How to Make Social Studies Lessons More Meaningful This Year

Have you ever found yourself asking, “How can I make my Social Studies lessons more meaningful?”

If you’re like most people, you might feel that math and ELA are the most life-applicable or important subjects in school. One poll found that most Americans believe this to be true. Most see math and ELA as the most valuable school subjects in their lives. (1)

When I was a first-year teacher years ago, I certainly functioned out of that same belief. I spent significantly more time planning ELA and math instruction than I did Social Studies and science. I even structured my class schedule around placing ELA and math in prime spots in the morning. (We all know that even the best of lessons will fail if started at 2:00 pm because at that point, everyone in the classroom, including the teacher, is counting down seconds until the end-of-day bell rings.)

While you’ll never (EVER) hear me discount the essential value of ELA and math instruction, I do wonder… Are we doing a disservice to our students if our focus is only on reading, writing, and calculating? Will our students be prepared for living in and contributing to a complex, dynamic world full of controversial issues and important debates if that’s all we equip them with?

The case for more meaningful Social Studies lessons has never been stronger than it is in today’s climate. We need to help our students develop the necessary skills to become informed, active, and engaged citizens.

Through meaningful Social Studies lessons, you can help your students connect events and patterns of the past with what’s happening in the world around them today.

If you are ready to make your Social Studies lessons more meaningful, there are 3 key things to keep at the front of your mind all year. Are you ready?

Social Studies IS relevant.
Look for the bigger picture and make connections to find meaning.
Don’t shy away from “hard history”.

Social Studies IS relevant.

If you’re teaching Social Studies, you’re not just teaching a list of black and white standards. You’re not just teaching how to read a map. You’re not just teaching a list of dates. Social Studies is much, much more than that. Let’s break it down.

By definition, Social Studies is a mix of geography, political science, culture, economics, and history.

Geography is the study of places.
Government is the study of government and politics. Civics, which is often grouped with Government, is the study of citizenship, rights, and responsibilities.
Sociology is the study of culture and the way people and groups interact.
Economics is the study of resources and the choices people make about them.
History is the collection of stories about things that have happened in the past.

It may feel easy to see the relevance and importance of just about everything in that list. Of course, we want our students to understand geographically where Japan is in relation to China. Certainly, we know it’s important for them to understand the government’s balance of powers. Yes, they need to know about the rich, diverse cultures around the world outside of their own. And clearly, an understanding of economic principles might help them make wise financial choices in their adult lives.

History feels like the least relevant aspect of Social Studies to real life today.

But that is hardly the case. Let me explain.

When we learn about history, we learn about “stories” of the past. When we take the time to learn them, these “stories” help us understand why our world is the way it is. They help us understand why people value what they value. All of this ultimately helps us better understand ourselves.

One historian put it like this:

"Why on earth does it matter what happened long ago? The answer is that History is inescapable. It studies the past and the legacies of the past in the present. Far from being a 'dead' subject, it connects things through time and encourages its students to take a long view of such connections.
All people and peoples are living histories. To take a few obvious examples: communities speak languages that are inherited from the past. They live in societies with complex cultures, traditions and religions that have not been created on the spur of the moment. People use technologies that they have not themselves invented. … So understanding the linkages between past and present is absolutely basic for a good understanding of the condition of being human. That, in a nutshell, is why History matters. It is not just 'useful', it is essential." (2)

Your students are perceptive. If you don’t think history matters, they won’t embrace it.

Ask yourself to be really honest about how valuable you really think history is. What steps could you take to shifting your own mindset? Here are a few thoughts to get you started:

History helps you understand where the inventions and technology you depend on came from. Do you know the fascinating stories of Steve Jobs (often dubbed as the mind of the iPhone)? Did you know that he found inspiration for Apple products while strolling through the appliances aisle at Macy’s and a jelly bean factory? (3)
History helps you see that being an active participant in elections does matter, and your participation does make a big difference. Did you know that there is a long list of United States elections that have been decided by a tiny group of votes? Most notably, George W. Bush only won the 2000 Presidential Election by half of a percent (around 70,000 out of 12 million votes). (4)
History helps you see how what’s happening in the world today is very much connected to things that happened in the past. We’ve heard a lot about the 1918 flu pandemic (5) in connection with the 2020 pandemic, but have you also heard about George Washington and the first “mass inoculation” for a disease? And did you know that many historians credit this early vaccination as Washington’s “winning strategy” for the American Revolutionary War? (6)

Let’s talk more about making connections and the bigger picture.

Look for the bigger picture, and make connections.

Yes, history is made up of millions of little facts and real truths about things that did happen. There is a chronological order to things. However, reading facts and figures alone isn’t enough to get the full picture of the things that have happened in the past.

Yes, events happen on certain dates involving certain people in certain parts of the world. However, all of history is connected. All people are connected across all of time.

Social Studies is bigger than isolated facts and events. Social Studies is bigger than individual stories. Putting together all of these “smaller” pieces of history can help students see the “bigger picture”.

By understanding the bigger picture of the past and seeing connections to the present day, students are empowered to face the challenges of today. As Amanda Gorman poetically said, “Being American is more than a pride we inherit. It’s the past we step into and how we repair it”. (7)

How can you connect events, facts, timelines, quotes, primary sources, and more together? Highlighting themes and asking “Essential Questions” are two key strategies to help you guide your students in seeing the “bigger picture” and make meaningful connections throughout the year.

We’ll talk more about this in next week’s blog post.

Don’t shy away from “hard history”.

No matter what time period you’re asked to cover, hard history is no doubt a part of it.

Some parts of history include beautiful stories of overcoming challenges or braving new heights. Some include inspiring examples of working together for the greater good and tales of great kindnesses of people across time.

But teaching only these “feel good” stories of history misses the full picture.

Some parts of history are dark and tragic and hard. Slavery in the American colonies, the Holocaust, and massacres of native populations are just a few examples. These “hard parts” of history shaped the United States (as well as other countries throughout the world) and continue to have a deep impact today.

The challenge you face is how to provide accurate information that is age-appropriate. This article from the Southern Poverty Law Center speaks to that challenge and is a must-read regarding the mindset shift for teaching hard history.

If you’re unsure of where to begin this hard but important work, there is a growing library of resources (many of which are totally free) to support your efforts. For example, Learning for Justice provides an ex cellent framework for addressing slavery. If you’re looking for more, you don't want to miss this list.

You don’t have need a PhD in history to make your Social Studies lessons more meaningful this year.

You just need to be willing to believe that history is relevant and model that posture for your students.

You need to be willing to put in the hard work of thinking critically about the bigger picture and look for connections.

And, you need a little bravery to face the “hard history” that is part of our history and matters today.

If you’re ready to take steps towards more meaningful Social Studies lessons, there is a unit for you. It's ready to walk you through step-by-step how to lay the groundwork and set the foundation that you're looking for. It’s perfect for the beginning of the school year, but truly could be used at any point in time. It shapes the lens through which you can approach teaching Social Studies in a meaningful way all year long.