SURVIVING SOCIAL STUDIES
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Store
  • About
  • Contact
  • FREE Resources!
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Store
  • About
  • Contact
  • FREE Resources!

Great & Simple Bell Ringer Activity

12/4/2022

0 Comments

 
It doesn't always take something fancy to get students engaged for the day.  Here's a simple activity I used for years in my classroom to let students expand their minds before our lesson for the day.  

Every student would get a strip of these three shapes and I'd give them 10 minutes to create  whatever their minds takes come up with using the images in each of the three boxes.  I'm always surprised by their creativity!  

After the time was up I'd have each student stand up and meander around the room looking at what their classmates came up with using the same images they had.  

I'd ask, "What do you think the reason for doing something like this was?"

Sometimes a student would say, "Because you needed 10 more minutes to get ready?" [which was sometimes the truth :)]

There'd be someone who would share that just because we all see the same thing doesn't mean that we all see it in the same way.  

Bingo.  

Click the .pdf to the right (there are 4 slips on one sheet).  If you decide to give this simple little activity a try, I'd love to see some of the images your students created and will add them to this post!

Send any of your student creations to survivingsocialstudies@gmail.com
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
turn_these_shapes_into_something.pdf
File Size: 29 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Follow Me @:
Teachers Pay Teachers
Instagram
Facebook
www.survivingsocialstudies.com
0 Comments

Social Studies Bundle Sale!  August 7th-14th

8/6/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Is your to-do list for the upcoming year starting to stress you out? Or, are you nauseous over how much you spend to create a warm, welcoming classroom with updated materials? Don’t worry, you are not alone! Teachers are trying to accomplish so much with limited budgets. Additionally, they are working hard to find FUN, engaging, worthwhile social studies lessons for students. Thankfully, the upcoming Social Studies Bundle Sale has incredible resources at a HUGE discount. However, these bundles are so amazing that they won’t be available forever. The Social Studies Super Bundles are only available from August 7-14th. The bundles are so amazing that you want to set your calendar reminder now!


Benefits of Available Bundles
Sometimes, people hesitate to purchase bundles due to the higher upfront cost. There is often concern over the quality of the resources and whether this justifies the price. Thankfully, the Social Studies Super Bundles contain TONS of high-quality printable and digital resources. Best of all, the bundles are only $20 during this exclusive sale! 

The Social Studies Bundle Sale provides incredible benefits! First, the bundles contain excellent social studies lessons. Teachers will save HOURS of time planning and designing with all of the ready-to-go resources. Second, all of the bundles offer 
updated and innovative teaching strategies. Students will love how these lessons move beyond boring worksheets. Third, these bundles will significantly build your teacher library. There are over 200 resources that students will love to use year after year. Thankfully, your wallet will receive a much-needed break from buying additional materials. 



Secondary American History Bundle 
​
For only $20, teachers will receive dozens of resources! This bundle contains fun, engaging, hands-on social studies lessons. For instance, students will complete stations about WWII, analyze primary resources, and study the Articles of Confederation. Furthermore, they will complete a Genius Hour project and learn about landmarks in the USA and worldwide. There is even a digital escape room to start the year in a fun and exciting way. Students will genuinely love American History with this bundle! 


Secondary World History and Geography Bundle
Students will learn all about the world for only $20 with these social studies lessons. For example, there are lessons on Ancient Chinese philosophies, revolutions, and Greek Mythology. Likewise, students will learn about landforms, maps and globes, and Alexander the Great. There are so many incredible activities packed into this bundle. Students will be excited to learn about the world with these creative lessons. 


Secondary Government and Civics Bundle 
Due to the different branches and legal components, the Government can be challenging to understand. There is just so much to learn! Hence, this $20 bundle has tons of activities that will break down complex topics. For instance, students will learn about presidential roles, modern federalism, and the three branches of government. There is even a classroom economy simulation!.  Just like above, all of the activities are high-quality and filled with updated teaching methods. 


Secondary Super Bundle 
Like many secondary social studies teachers, you have multiple preps. While you want to give each class your absolute best, it can be hard when planning so many lessons! Thankfully, there is a SUPER bundle that contains 3 bundles! This includes American History, World History, and Government! While each bundle is $20, this product comes with an even bigger discount during the Social Studies Bundle Sale. So, all 3 bundles can be yours for only $50! Every single prep will have social studies lessons students love! 


