Young children have a keen awareness of what is fair. Statements like, “she got more ice cream than me!” or “I should get to stay up as late as he does!” signify their observations of and disdain for how people are treated differently. Educators can bring content into the classroom that capitalizes on this predilection for justice. The trade book Speak Up (2020) written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Ebony Greenby takes students through a collection of relatable scenarios that offer opportunities for children to “speak up” to make things better. In this K-1 inquiry, we use the trade book to consider the compelling question, “When should I speak up?” Students learn how fictional children speak up in the story and then learn the stories of actual child activists who have spoken up in big ways. Students then apply this learning to their lives and decide, as a class, how to speak up about a school problem.
K-2
The Heart of Social Studies
Inquiries
Young children have a keen awareness of what is fair. Statements like, “she got more ice cream than me!” or “I should get to stay up as late as he does!” signify their observations of and disdain for how people are treated differently. Educators can bring content into the classroom that capitalizes on this predilection…
Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy. For Black Americans, securing the right to vote has been a battle. While the 14th Amendment granted Black Americans citizenship in 1868, poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation created insurmountable barriers to the polls. Due to the courage of many Americans who marched, protested, and applied consistent pressure…
This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the various roles of professionals who work in the community. While the focus of this inquiry is limited primarily to first responders, teachers could expand the discussion to include other community helpers or “school helpers” such as the custodial staff, cafeteria staff, librarians, etc. By focusing on…
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This action-embedded inquiry leads students through an investigation of how they can make a difference in their community. By featuring an opportunity for students to think through the issues that surround them, the inquiry enables them to choose one to work on, to decide what kinds of action they could take, to assess the challenges…
This 2nd and 3rd grade inquiry expands student understandings of how a state is shaped by exploring the ways in which geographic and cultural forces work together to define a region. The compelling question—“How did my state get its shape?”—engages students in an examination of the defining characteristics of Tennessee by noting the history around…
This Kindergarten/1st grade inquiry expands students’ understandings of how groups represent themselves through what they wear. The compelling question—“What do things I wear say about me?”—engages students in an examination of material culture by considering the factors impacting their own choices of what they wear such as geography, culture, and religion. Students will examine the…
The students will be able to identify situations in which either maps or GPS are the most appropriate tool for navigation guidance. This is important because online guidance systems are so prevalent that some children might deem paper maps as outdated or unnecessary. The IDM builds capacity by starting with identifying situations in which guidance…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of maps, the common characteristics of maps, and the stories maps can tell about a place. By investigating the compelling question, “What is the most important information a map can tell us?,” students evaluate a set of maps with a focus on the Korean Peninsula as a case…
This inquiry leads students through an investigation of rivers. By investigating the compelling question “Is the relationship between people and rivers good or bad?” students evaluate the affect that people and rivers have on each other. The formative performance tasks build on knowledge and skills through the course of the inquiry and help students understand…
This inquiry leads students through an investigation of early social interactions and behaviors. By investigating the compelling question “Do I have to like everyone?” students evaluate friendship, what is a friend, how to be a friend, and how to respond when you dislike someone or they dislike you. Students will develop a deeper understanding of…