Promoting Active Engagement through the Social Studies Practices

This workshop explores the Social Studies Practices as defined by state standards and offers educators strategies to bring these practices to life in their classrooms. Participants will review, deconstruct, and deeply examine each practice, including inquiry-based questioning, evaluating sources, recognizing diverse perspectives, and fostering civic engagement. With a focus on making learning more interactive and reflective of real-world issues, the session provides actionable strategies and classroom resources. 

• Lack of student engagement and critical thinking in social studies education
  
  
• Difficulty integrating inquiry, diverse perspectives, and civil discourse into classroom instruction
  
  
• Limited strategies for teaching students how to evaluate sources and take informed civic action
  

1. Inquiry and Source Evaluation Skills
   Participants will learn how to help students develop insightful questions, plan effective inquiries, and evaluate the credibility and relevance of multiple sources. This includes techniques for teaching students to distinguish fact from opinion, assess reliability, and corroborate evidence.
   
   
2. Integrating Diverse Perspectives and Claims
   Educators will gain strategies to foster empathy and critical thinking by teaching students to explore diverse viewpoints and develop well-supported claims. This includes applying models like Claim-Evidence-Reasoning and using tools like RAFT assignments to engage students in constructing evidence-based arguments.
   
   
3. Civic Discourse and Informed Action Planning
   Attendees will learn how to engage students in civil discourse, critique conclusions, and refine thinking through discussion and metacognition. The workshop also provides frameworks for guiding students in creating and executing informed action plans related to contemporary social issues.