This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the ways in which people gain and exercise power. Power is a social phenomenon that comes in many forms. However, it is often the case that the ways that people achieve power helps to determine how that power is used. Although this compelling question is broad, the inquiry focuses on Latinx history. This strategic use of sources is particularly useful in showing the ways that some minority groups in the United States have experienced and pursued power in many different ways.
Organizational
The Heart of Social Studies
Inquiries
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the ways in which people gain and exercise power. Power is a social phenomenon that comes in many forms. However, it is often the case that the ways that people achieve power helps to determine how that power is used. Although this compelling question is broad, the…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation that examines the purpose and effects of gun legislation in the United States. In doing so, it provides students with the opportunity to critically examine the motives behind gun laws and the disproportionate impact of gun violence on Black and Latinx communities. Although this compelling question seems straightforward,…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation that assesses the extent to which celebrities and public figures have a social responsibility to give back to the communities and take stances on controversial issues. The inquiry provides students with the chance to explore the current ways celebrities influence society and the risks those celebrities face when…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation that assesses the extent to which street art benefits communities. In doing so, it provides students with the opportunity to explore the history and tradition of Latinx street murals, the multiple reasons why street art is created, and the various ways that individuals react to street art. Although…
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This third-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 similarities…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of Sikhism and the challenges and opportunities the Sikh community has faced over time. By investigating the compelling question “How do religious communities respond to challenges and opportunities?” students evaluate how the Sikh community has responded to different social, historical, and political changes as members immigrated and integrated…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of Black women writers and the literary devices they employ to communicate with audiences and “be heard.” The compelling question—What gets Black women heard?—asks students to evaluate the writing of three prominent Black women writers and contemporary Black writers in order to deconstruct the relevance and meaning behind…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of individual and group sacrifices made during times of conflict and war. By investigating the compelling question, “What does it mean to sacrifice?,” students evaluate the historical significance of individuals and groups during the Korean War. The formative performance tasks build on knowledge and skills through the course…
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Students will examine eighteen telegrams to learn more about troop movements, battles, victories, and defeats, as well as other information communicated in telegrams in order to respond to the compelling question, “What do telegrams tell us about the Battle of Gettysburg?” The range of telegrams in this inquiry allows students to examine different perspectives on…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the ways we remember history, including a variety of memorials and consideration of the omissions in our collective memory. By investigating the compelling question, “What is the best way to remember history?,” students evaluate and explore a variety of types of memorialization, omissions in our collective memory,…