REFLECTIONS

The National Council for the Social Studies wants educators to teach citizenship.  Theme 10, civic ideas and practices, is very important when discussing citizenship.  Lessons that fall into this category help to teach students about what it means to be a good citizen and how people have dealt with this responsibility in the past.

An example of a lesson where theme 10 was examined would be my lesson on the Civil Rights movement.  Starting in the 1950s, the Civil Rights movement was starting to gain more and more support.  It is important for students to understand the disposition of those involved in the movement and those who opposed the movement.

By using short video clips, I tried to make the Civil Rights movement come to life for the students.  Sometimes it is hard to imagine exactly what was occurring by just reading about it.  I find that documentary movie clips are very helpful because they can be shown and the students can interpret what they see.

The class was discussing the integration of the schools following the Brown V. Board of Education decision.  Students saw examples of the demonstrations that ensued immediately following the decision.  It was important for the students to understand the laws that were in place that legalized segregated schools.  I tried to accomplish this goal so that students could better understand why and how people felt the way they did.

Many of the students could not fully understand how people thought that segregated schools were the answer to racial problems.  I was happy to see students asking questions because that means that they are thinking.  For this reason I would say that the lesson was a success.  During all of my civil rights lessons, more students participated in the discussions than any other lessons.  It is hard to assess the students learning from the discussion, but the students were asking really good questions.  Furthermore, there were a few students in each class that stayed after to discuss the topic a little more.  These are the moments that make all the hard work associated with teaching worth it.

In the future, I will continue to make sure to incorporate theme 10 into all appropriate lessons.  Students need to see examples of people being good citizens so that when they leave school, they will have the skill necessary to become good citizens.  Theme 10 also helps to teach students what their rights and responsibilities are in society.  It is important to remember that social studies is more than just dates and people; it is about make students into good citizens.