Social studies and autumn are a perfect curriculum marriage. This time of year is rich in opportunities to teach our students history and civics. But how can we, as PBL facilitators, use this time of year to help guide the creation of high-quality, rigorous, and historically responsible units? The suggestions below are just a few of the ways I think this season can be used to teach this subject.
1. Election Years
Get a read on how your students are feeling about the election this year. Each year is different. Each group of students is different. As educators, it is our duty to help our students understand the importance of this time of year. We are also asked to educate about the process that our country goes through during the autumn months.
Here are some helpful questions to guide you in your discussions with students.
- Do the students not understand the election, as a process?
- Are they feeling powerless because they can’t vote?
- Do you have standards that relate to voting and civic duties that can be covered during this time?
- Do any of your students have family members that are unable to vote? Why? Can your students help them through some process?
Potential Driving Questions Related to Voting
- How can we, as active citizens, participate in an election when we are unable to vote?
- How can we, as future adults, support our country during an election?
- How can we, as advocates for voting, help our community participate in this year’s election?
- How can we, as future voters, teach our school about the process of an election?
2. Veteran’s Day
Veteran’s Day honors the men and women in the US who have served in the armed forces.
Growing up, it was never really explained to me what this holiday meant OR if it was explained it was not a message that stuck with me. Most years, I sat on a bleacher and listened to our principal and strangers speak for most of the morning. Many schools in the US adopt similar programs and students sit through similar ceremonies each year.
It wasn’t until I taught at a PBL school that I finally saw a different way to honor these real-life heroes. Each year looked a little different and was personalized by the students whose grade level took on the task of honoring these servicemen and servicewomen. Different, but respectful and beautiful.
Honorary meals, presentations on real-life men and women in the community who served, multimedia and digital programs, a traditional ceremony with students explaining each process to the audience, and many more culminating events were held each year. Even during the gymnasium ceremonies, students were more interested and learned about the importance of traditional commemorations because their peers were presenting and creating the event.
Driving Questions related to Veteran’s Day
- How can we, as Americans, honor those men and women who have served our country in a way that is meaningful for them and our peers?
- How can we, as writers and historians, teach our community about the local veterans?
- How can we, as peers, bring meaning and honor to the important holiday, Veteran’s Day?
3. Thanksgiving
We cannot teach about Thanksgiving without acknowledging the historical significance this topic had/continues to have on the Indigenous People of North America. As educators in the 21st century, we must participate in the reconstruction of the historical narrative around this holiday.
Gone are the days of paper bag vests and feathers made of construction paper, as we usher in an era of true and authentic education in cultural awareness and multiple perspectives.
I have to say, this was not something I did well in the classroom. Each year I shied away from the historical narrative and stuck more with current tradition. Using the opportunity to talk about food groups and meals, to create a large spread students could share together. Focusing on the aspects of tradition, family, and togetherness, I missed years worth of opportunities to properly instruct on history. I regret that deeply and vow to do better with my own children as we move into homeschooling.
Many of you may be reading this thinking that I am totally off base, but I will say I felt that way until I learned more about cultural appropriation. Then I felt a lot of shame. Like….a lot. Many of the traditional Thanksgiving activities done in schools, especially with primary students, are examples of cultural appropriation. Check out this great video by PBS for more information on cultural appropriation versus appreciation.
As we look to planning for this time of year, there are several problems that will present themselves and can become PBL units. As reflective practitioners, we have to be open to the ideas and potential that the curriculum and lessons we present are part of a larger problem. The good news, we are experienced problem solvers and use problems to drive the learning that occurs in our classrooms.
Driving Questions related to Thanksgiving
- How can we, as diverse students, ensure all traditions and people are celebrated and honored during the Thanksgiving season?
- How can we, as 21st-century learners, provide our school with texts that show diverse perspectives and are written by diverse authors, so that all of today’s events can be recorded in tomorrow’s history?
- How can we, as historians, honor the Indigenous People of America during Thanksgiving?
- How can we, as readers, help younger students learn a more accurate history than we were taught?
4. Community Service Projects
In my local community, the United Way always does their campaign in October. Students and staff raise money for this valuable organization in creative ways. Each year, a different grade level takes on the challenge of leading the school in these unique fundraising activities.
But my favorite activity was done by a teacher in our building each year and had nothing to do with fundraising. Each year, she led students in a day of service where they planted mums, sorted canned goods, raked leaves, and so much more.
As we head into fall this year, take a moment to brainstorm with your students any local needs. Sometimes the smallest actions can have the largest impact.
Driving Questions for Community Service Projects
- How can we, as inventors, help our local community to solve their everyday problems?
- How can we, as gardeners, give back to the community that is home to our school?
- How can we, as volunteers, assist the local citizens of our town, so that they are encouraged?
- How can we, as the future of our town, use our talents to contribute to our community?
There are so many ways that Social Studies can be integrated with your PBL unit themes or topics. As each season arrives, consider how history, civics, economics, and geography play a role in the holidays and events listed on your calendar.
For more examples of Social Studies and PBL check out my blog entry “5 Ways to Integrate Social Studies in PBL Units.”
Related Reads…
Brainstorming a Project Based Learning unit idea is a challenge for most new PBL facilitators. There are many ways to come up with PBL unit ideas that both tie-in standards rigorously and engage students in a topic that is of interest to them. Seasonal PBL unit ideas can be a great source of inspiration. Whether […]
Coming up with inspiration for Project Based Learning unit ideas can be a challenge, especially for new PBL teachers. Often, just seeing some examples of quality and authentic Project Based Learning Driving Questions can help spark some relevant summer PBL unit ideas. Below are some driving questions for seasonal PBL units in the summer months. […]
Project Based Learning during the summer can be rewarding and engaging. However, with most schools out for summer break and many businesses at their peak times, it can also be a challenge. Whether you are a year-round school, using PBL in summer school, or a homeschool family looking to use Project Based Learning during your […]
When planning for the upcoming academic year, creating an authentic PBL unit during the summer can be a challenge. Without our students, it can feel like our planning lacks student input or voice. However, because every project will have two major driving forces, planning a Project Based Learning unit during the summer is not only […]
Seasonal PBL units are a wonderful way to integrate the themes and topics of a season into a Project Based Learning unit. This educational approach encourages inquiry, student voice, and increases engagement through real-world authentic problem solving and challenges. But coming up with ideas for PBL units can be challenging. Seasonal PBL unit ideas are […]