Elementary Social Studies Bundle (Grades 3-5)
As students get older, they are ready to learn more complex topics. However, elementary students still need support and guidance. Here, students will learn about so many amazing topics through interactive lessons! This includes national parks, branches of government, and medieval knights. Furthermore, students will plan how to open and run a business and design a summer vacation. Honestly, there is an entire year's worth of social studies lessons to ensure students learn about many topics. Even better, everything included only costs $20 during the Social Studies Bundle Sale! 

 
After buying the  Social Studies Super Bundles for a HUGE discount, teachers will feel the stress melt away. Importantly, this incredible offer will not be around for long. You can save hundreds of dollars if you grab these social studies lessons from August 7-14. The Social Studies Bundle Sale is a one-time opportunity, so be sure not to miss out!

If you do not want to miss out on the Social Studies Bundle Sale, join my email list to ensure you do not forget! Teachers are so busy preparing for back-to-school, and you do not want to let this opportunity slip away! 


All the best,
Matt @ Surviving Social Studies
Picture
Follow Me @:
Teachers Pay Teachers
Instagram
Facebook
www.survivingsocialstudies.com
0 Comments

Memorial Day Social Studies Activity - Mini Art Project

5/12/2022

0 Comments

 
With Memorial Day right around the corner (and also the time of year when kids are getting a little squirrely) you might find yourself looking for an activity your students can be engaged in that allows them to also honor the members of the military for Memorial Day in your social studies class.  

​Give this a try HERE!

All you need to do is print a classroom set of packets, get paper for students to trace on, and watch them have fun!
Picture
Check out the video below to see how these come together...
Picture
All the best,
Matt @ Surviving Social Studies

Follow Me @:
Teachers Pay Teachers
Instagram
Facebook
www.survivingsocialstudies.com
0 Comments

FIVE Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Teaching

8/22/2021

0 Comments

 
Hello!

Let me guess, now that we're in August you're having some of those "teacher dreams" that only a teacher knows about.  Or you're looking at the calendar and counting down how many days until you go back and are realizing how much you don't have planned.  

The anxiety.
The stress.
The endless list in your mind.  

I get it. 

I'm a full-time middle school classroom teacher who will be entering my 23rd first day of school very soon.  I am fully aware that I will have the night before school butterflies like I do every year.  Then, 10 seconds after that final bell rings to start the first class, I'll think, "Oh yeah... I remember how to do this!"

So, whether you're a veteran teacher or someone just starting your career here are some things I wish I would have known, done, or believed when I first started teaching:
Picture
1. 
​
​How cute your classroom is does not equate to how much your students are learning or how good of a teacher you are.  Some of the teachers who meant the most to me when I was growing up - I remember how they treated me, not what their classrooms looked like.

Picture
2. 
​
​Keep a small notebook that is specifically for you to write the date and an attainable goal for the day.  If your goal for the day is to greet students at the door, then make sure you do that on that day.  If your goal is to connect with 3 students you hadn’t connected with yet, then connect with those 3 students regardless of how your day is going.  At the end of the day, dozens of things may have gone wrong, but at least you'll have done that one thing that was your goal for the day.  That’s important.   
​

Picture
3. 

It is OK to say, "No."  Especially if you are a new teacher, you might feel like you are obligated to take on EVERYTHING!  You're not.  If adding something else will take away your serenity, which will take away from how available you are for your students, then by saying, "No" to that thing, you are actually saying, "Yes" to yourself, and therefore your students. 
​ 
Picture

​4. 

​Pick one night every week that is your night, and you will not do ANYTHING school related after a certain time on that night.  If that happens to be Wednesday at 5:00, then be true to that.  If 5:00 on Wednesday is your time to do what you want then you will get in the habit of scheduling everything else around that time.  You will look forward to that night as much as the weekend!
Picture

5. 

​Be at peace knowing that it is 100% OK to take a "mental health" day.  During the emergency announcement before a flight, they always tell you that if the oxygen masks drop down, you need to put your own mask on before assisting others.  There's a reason for that - just like there's a reason for taking a mental health day.  You need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others.  I promise, you will feel SO much better for doing so!  
So, there's my quick list for you!  I wish I would have done these things when I first started, but I do these things now, and I share these ideas with my student teachers and new teachers I work with. 

I'll have a bi-weekly email that will be coming your way on Sundays and Thursdays this year filled with tips, freebies at times, and resources I'm featuring or currently using in my own classroom.  

