Transcript Central Dauphin School District Elementary Social Studies

Central Dauphin
School District
Elementary Social Studies Curriculum
By: Shane Hotchkiss, Chair-Principal, South Side
Elaine Braucher, North Side
Julie Deibler, Chambers Hill
Gladys Freeman-Handy, South Side
Connie Igou, South Side
Donna Lee, E. H. Phillips
Melissa McInerney, West Hanover
Connie Petravage, Paxtonia
Tom Shaffer, Paxtang
Lisa Valeri, Paxtonia
Dr. Scola, Assistant Superintendent- Elementary Education
Our Task….

Create a standards based K-6 Social
Studies curriculum
The new Pennsylvania academic
standards for Social Studies
incorporate four strands:
History
Geography
Civics and Government
Economics
Academic Standards:
History

Pennsylvania and United States
History
• Grades K-3Beginnings to Present
• Grades 4-6Beginnings to 1824

World History
• Grades K-3Beginnings to Present
• Grades 4-6Beginnings to Present
Academic Standards:
Geography

Grades K-6
• Basic Geographic Literacy
• The Physical Characteristics of Places
and Regions
• The Human Characteristics of Places and
Regions
• The Interactions Between People and
Places
Academic Standards:
Civics and Government

Grades K-6
• Principles and Documents of
Government
• Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
• How Government Works
• How International Relationships
Function
Academic Standards:
Economics

Grades K-6
• Economic Systems
• Markets and the Functions of
Government
• Scarcity and Choice
• Economic Interdependence
• Work and Earnings
The Process
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Followed Central Dauphin’s Curriculum
Review and Curriculum Planning Process
Manual
Surveyed to review existing program
Created new curriculum in correlation with
new state academic standards
Visited schools with exemplary social
studies programs
Reviewed materials from several different
textbook companies
Surveyed to review existing
program

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Committee sent a survey to all elementary
classroom teachers regarding current
Social Studies program
We interpreted the data by grade levels to
determine areas of concern
Results showed inconsistencies throughout
the district with regards to the current
Social Studies program and its delivery at
different grade levels
The results also indicated a need for a new
program that would provide district-wide
consistency
Textbook inconsistencies and
outdated materials currently being
used within the district
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Kindergarten: MacMillan/McGraw and Heath (1987)
Grade 1: Silver Burdett & Ginn (1988), MacMillan
(1991,1993), some have no textbooks
Grade 2: Silver Burdett & Ginn (1988), MacMillan/McGrawHill (1993)
Grade 3: Silver Burdett & Ginn (1988)
Grade 4: Comparing Regions (1995), PA Yesterday and
Today (1986 or 1990)
Grade 5: Silver Burdett (1995)
Grade 6: Latin America and Canada (1987)
Created Newly Aligned Curriculum
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Beginning in March 2002, the
committee took each strand of the
Social Studies standards and
developed our curriculum, aligning it
with these standards
By the Fall of 2002, the committee
had its final draft completed and
began creating checklists to assist
teachers with scope and sequence
School Visitations

Committee chose four Blue Ribbon
schools to visit:
• Muncy Area School District
• Montoursville School District
• Hatboro School District
• Upper Dublin School District

Committee discussed visitation
findings at our general meetings
Textbook Review

Committee reviewed texts from six
companies:
• Harcourt Brace
• Scott-Foresman
• Houghton Mifflin
• Newbridge
• SRA McGraw-Hill
• National Geographic
Recommendation

The Elementary Social Studies
Committee unanimously
recommended Harcourt Brace for
adoption.
Curriculum

Curriculum is based on the
Pennsylvania standards in grades
6
K-
Assessment

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Will be incorporated specifically
linked to new social studies program.
Opportunity to provide resources
that will aid in differentiation and
make “teacher friendly”
Major Changes
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Civil War is no longer taught in Fifth
grade.
Canada and Latin America are no longer
taught exclusively in 6th grade.
Pennsylvania history is taught across
every grade level.