The Social Studies Teacher Podcast

By Kirsten Hammond, The Southern Teach LLC

Are you an upper elementary educator looking for simple strategies that will help make teaching social studies easy and fun? This podcast is perfect for 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade teachers and paren... more

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FAQs about The Social Studies Teacher Podcast:

How many episodes does The Social Studies Teacher Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 111 episodes available.

The Social Studies Teacher Podcast episodes:

December 16, 20243 Simple Strategies for Assessing Social Studies Learning Without the Stress
Assessing student learning is essential but it can also feel overwhelming to plan. In today’s episode, I’m sharing three simple strategies for assessing social studies learning that are effective and low-stress. Ready to take the pressure off and make assessment more manageable? Let’s jump in!
Episode Highlights
Quick and simple quizzes
Creative projects for deeper learning
Informal assessments through class discussions and journals

Resources and Links
Blog Post - Episode 79
Guided Curriculum units
Daily Passages
Let's Connect!
Listen/watch on Youtube
Shop TPT Resources
Instagram
Website
Join the Facebook Group
Mentioned in this episode:
Grab the Back to School Social Studies Pack!
Get your upper elementary students excited to start the school year using these low-prep back to school social studies getting to know you worksheets! With 20 pages of engaging activities targeting geography, history, and classroom community building, it makes a great back to school resource for the first week or first month of school!
Learn more about the Back to School Social Studies Resource
Social Studies Guided Curriculum
Easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!
Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!
...more
11min
December 09, 20245 Key Components to Include in a Social Studies Lesson
Every social studies lesson should have 5 key components to ensure it’s effective, engaging, and meaningful for students. Whether you’re teaching geography, history, civics, or economics, these essential elements will help you structure your lessons in a way that promotes deeper understanding and keeps your students interested.
Episode Highlights
Clear learning objectives
An engaging hook or introduction
Active learning and student engagement
Primary sources or real world examples
Reflection and assessment

Resources and Links
Blog Post - Episode 78
Three Branches of Government Unit
A Guide to Learning Intention and Success Criteria
7 Fun Social Studies Activity Ideas
How to Use Primary Sources
Let's Connect!
Listen/watch on Youtube
Shop TPT Resources
Instagram
Website
Join the Facebook Group
Mentioned in this episode:
Grab the Back to School Social Studies Pack!
Get your upper elementary students excited to start the school year using these low-prep back to school social studies getting to know you worksheets! With 20 pages of engaging activities targeting geography, history, and classroom community building, it makes a great back to school resource for the first week or first month of school!
Learn more about the Back to School Social Studies Resource
Social Studies Guided Curriculum
Easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!
Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!
...more
10min
December 02, 20244 Easy Ways to Teach History Without Boring Your Students
Taking complex or traditionally dry social studies topics and transforming them into simple, fun lessons your students will love can be a challenge. Whether it’s trying to explain the complexities of government or the timeline of ancient civilizations, some social studies content can feel daunting for our students—and for us!
But don’t worry, I’ll share some techniques for breaking these topics down and making them not only digestible but also enjoyable for upper elementary students.
Episode Highlights
Using storytelling to make connections
Using visuals and interactive elements
Turning complex topics into hands-on projects
Breaking it down with mini-lessons

Resources and Links
Blog Post - Episode 77
Brainpop Videos
Free Enterprise System Unit
American Revolution Unit
Multiple Intelligences Resource
Let's Connect!
Listen/watch on Youtube
Shop TPT Resources
Instagram
Website
Join the Facebook Group
Mentioned in this episode:
Grab the Back to School Social Studies Pack!
Get your upper elementary students excited to start the school year using these low-prep back to school social studies getting to know you worksheets! With 20 pages of engaging activities targeting geography, history, and classroom community building, it makes a great back to school resource for the first week or first month of school!
Learn more about the Back to School Social Studies Resource
Social Studies Guided Curriculum
Easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!
Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!
...more
11min
November 25, 20248 Special Holiday Celebrations to Teach Your Students
While we may have our favorite holidays that we celebrate, it's also key for our students to learn about different traditions. It’s a great way to help build awareness and respect for the diversity of cultures and celebrations around the world. So today, I’m going to share 8 special holidays from different cultures that your students may or may not have heard about!
Episode Highlights
Lunar New Year
Mardi Gras
Nowruz
Holi
Las Posadas
Diwali
St. Lucia’s Day
La Tomatina

Resources and Links
Easily incorporate these holidays into your classroom using this resource!
Take a closer look at the Holiday Webquest Bundle mentioned in this episode as well as the Daily Passages.
Blog Post - Episode 76
Let's Connect!
Listen/watch on Youtube
Shop TPT Resources
Instagram
Website
Join the Facebook Group
Mentioned in this episode:
Social Studies Guided Curriculum
Easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!
Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!
Grab the Back to School Social Studies Pack!
Get your upper elementary students excited to start the school year using these low-prep back to school social studies getting to know you worksheets! With 20 pages of engaging activities targeting geography, history, and classroom community building, it makes a great back to school resource for the first week or first month of school!
Learn more about the Back to School Social Studies Resource
...more
12min
November 18, 2024 6 Ways to Prioritize Busy Times of the Year
Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us! As teachers, this busy season can make it feel like we’re stretched too thin in both our work and personal lives.
Today, we’re talking about how to prioritize your time and optimize your daily schedule to alleviate some of that holiday stress. I’ve got six simple strategies to help you avoid burnout and ensure you’re biting off just the right amount to chew during this hectic time of year.
Resources and Links
For more support, take a closer look at my 20 Time Management Strategies resource
Blog Post - Episode 75
Let's Connect!
Listen/watch on Youtube
Shop TPT Resources
Instagram
Website
Join the Facebook Group
Mentioned in this episode:
Grab the Back to School Social Studies Pack!
Get your upper elementary students excited to start the school year using these low-prep back to school social studies getting to know you worksheets! With 20 pages of engaging activities targeting geography, history, and classroom community building, it makes a great back to school resource for the first week or first month of school!
Learn more about the Back to School Social Studies Resource
Social Studies Guided Curriculum
Easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!
Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!
...more
14min
November 11, 2024Using Charts, Tables, and Graphs in Social Studies
Whether you’re teaching geography, history, or economics, visual tools can simplify complex information and help your students develop critical thinking skills. In today's episode I’ll be sharing tips on how to integrate charts, tables, and graphs into your lessons to make learning more interactive and engaging.
Episode Highlights
Why use charts, tables, and graphs?
Types of visuals to use in your social studies lessons
How to integrate visuals into lessons
Activities and assessment ideas
The end game - why it will benefit students in the long run

