made him a costume decorated with gold and jewels. Jorge also is happy because his teacher, Ms. Goodwind, likes arts and crafts projects and doesn't like textbooks or tests. No written records of Jorge's progress in social studies will ever be unearthed. ·