The Social Studies Teacher Podcast

A slideshow can help you teach social studies, but simply presenting information does not guarantee students are actually learning it.

In Part 2 of the PD Series, we are breaking down how to turn an informational slideshow into a complete lesson.

You’ll learn a simple lesson structure that includes:

• A clear learning objective
• Focused direct instruction
• Opportunities for student discussion
• Meaningful practice
• A quick check for understanding

We will also talk about how to avoid rushing through too much information and how to give students opportunities to actually use what they have learned.

If your social studies lessons sometimes feel like you are racing through slides before the bell rings, this episode will help you rethink what happens before, during, and after your presentation.

Resources and Links

Guided Curriculum

Social Studies Mini-Lessons (3-5)

Social Studies Mini-Lessons (6-8)

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Mentioned in this episode:

Free Guided Lesson Sampler for Texas Social Studies Teachers

Looking for a ready-to-use social studies lesson for your grade level? Grab a free guided lesson sample created specifically for Texas teachers.

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Social studies does not have to be complicated to be meaningful.

In Part 1 of this special PD series, we'll talk about five things teachers can stop doing to make social studies instruction simpler and more manageable. From trying to make every lesson exciting to grading every single assignment, we will look at common habits that can create extra work without necessarily improving student learning.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Simplify your lesson planning
• Choose fewer, more purposeful activities
• Reuse classroom routines and activity formats
• Focus on the most important content
• Reduce unnecessary grading

The goal is not to do less teaching. It is to spend less time on things that do not meaningfully impact student learning.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Free Guided Lesson Sampler for Texas Social Studies Teachers

Looking for a ready-to-use social studies lesson for your grade level? Grab a free guided lesson sample created specifically for Texas teachers.

Leave a Review for The Social Studies Teacher Podcast!

Are you loving the podcast? I'd love to hear your feedback! Click the link to leave a review!

Rate and Review the Podcast

Differentiating social studies can feel overwhelming - especially when you're trying to support struggling readers, English learners, students with accommodations, and advanced learners in the same classroom.

But differentiation doesn't have to mean creating a completely different lesson for every student.

In this episode, I'm breaking down what teachers say they're actually struggling with when differentiating social studies and sharing practical ways to make lessons more accessible without removing the critical thinking.

Resources

Implementing Guided Notes in Social Studies: https://youtu.be/IgswOEV015E

If you want to read more about the major themes and ah-ha moments, check out the blog post! thesouthernteach.com/blog/differentiation-in-social-studies

Want to access the replay of the 2026 Bootcamp? Check it out here! https://learn.thesouthernteach.com/offers/q9eD48hg/checkout

Let's Connect!

Listen/watch on YouTube

Shop TPT Resources

Instagram

Website

Amazon

Mentioned in this episode:

Free Guided Lesson Sampler for Texas Social Studies Teachers

Looking for a ready-to-use social studies lesson for your grade level? Grab a free guided lesson sample created specifically for Texas teachers.

Leave a Review for The Social Studies Teacher Podcast!

Are you loving the podcast? I'd love to hear your feedback! Click the link to leave a review!

Rate and Review the Podcast

Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s perfect to revisit as you start thinking about back-to-school prep, classroom setup and the supplies that actually make teaching easier.

Are you ready to refresh your teacher supply list?

In this episode, I’m sharing 10 of my favorite teacher supplies for the upper elementary classroom. These are simple, practical items that can help you stay organized, keep students engaged and make your lessons run more smoothly throughout the year.

Whether you are a brand-new teacher or a seasoned pro, this episode will give you ideas to add to your back-to-school shopping list. I’ll also share tips for using these supplies during social studies lessons, plus ways they can work across other subjects too.

You’ll walk away with practical recommendations, easy classroom ideas and a few supply favorites that can make your teaching life just a little bit easier.

And while you’re planning for the new school year, don’t forget to check out my free professional development podcast series on building classroom community. It’s a great next step if you want simple ideas for creating a positive classroom environment from the very beginning of the year.

• 10 of my favorite teacher supplies for upper elementary teachers
• Tips for using these supplies in social studies
• Ideas for using these same supplies across other subjects
• Simple ways to make your classroom more organized and engaging

Related Resources and Links

• Blog Post - Episode 8
• Alesia Makes
• Full Focus Planner
• Personal Laminator
• Personal Paper Trimmer
• Post-It Chart Paper
• Neon Colors Dry Erase Pockets

Mentioned in this episode:

Free Guided Lesson Sampler for Texas Social Studies Teachers

Looking for a ready-to-use social studies lesson for your grade level? Grab a free guided lesson sample created specifically for Texas teachers.

