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 112 episodes available.

The Social Studies Teacher Podcast episodes:

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
October 07, 2024Teaching Social Studies in Shorter Blocks of Time
Teaching social studies in short time blocks can be a challenge, but with the right strategies, you can still deliver impactful lessons and keep your students engaged.
Whether you have just 10 or 20 minutes, here are some practical ideas to make the most of your time and ensure meaningful learning experiences for your upper elementary students.
Episode Highlights
10-minute lesson ideas and examples
20-minute lesson ideas and examples
practical tips for teaching social studies in less than 30 minutes

Resources and Links
Check out my social studies resources!
Blog Post - Episode 69
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
16min
September 30, 20246 Lesson Ideas About the Presidential Election
Putting aside our personal beliefs, we have an important opportunity to guide students through a very exciting election process with some age-appropriate activities!
Today I'm sharing 6 go-to activities for navigating election season with upper elementary students.
Feel free to mix and match these activities throughout the election season and share this episode with a teacher friend!
Episode Highlights
Mock Election
Debate Analysis
State Tracking
Campaign Research
Voting Rights History
Reflection and Discussion

Resources and Links
Amy Groesbeck Election Results Map
Blog Post - Episode 68
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
September 23, 2024How to Use Choice Boards in the Upper Elementary Classroom
Once you get to know your students, use that knowledge to allow them the power to choose the best way to demonstrate their learning! It's a win-win and today's episode will make it easy to get started.
Episode Highlights
What are choice boards and why they are beneficial
Types of activities that can be included
Best practices when using choice boards

Resources and Links
Multiple Intelligences Choice Boards
Enneagram Choice Boards
Reading Response Choice Board Bundle
Blog Post - Episode 67
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
11min
September 16, 2024Using Multiple Intelligences in the Elementary Classroom
When we explore multiple intelligences as a classroom community, everyone wins! Teachers learn about the types of activities that are best for each student AND big kids learn about how they learn best.
Join me as we discuss characteristics and best ways to support students in the elementary classroom with a theory that supports the diverse learning styles and personalities of your students!
Episode Highlights
The history of the Multiple Intelligences theory
Characteristics and typical careers of each of the 8 learning profiles
Best ways to support each intelligence in the classroom

Resources and Links
Multiple Intelligences for Big Kids
Waitlist Membership
Blog Post - Episode 66
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
17min
September 09, 20246 Steps of the Problem-Solving Process in Social Studies
When you hear the term" PBL" you likely think about project-based learning! Today we're going to dive into problem-based learning to give you some ideas on how to bring real-world scenarios into your social studies block.
Episode Highlights
Identify problem
Gather information
List and consider options
Consider advantages and disadvantages
Choose and implement a solution
Evaluate effectiveness of solution

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
13min
September 02, 2024 Field Trip Ideas for Students in Texas
If you're struggling to make time for social studies in your school day, maybe it's time for some fresh field trip ideas to support your curriculum!
Today's episode shares some of my favorite field trips from around the Lone Star State. I also share with you some tips for where to look for even more ideas that your upper elementary students will love (whether you're in Texas or not)!
Resources and Links
Field Trip Directory.com
Education in Action
Blog Post - Episode 64
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
16min
August 26, 20244 Classroom Read-Aloud Tips for Grades 3-5
Rich, thought-provoking discussions are in your future because this year class read-alouds are IN for upper elementary students. In this episode I'm sharing all my tips for class read-alouds with big kids.
Episode Highlights
How to choose the right text
The importance of previewing a text
Guided class discussion tips
Wrapping up the learning activity

Resources and Links
My Favorite Read Alouds
Blog Post - Episode 63
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
August 19, 2024Using Bell-Ringers and Warm Ups in Grades 3-5
Those first 10-15 minutes of the block are so important. Let's talk about my favorite ways to make the most of the classroom warm-up time.
Episode Highlights
What are warmups
Why warmups help
How to use warmups
How to prep for warmups
Some resources I love for the warmup block

Resources and Links
Social Studies Daily Passage Warmups
3rd Grade Daily Language Warmups
4th Grade ELA Spiral Review Warmups
5th Grade Daily Language Warmups
Blog Post - Episode 62
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
17min
August 12, 2024Breaking Down the TEKS: Texas Social Studies Standards for Grades 3-5
If reading the newly updated TEKS is making your head spin, let's break it down together and make a game plan before the new school year begins.
Episode Highlights
When the new updates go into effect
Topics we MUST cover
Topics we CAN cover if time allows
Breaking down the 8 strands
How to support STAAR testing at the secondary levels

Resources and Links
Additional reading on this topic is available on the TEA website
For more information about the 2024 update, here is a helpful YouTube video:
Blog Post - Episode 61
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
20min

FAQs about The Social Studies Teacher Podcast:

How many episodes does The Social Studies Teacher Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 112 episodes available.