Travis Prete

Curriculum Overview

October 14

Peers will generate ideas for learning activities that fulfill the program rationale, the learning
outcomes, and the benchmark skills and processes intended in the Grade 4 curriculum.

Introduction - Pose the questions, What comes to mind what I say Social Studies? What is
Social Studies? Why are Social Studies important?
(1-2 minutes)

Assessment (observation) - Students will be able to define Social Studies.

Activity 1
Discuss the key terms and phrases from the front matter of the program of studies (on the
Overview sheet). Read it over silently, then pick your top three (by importance, relevance,
interest ect.)
Review the benchmark skills and processes at the end of the Curriculum.
What stands out to you? What does that (anything that sticks out) mean? Why would that be
important for students to learn? Now that youre an adult, how do you use these skills in your life
today?
(5 minutes)

Assessment (instructional conversation/observation of responses and participation) - Students

will define some of the key terms and phrases from the philosophy and rationale and relate how
they use some of these skills in their lives today.

Activity 2
Mix, Match, and Plan!
From one pile, a group member will draw from a list of skills found in the Social Studies Program
of Studies. Then from a second pile they will draw a learning outcome. The group member

Travis Prete

Curriculum Overview

October 14

must then give a brief example of how they would plan a lesson that meets the skill, learning
outcome, and then connect how it relates to the program rationale and philosophy. (Do one or
two together as a group in order to demonstrate how, and help build peers confidence)
(8-10 minutes)

Assessment (observation of peer response and application) - Peers will plan a brief learning
activity that would meet the learning outcome and skill they had drawn while relating how it
connects to the program philosophy and rationale.

Conclusion.

Exit slip - Think of a way that you could include elements of the Social Studies Curriculum into a
lesson from your own major? (e.g. take one of the learning outcomes discussed in the mix
match and plan game, and tie it into your own major)