Leave a Review for The Social Studies Teacher Podcast!

Are you loving the podcast? I'd love to hear your feedback! Click the link to leave a review!

Rate and Review the Podcast

Teaching social studies for the first time? You're not alone, and you definitely don't have to figure it all out by yourself.

In this episode, I'm sharing the five biggest mistakes I made as a new social studies teacher (and the same mistakes I see many teachers make today). More importantly, I'll show you simple, practical solutions that you can implement before the first day of school.

Whether you've been assigned a new grade level, don't have a curriculum, or simply want to feel more confident planning your year, these tips will help you build a social studies block that is engaging, organized, and sustainable.

• Why passage-only instruction often leads to disengagement
• How planning by unit saves time all year long
• Why consistency matters more than long social studies blocks
• The classroom routines every social studies teacher should establish
• How to save time by using quality, ready-to-use resources
• Simple strategies to build an engaging and sustainable social studies routine

If you're preparing for back-to-school, these five mindset shifts can help you avoid burnout and spend more time focusing on what matters most...your students.

Resources Mentioned

Social Studies Bootcamp - thesouthernteach.com/bootcamp

Plan Your Social Studies Year From Start to Finish

Mentioned in this episode:

Leave a Review for The Social Studies Teacher Podcast!

Are you loving the podcast? I'd love to hear your feedback! Click the link to leave a review!

Rate and Review the Podcast

Free Guided Lesson Sampler for Texas Social Studies Teachers

Looking for a ready-to-use social studies lesson for your grade level? Grab a free guided lesson sample created specifically for Texas teachers.

Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s a great one to revisit as you plan ways to make economics and free enterprise easier for students to understand.

Welcome to Part 5 of the Social Studies Summer Series!

In this episode, we’re talking all about how to teach economics skills and the free enterprise system in upper elementary. Economics can feel like a big, overwhelming topic at first, but it does not have to be complicated.

With the right approach, you can break down concepts like goods, services, producers, consumers, supply, demand, saving, spending and business into simple, student-friendly lessons.

I’ll share practical ways to make economics more engaging through hands-on activities, visual examples, real-world connections and critical thinking. You’ll also hear ideas for helping students see how economics connects to their everyday lives and the world around them.

Whether you’re teaching economics for the first time or looking for fresh ideas to make it more interactive, this episode will give you simple strategies you can use in your classroom.

In this episode, you’ll hear ideas for:

• Starting with the basics of economics
• Making economics more interactive
• Using visual aids to support understanding
• Exploring real-world examples
• Promoting critical thinking
• Connecting economics to current events
• Encouraging collaboration among students

Resources and Links

More Economics-related resources

Economics Daily Passages

Social Studies Daily Passage Bundle

Smart and Simple Social Studies Membership

Join the 2026 Bootcamp Waitlist! - Registration opens July 10th!

Mentioned in this episode:

Leave a Review for The Social Studies Teacher Podcast!

Are you loving the podcast? I'd love to hear your feedback! Click the link to leave a review!

Rate and Review the Podcast

Free Guided Lesson Sampler for Texas Social Studies Teachers

Looking for a ready-to-use social studies lesson for your grade level? Grab a free guided lesson sample created specifically for Texas teachers.

Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s a helpful one to revisit as you plan simple ways to make government and civics easier for students to understand.

Welcome to Part 4 of the Social Studies Summer Series!

In this episode, we’re talking about how to teach government and civics skills to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students in a way that feels clear, practical and engaging.

Government can sometimes feel like a big topic for upper elementary students, but it becomes much easier when we connect it to real-life examples, classroom routines, community helpers, current events and everyday decision-making.

I’ll share simple steps for helping students understand the basics of government, the role of citizens and how people can participate in their communities. You’ll also hear ideas for using interactive activities, multimedia resources and critical thinking questions to make these lessons more meaningful.

Whether you’re teaching branches of government, rights and responsibilities or active citizenship, this episode will give you practical ideas to help students see why civics matters.

In this episode, you’ll hear ideas for:

• Starting with the basics of government and civics
• Using real-life examples students can understand
• Adding interactive activities
• Incorporating multimedia resources
• Connecting with community resources
• Encouraging critical thinking
• Promoting active citizenship
• Reflecting and assessing student understanding
• Making government and civics more fun

Resources and Links

Check out my government and civics daily passages!

CNN10 is a great resource for this age!

More government-related resources

Civics-related resources

Mentioned in this episode:

Leave a Review for The Social Studies Teacher Podcast!

Are you loving the podcast? I'd love to hear your feedback! Click the link to leave a review!

