Create Your Own Social Studies LabsTo engage your students using Social Sciences best practices!

Step 1 – Select Benchmark and Essential Question • Use the pacing guide to review benchmarks and essential questions-

http://socialsciences.dadeschools.net/pacingguides.asp

Step 2 – Create an Essential Question• Essential questions should be thought-provoking, have

multiple possible answers, and lend themselves to thinking, discussion and debate.• Where to find essential questions:• Pacing guides• Other good resources: • Guide to understanding and developing essential questions(http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/109004/chapters/What-Makes-a-Question-Essential%A2.aspx)

Essential Questions are already built into all elementary pacing guides

Step 3 – Find Sources• Find a variety of sources (can be visual or written) that can help

students answer the essential question.• Try to find sources that will present various viewpoints.

• For example:• Benchmark: SS.5.C.2.1- differentiate political ideas of Patriots,

Loyalists and “undecided” during the American Revolution. Relevant to Seventh Grade End of Course Exam Tested Benchmark • Essential Question: What is worth fighting for?• Some of the sources should provide evidence that YES, The colonist

didn’t have no other choice but, to declare independence from England; while other sources should provide counter-evidence.

• How might this Poster help students to answer the essential question?

• How might this graphic organizer help students to answer the essential question?

• How might this quote help students answer the essential question?

Step 4 – Create an Activity

• Organize the activity in a way that makes it clear for students.

• For example, create a graphic organizer that students can use to help them analyze each source.

• Sample template:

Step 5 – Complete!