ENGAGE: Teaching the Social Studies Podcast

Join Justin in a discussion of how to utilize drama (acting, musicals, puppets, and posing) to enhance social studies learning and ENGAGEment in the classroom (sometimes with a little help from the AI).  Ideas range from more teacher controlled/guided to more student controlled depending on the student involved and the subject matter.

Scripted Trial 

In the first episode of a series on Civics education, Justin discusses his work on the WI Civics Scope and Sequence (specifically with the HS scope and sequence) and breaks down ideas for approaching the teaching of the Foundations of Democracy and Democratic Decision Making.  Great connections to AP US Government and Politics but also useful ideas and strategies for any government/civics course.

WI Civics Scope and Sequence

Rule of Law Lesson Plan from Street Law

Justin Breaks down the Declaration of Independence

Preamble Song

Street Law’s Landmark Court Case Briefs

https://landmarkcases.org/

Justin and Alisha discuss strategies they implement to build connections with their students and increase engagement in the classroom along the way.  Strategies shared may be applicable to subjects beyond the social studies and beyond middle and high school.

Resources Mentioned:

• Teachers These Days

Justin teaches a Genocide and Human Rights class at his school and, in this podcast, describes how he approaches teaching the definition of Genocide and how he utilizes teaching of the genocide of the Herero and Nama people, the Armenian Genocide, and the Holodomor to approach that topic.  Future episodes in this series on Genocide Education will include Justin's teaching about human rights, the Holocaust, Cold War era genocides, and genocide today.

RESOURCES

• 10 Stages of Genocide

Justin shares his experience utilizing escape room/breakout experiences for the first day of class, reviewing, and teaching/sharing content.  Share your experiences or interact with the show's hosts via out new Facebook page here.

A quick introduction to Justin and Alisha with a preview of where they plan to take this podcast.

Interested in making your social studies classroom more engaging?  Tune in each week where we share the strategies and tips that have worked for us as teachers from all different levels of social studies teaching.