Rate and Review the Podcast

Free Guided Lesson Sampler for Texas Social Studies Teachers

Looking for a ready-to-use social studies lesson for your grade level? Grab a free guided lesson sample created specifically for Texas teachers.

Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s a great one to revisit as you plan meaningful ways to help students learn about culture, community and the world around them.

Welcome to Part 3 of the Social Studies Summer Series!

In this episode, we’re focusing on how to teach culture and society skills to upper-elementary and middle-school students. Understanding different cultures is such an important part of social studies because it helps students learn about traditions, celebrations, art, literature, science, technology and the many ways people live and contribute to society.

I’ll share simple steps, activity ideas and examples you can use to help students build respect and curiosity for the world around them. We’ll talk about knowing yourself and your students, creating a welcoming classroom, using stories and personal experiences and adding hands-on activities that make learning more meaningful.

Whether you’re planning your culture and society lessons for next year or just looking for fresh ways to help students connect with these topics, this episode will give you practical ideas you can bring into your classroom.

In this episode, you’ll hear ideas for:

• Knowing yourself and your students
• Creating a welcoming classroom environment
• Using stories and personal experiences
• Incorporating hands-on activities
• Exploring culture with technology
• Getting students involved
• Assessing student understanding

Resources and Links

Check out the comparing celebrations project!

Check out my culture and society daily passages!

Mentioned in this episode:

Leave a Review for The Social Studies Teacher Podcast!

Are you loving the podcast? I'd love to hear your feedback! Click the link to leave a review!

Rate and Review the Podcast

Free Guided Lesson Sampler for Texas Social Studies Teachers

Looking for a ready-to-use social studies lesson for your grade level? Grab a free guided lesson sample created specifically for Texas teachers.

Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s a great one to revisit as you plan simple, engaging ways to help students build stronger history skills.

Welcome to Part 2 of the Social Studies Summer Series!

In this episode, we’re talking all about how to teach history skills in a way that feels meaningful and engaging for upper elementary and middle school students. History is more than memorizing dates and people from the past. It’s about helping students make connections, ask questions and understand how events and decisions shaped the world we live in today.

I’ll share straightforward tips and activity ideas to help students connect history to the present, explore primary sources, think like detectives and reflect on the lessons we can learn from the past.

Whether you’re mapping out your social studies plans for next year or looking for fresh ways to make history more interactive, this episode will give you practical ideas you can use in your classroom.

In this episode, you’ll hear ideas for:

• Connecting history to today
• Using primary sources with upper elementary students
• Helping students explore history like detectives
• Bringing historical events and people to life
• Encouraging critical thinking
• Reflecting on lessons learned from the past

Resources and Links

Check out my history daily passages

More history-related resources

Mentioned in this episode:

Leave a Review for The Social Studies Teacher Podcast!

Are you loving the podcast? I'd love to hear your feedback! Click the link to leave a review!

Rate and Review the Podcast

Free Guided Lesson Sampler for Texas Social Studies Teachers

Looking for a ready-to-use social studies lesson for your grade level? Grab a free guided lesson sample created specifically for Texas teachers.

Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s the perfect one to revisit during summer planning as you think about how to make geography more engaging and easier for students to understand.

Welcome to Part 1 of the 5-part Social Studies Summer Series!

In this episode, we’re going back to the basics of teaching geography skills in upper elementary. Geography can sometimes feel like it’s all about memorizing maps, places and vocabulary, but it can be so much more than that.

I’ll share simple ways to help students understand geography by making it relevant to their lives, connecting it to different cultures, using technology and encouraging curiosity. You’ll also hear ideas for practicing map skills in a way that feels meaningful instead of repetitive.

Whether you’re planning for next year or just wanting fresh ideas for your social studies block, this episode will help you make geography more fun, practical and connected to the world around your students.

In this episode, you’ll hear ideas for:

• Going back to the basics with geography skills
• Making geography relevant for students
• Learning about different cultures
• Using technology in geography lessons
• Encouraging student questions
• Connecting geography with other subjects
• Practicing map skills
• Helping students better understand the world
• Trying some of my favorite geography activity ideas

Resources and Links

Check out the Create A Country Project

Check out the Geography Daily Passages

More geography-related resources

Mentioned in this episode:

Leave a Review for The Social Studies Teacher Podcast!

Are you loving the podcast? I'd love to hear your feedback! Click the link to leave a review!

Rate and Review the Podcast

Free Guided Lesson Sampler for Texas Social Studies Teachers

Looking for a ready-to-use social studies lesson for your grade level? Grab a free guided lesson sample created specifically for Texas teachers.