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History Social Science Classroom

A classroom culture, curriculum, and instruction based upon principles from the Universal Design for Learning website and resources from the California Multi-Tiered System of Support Framework website that supports the learning of all students.

Compelling unit questions, e.g. What does it mean to be an American? (see Problems, Questions and Themes in the History and Geography Classroom website in the History-Social Science Framework for Public Schools website).

Supporting lesson questions and questions for formative assessment, e.g. purpose, texts, tasks, support and extension? (see Assessment of Proficiency in History-Social Science website in the History-Social Science Framework for Public Schools website).

Reading of primary and secondary sources from written, visual and audio formats.

Tasks that help students understand the major themes, patterns of human interaction, concepts, significant events/turning points, and people in the History-Social Science Framework for Public Schools website.

Tasks that ask students to participate in disciplinary thinking e.g. causation, perspective-taking, or contextualization (see the Historical and Social Sciences Analysis Skills in the History-Social Science Content Standards website).

Tasks that encourage students to interpret and produce content in order to support the development of literacy especially for students who are emerging bilinguals (see the ELA/ELD Framework website).

Tasks that ask students to collaborate and participate in civic discourse, e.g. Partner Share, Socratic Seminar, Philosophical Chairs, Debate or Structured Academic Controversy.

Periodic assessments that ask students to synthesize information and research, as well as make claims substantiated with evidence.

Topics that include "the role and contributions of both men and women, Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, lesbians, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups" (Ed. Code Section 51204.5 website).

Opportunities for students to participate in civic action e.g. community events, Public Service Annoucements, or campaigns for a cause (see Practicing Civic Engagement: Service-Learning in the History-Social Science Framework website).

Experiences that help students develop digital literacy and exposure to differing types of databases, software and learning experiences.