K-5 Social Studies

Commendations:

*Talking about Native Americans and showed good educational tools. Showed how involved the students were in discussing a bill. Good video on kids running for McKinley elections. Showed good ideas to get kids involved.

*Was light-hearted – great overview of what the session would be. Great job of showing how SS units were integrated into other curriculum areas and standards. Great job on telling about the neat activities that are used to work on those standards needed at each grade level. It was great to see the materials and also to hear about the background infor that went into these activities. It was great to see all the great things and events that go on with social studies. What great live/authentic experiences that will stay with the kids forever! Could see how different methods and strategies are used to get info to all types of learners. Great job with the use of technology to show actual presentations of what goes on and also the use of actual hand on hard coy materials with good use of explanations about each. Was an excellent presentation using all the great information and work being done K-5. Great authentic activities and learning taking place.

*Clearly defined goal – hit hard indicators (especially those to be tested at 6th grade level). Good examples of hands on activities to reinforce and assess.

*The teachers are working to prepare students for 6^th grade assessment. Student simulation on teaching of government. Student discusses pros and cons of Bills (House/Senate). Students vote on bills – great student interaction, this gets the students involved. McKinley School Elections – students campaigned for positions. Kennedy School – student in Kansas History get to make bread and butter. The elementary school teachers do a good job with hands-on learning.

*Willey – Kansas Day

Smith – wheat/bread making/Kansas Homes

Cook – rules and laws

Funston – class election/voting/McKouncil

Kough – maps, regions

Linenberger – rules/laws

Lots of information

*Native American activity was very interesting; good use of the maps integrated within lesson. Constitution is so creative and thorough. McKouncil was well-explained; visuals were very effective. Kansas unit about Kansas symbols does a great job of integrating all subject areas. Traveling trunk is a great idea! Very well-planned presentation!

*Great explanation of what was happening at each level. I liked the diorama – beats the old shoebox model. The video was good, too. You did very well.

*Kim’s opening remarks were great! Native American unit – 4 regions integrated this into other curricular areas (math- graphing/Venn diagram/US maps/diorama of 4 regions) Diormam and written assessment given at end – really good! Sontitution/Reading Rainbow activity/freedoms-right-responsibilities-Schoolhouse Rock Video-pictures-feedom used later for freedom quilt. (Senate Bills – discusses pros and cons of each bill. House votes on bills, then taken to Senate. How a bill is accepted/ratified AWESOME! Civid Delta – McKouncil campagn speeches, vote – 6 students, 1 from each class. mcDonals’ provides meals for a working lunch with Mayor Schwartz, where they discuss safety issues, etc. Very cool! Kansas rotations/Kansas symbols rotations/wheat study/ Indian/Pioneer home study. Every presentation was awesome! We are doing great things! Enjoyable and informative! Thanks!

*Some very cool hands on activities that are tied to the standards. Impressed with the creativity! Discussing the pros and cons of the bill required some higher thinking from the kids, doesn’t it? How did that work out?

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Suggestions:

*You could have brought in a MAK shirt.

*You might want to break up the presentations next year so you aren’t “crunched for time.