When has learning about history straight from the social studies book ever been fun? Using realistic fiction will help the learning process.
My school has a diverse population with over 60% being on free and reduced lunch.
Although the school is in its sixth year, the population has grown such that eleven homeroom teachers are currently in portables. I currently teach 36 students language arts and social studies. These students attend classes in portables. However, I have added benches to the outside area. The landscape is maintained by my fifth grade gardeners. This outside area is my students' favorite place to read, often an integration of our social studies units. They enjoy getting cozy on the benches, steps, and the grass as they enjoy their books.
My Project
I do not believe in teaching social studies in isolation. I feel students are able to become critical thinkers as they begin to analyze literature that includes the social studies content. Students are taught in language arts how to make connections with what they are reading. Authentic children's literature will allow them the opportunity to make those connections that include text to text, text to self, and/or text to real world.
Students can often remember a great piece of literature that afforded them the opportunity to create meaning. This is significant in helping students recall important events in our country's history.
Because the book, Extra Credit, is realistic fiction, students will be able to better make comparisons to America and Afghanistan as experienced through the lives of a sixth grader and the smartest student in a young boy's village.
Children's literature, like Extra Credit, will help my students to better compare and contrast how their culture and geography may be different from Afghanistan, but as children, they still share similar dreams and desires.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Dr. Jett and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