Resources and Links
Blog Post - Episode 74
Let's Connect!
Listen/watch on Youtube
Shop TPT Resources
Instagram
Website
Join the Facebook Group
Mentioned in this episode:
Social Studies Guided Curriculum
Easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!
Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!
Grab the Back to School Social Studies Pack!
Get your upper elementary students excited to start the school year using these low-prep back to school social studies getting to know you worksheets! With 20 pages of engaging activities targeting geography, history, and classroom community building, it makes a great back to school resource for the first week or first month of school!
Learn more about the Back to School Social Studies Resource
...more
14min
November 04, 2024Making Social Studies Personal For Your Students
We're diving into one of my absolute favorite ways to bring social studies to life for our students: making it personal.
Episode Highlights
Why share real stories?
4 steps to making social studies person for your students through storytelling first-hand accounts

Resources and Links
Blog Post - Episode 73
Let's Connect!
Listen/watch on Youtube
Shop TPT Resources
Instagram
Website
Join the Facebook Group
Mentioned in this episode:
Grab the Back to School Social Studies Pack!
Get your upper elementary students excited to start the school year using these low-prep back to school social studies getting to know you worksheets! With 20 pages of engaging activities targeting geography, history, and classroom community building, it makes a great back to school resource for the first week or first month of school!
Learn more about the Back to School Social Studies Resource
Social Studies Guided Curriculum
Easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!
Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!
...more
15min
October 28, 2024Teaching Students About the Electoral College
The electoral college is a complex system that can be tricky to explain to students. However, understanding this unique aspect of American democracy is essential for fostering informed citizens. In this episode, we'll break down what the electoral college is, share some fun facts, and offer tips on how to teach this concept to 3rd-5th graders.
Episode Highlights
What is the electoral college?
Fun facts about the electoral college
4 tips for teaching about the electoral college

Resources and Links
https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/presidential-election
Blog Post - Episode 72
Let's Connect!
Listen/watch on Youtube
Shop TPT Resources
Instagram
Website
Join the Facebook Group
Mentioned in this episode:
Social Studies Guided Curriculum
Easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!
Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!
Grab the Back to School Social Studies Pack!
Get your upper elementary students excited to start the school year using these low-prep back to school social studies getting to know you worksheets! With 20 pages of engaging activities targeting geography, history, and classroom community building, it makes a great back to school resource for the first week or first month of school!
Learn more about the Back to School Social Studies Resource
...more
15min
October 21, 2024Do Your Students Know Important U.S. National Leaders?
Learning about our national leaders isn't just about memorizing names and dates. It's about understanding the people who make decisions that affect our lives!
Episode Highlights
Why it's important for students to understand information about our government leaders
Scavenger hunt activity idea for upper elementary students
Additional tips on implementing the scavenger hunt

Resources and Links
A copy of this activity is ready to use in your classroom. Check it out!
https://www.whitehouse.gov/
https://www.senate.gov/states/
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx
Let's Connect!
Listen/watch on Youtube
Shop TPT Resources
Instagram
Website
Join the Facebook Group
Mentioned in this episode:
Grab the Back to School Social Studies Pack!
Get your upper elementary students excited to start the school year using these low-prep back to school social studies getting to know you worksheets! With 20 pages of engaging activities targeting geography, history, and classroom community building, it makes a great back to school resource for the first week or first month of school!
Learn more about the Back to School Social Studies Resource
Social Studies Guided Curriculum
Easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!
Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!
...more
15min
October 14, 2024Teaching Social Studies in Longer Blocks of Time
If you’re lucky enough to have extended time for your social studies block, you’re in for a treat! More time means more opportunities to dive deeper into topics, engage students with diverse activities, and make learning even more dynamic.
Whether you have a 60-minute or 90-minute block, here are some structured schedules and creative ideas to help you make the most of your time.
Episode Highlights
lesson ideas and examples for a 45-60 minute social studies block
lesson ideas and examples for a 90-minute social studies block
practical tips for teaching social studies for more than 30 minutes

Resources and Links
Check out my social studies resources!
Blog Post - Episode 70
Let's Connect!
Listen/watch on Youtube
Shop TPT Resources
Instagram
Website
Join the Facebook Group
Mentioned in this episode:
Social Studies Guided Curriculum
Easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!
Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!
Grab the Back to School Social Studies Pack!
Get your upper elementary students excited to start the school year using these low-prep back to school social studies getting to know you worksheets! With 20 pages of engaging activities targeting geography, history, and classroom community building, it makes a great back to school resource for the first week or first month of school!
Learn more about the Back to School Social Studies Resource
...more
19min

FAQs about The Social Studies Teacher Podcast:

How many episodes does The Social Studies Teacher Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 111 episodes available.