BPRI205 - IFE

BPRI205
Teaching Social Studies in the Primary Classroom

ECTS Value: 1 ECTS

Overall Objectives and Outcomes

This module focuses on the methodology to be used during Social Studies lessons in primary schools in Years 1 to 6. The module equips learners with various methodology strategies that can be used during Social Studies lessons when delivering the syllabus, the outcomes according to the Learning Outcomes Framework and the fieldwork/project. This methodology will present an alternative way of engaging in Social Studies lessons, moving away from a dependency on a learning by heart approach to a more sustainable, valid, relevant and 21st century skills-oriented pedagogy. Following this module, learners will also be proficient to prepare for and assess the fieldwork and/or the project currently forming part of the Social Studies summative assessment. These competences will help learners make the fieldwork/project a more student-centred experience.

By the end of this programme, participants should be able to:

Competences

a. Consolidate and amalgamate what the students are being exposed to in the real world to how applicable this can be to the classroom world during a Social Studies lesson/activity;

b. Comment upon current primary sources of information directly or indirectly related to the Social Studies learning outcomes;

c. Deploy established techniques of enquiry during Social Studies activities so as to help students benefit from the activity/lesson and make it more applicable to their holistic development.

Knowledge

a. Systematically understand the Social Studies outcomes per year group and per level according to the LOF as well as understand the reasoning behind the distribution of the topics according to 3 sections: geographical, historical and civic;

b. Appreciate the continuation and scaffolding of the way the outcomes are set, knowingthat every Social Studies lesson/activity is not within a vacuum but is there as progression from previous topics, as well as progression towards future topics;

c. Observe the way Social Studies content can be presented and applied within the classroom in a variety of ways as it is flexible, relevant and very often fit as a crosscurricular theme.

Skills

a. Create a learning environment through an inquiry-based approach;

b. Understand the science dimension’s impact on society.

Assessment Methods

This programme adopts continuous and summative methods of assessment including assignments, online tasks, reflective journals, projects and video presentations. For further details, kindly refer to the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy and Procedures.

Suggested Readings

Core Reading List

1. Social Studies syllabus at http://primarysocialstudies.skola.edu.mt/

2. Social Studies learning outcomes according to Learning Outcomes Framework at: http://www.schoolslearningoutcomes.edu.mt/mt/subjects/social-studies

3. Social Studies resources at http://primarysocialstudies.skola.edu.mt/

4. Bolinger, K & Warren, W.J. 2007, Methods Practiced in Social Studies Instruction: A Review of Public School Teachers’ Strategies, Journal of Social Education, Vol 33, Issue 1. [Accessed 7th January 2018 https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ779674.pdf]

Supplementary Reading List

1. Annenberg Learner (undated), Teaching Social Studies [Accessed 6th January 2018 https://www.learner.org/workshops/socialstudies/session1/index.html]

2. Social Studies in the Primary Programme [Accessed 5th January 2018 http://nde.ne.gov/OEC/pubs/pri_pro/Social_Studies.pdf

3. Pickford, T., Garner, W. and Jackson, E. (2013). Primary humanities. London: SAGE.

4. Green, R. (2010). Games, ideas and activities for primary humanities. Harlow: Longman