Deck 7: How Can I Teach the Other Social Science Content Powerfully

Question 1

Studies of development in children's social knowledge and thinking indicate that children first ted to this as

A)psychologists
B)sociologists
C)economists
D)political scientists

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The most powerful and lasting economic lessons are likely to be those that involve

A)simulations emphasizing financial literacy accompanied by activities that allow students to discover the meaning of economic choices and consequences.
B)fanciful children's literature as a vehicle for teaching economic concepts and principles followed by classroom discussions.
C)classroom debate about controversial issues that involve economic matters followed by thoughtful debriefing sessions.
D)experiential learning in which students are engaged in economic activities or decision making followed by debriefing discussions

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Children explain social phenomena with narratives that are

A)immature in development and often contain elements of fantasy.
B)representative of events and goals of a few people.
C)reflective of their particular learning styles.
D)simplistic in nature and build on their prior experiences.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Service learning is viewed as a way of practicing good citizenship. The rationale for it is that governments

A)provide all the essentials for the people and service learning can provide the frills.
B)cannot be expected to do everything and good citizens contribute to the common good as individuals.
C)cannot be expected to do everything; however, when there is left over money from taxes it can be used for service learning.
D)waste lots of money and are in debt and service learning is used to pay off the loans.

Question 5

Children's literature is an especially rich source for teaching about individual development and identity.

Question 6

The authors recommend planning special units that address global curriculum topics rather than infusing global and multicultural perspectives throughout one's teaching.

Question 7

When asked to explain macro-level social phenomena, children tend to respond with narratives that personalize the events around the goals and motives of a few people.

Question 8

To help students understand why governments are needed and what they do for people, the authors of this text recommend developing instruction around the basic idea that

A)public policies and citizenship behaviors typically reflect the stated ideals of a democratic republican form of government.
B)the "common good" is typically strengthened through governmentally approved single points of view.
C)tax money is collected to pay for services that support the common good as well as make money for the people.
D)governments provide facilities and services that people need, but are too big in scope and expense to provide for themselves.

Question 9

Sociologists investigate the structure of social groups, organizations, and society as a whole, and how people interact within these contexts.

Question 10

In the elementary grades very few economic themes and content are included as part of the social studies curriculum.

Question 11

Social studies is a pan-disciplinary school subject that bears special responsibility for socializing students to fulfill their roles as citizens in a democratic republic.

Question 12

Most children convey a positive attitude about

A)taxes, depicting them as needed in order to pay for their schooling
B)pressure groups and protests, depicting them as evidence of a democracy
C)laws, depicting them as needed to keep us safe and orderly.
D)jurors, depicting them as the people who decide who wins in a court case.

Question 13

Children enter school totally unaware of sex differences and without opinions about gender roles and expectations .

Question 14

Typically, psychology is not formally taught in the K-12 curriculum and is not relevant to elementary social studies.

Question 15

When to compare kings and queens to the president, children think

A)the president works long hours for the good of the country while monarchs bask in their luxury.
B)kings and queens are more democratic and are more protective of the people.
C)kings and queens are more popular and they appoint officials from all socio-economic groups.
D)the president is more popular because he runs a totalitarian state.

Question 16

Studies focusing on children's thinking indicate that young children tend to depict a benevolent world in which political leaders are wise, caring, and attentive to the needs of everyone.

Question 17

The authors of this text recommend that teachers develop instruction around the basic idea that governments provide facilities and services that people need but are too big in scope and expense for individuals to provide for themselves.

Question 18

Educating students for citizenship is challenging because it requires some enduring dilemmas, most notably the challenge of socializing students to adopt American political values

A)while simultaneously ensuring the teacher's partisan political values are also included.
B)while simultaneously including the teacher's partisan political views and respecting cultural diversity and gender equity.
C)while simultaneously respecting cultural diversity and fostering dispositions toward active political participation.
D)while challenging those of other cultures when they interfere with the teacher's partisan views.

Question 19

Sociology focuses on the

A)past, present, and future of organizations and society.
B)self and personal identity within a complex organization.
C)structure of social groups, organizations, and society.
D)production, distribution, and consumption of goods/services.

Question 20

Studies related to knowledge and thinking about government indicate that young children tend to think of government as

A)benevolent and trustworthy.
B)powerful and influenced by rich people.
C)corrupt and dishonest.
D)run by appointed officials that can help the needy.

Question 21

You are creating a unit in which you desire to embed psychology, sociology, economics, and political science within a global and multicultural perspective. Identify a unit that you plan to teach in your classroom. What learning goal do you want your students to accomplish by the end of the unit? What understandings do you want the students to have at the end of the unit? What would you add to the unit? Why? What would be the ideal results?

Question 22

According to the literature, far too many Americans are ignorant of other people and places, not only where they are located but their needs, interests, priorities, and concerns as well as their cultures generally. Identify a social studies unit topic that you will develop and implement. Describe specifically how you will address these matters. Provide at least five examples to illustrate your key points.

Question 23

Elementary students can and should learn microeconomics. Given that you want students to draw on their life experiences, how will you deal with the fact that students in your class have different family economic situations?