Theme Immersion Compendium for Social Studies Teaching

Teachers committed to the theme approach to social studies have discovered that the most successful curriculums are those generated from the interests of their students. But they've also discovered that implementing those themes is not always an easy task. "The Theme Immersion Compendium" remedies this issue with both specific ideas for focusing students' inquiries and practical, clearly organized steps for exploring them. Four broad categories are suggested as starting points: Conflict, Settlements of the United States, Global Awareness, and Cultural Diversity in the United States. Then, twenty-two specific subtopics are further suggested for theme immersion. These areas represent subjects widely studied in grades K-8 and cover ideas recommended in the National Council of Social Studies standards. Once students identify the themes that most interest them, teachers can consult "The Theme Immersion Compendium" for explicit guidelines for implementation. Included features such as fiction and trade book references, activities for expression of knowledge, media and technological resources, assessment and evaluation forms, and camera-ready appendixes serve as valuable time-savers as the process moves forward. Intended not as a prescriptive but as a support, "The Theme Immersion Compendium" will be invaluable to inservice social studies teachers, curriculum developers, and graduate and undergraduate students in social studies, language arts, and curriculum.