All the best!
Matt @ Surviving Social Studies
Picture
Follow Me @:
Teachers Pay Teachers
Instagram
Facebook
www.survivingsocialstudies.com
0 Comments

Social Studies March Madness!

3/4/2021

1 Comment

 
When March Madness rolls around it means that spring break is near.  When spring break is near it means that the end of the year is beginning to appear on the horizon and the feelings of summer become a reality. 

One of my favorite ways to use that energy and excitement to our advantage in class is by creating a “Tournament of Champions.”  I teach 8th grade U.S. History, so my focus has been for students to try and determine which person/group/event/invention had the greatest impact on the history of the United States.   
Picture
I also have tournaments set up for those of you who teach world history and have one that focuses on scientists and inventors, too.  These could be a great way to use as an interdisciplinary unit between social studies and science or ELA.  
Picture
Picture
How I conduct my American History Tournament of Champions is by first presenting this information to students during March Madness even though we won’t have out tournament until the end of the year.  This gives students plenty of time to conduct their research so there isn’t so much pressure.  It also gives them something to look forward to and allows you to have something for them to work on if you have a lesson that left you with some time at the end of class. 

Students typically work in pairs and choose a person/group/invention/event from the list provided, conduct research, and then write speeches to try and advance their topic to the next round.  Everything is laid out in the instructions!
​
I sweeten the tournament by showing students the following prizes for making it through the different levels of the bracket:
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture



​


​

Included are 100 images for you classroom…















Sheets for students to write what they'd like to say for each round...















Easy to follow instructions using PowerPoint makes customizing your own brackets a snap!





​
This year, I'll explain to my students how I normally would run the tournament pre-COVID and see if I can get some student-helpers to figure out how we can do this with some students virtual and some students in person.  Plus, they are usually way better with technology strategies than I am!

I hope you enjoy one of these tournaments with your own students, too

All the best,
​Matt @ Surviving Social Studies

​TpT Store
​Instagram
Pinterest
​Facebook 


Picture
1 Comment

Teaching During the Presidential Election

9/20/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
Click the image above to get to the resource
There is no better place than a social studies classroom to get students talking about the world they live in. This year, the November 3rd election will be one off the liveliest elections in recent history... so get your students involved!!

When it's presidential election season, I start by having a countdown every day to let students know how many more days we have until election day.

I teach 8th graders, and they are either 4-5 years away from being able to vote, but they are at the age where they are starting to see the bigger picture in life, and understand that who is president can have an enormous influence on the world in which they live .
This 2020 Presidential Debates resource will help your students become active listeners to both sides of the political spectrum.  There are four debates scheduled between now and election day, so find a way to make this a part of the lives of your students.  Offer extra credit... have a raffle for a candy bar...  a free late assignment... whatever it takes - just get them involved!

​Once you've got the hooked, then let then see who they would vote for based on skimming the surface of 10 Mystery Candidates backgrounds.  Once we do this in class, the next step is to understand how a president is actually elected.   
Picture
Picture
Now, there's this.  I've been teaching for over 20 years, and I've never had a student NOT play the electoral college game that I made.  To be honest, years ago, I came up with this idea out of desperation as to how I was going to make learning about the electoral college fun for kids.  Then, and now... it's neve let me down!  

You'll hear cries of, "Yessss!  I just won California!"  Or, "Arghhh... how could I lose Texas?"

It is, literally, one of my favorite days of the year!  
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
If you are new to social studies this year due to COVID-19 and had a role  change or if you are just looking for new ways to get your students involved in the political process.  I hope these resources help.  Enjoy them, and have a great election season!

Check out these other presidential resources if you're interested.

​
All the best,
Matt @ Surviving Social Studies

​TpT Store
​Instagram
Pinterest
​Facebook 


​
1 Comment

Fun Geography Activity for First Week of School Using Google Slides

9/9/2020

1 Comment

 
This year, my district has switched from teaching 49-minute classes to teaching 90-minute classes.  That being said, this doesn't mean that we can get through almost twice as much curriculum each day because our students are with us for longer.  I teach middle school, and our students are sitting through five 90-minute classes during the two days they are in school for in person learning.
Picture
Picture
This is way more enjoyable for them than sitting and listening to the same thing class-after-class:

Rules.  Rules.   Rules.

This activity is one activity of many that I'm doing with students this year to help break  up their day and also see how well  they use technology.


The nice thing about this activity is it allows students to help each other out while still social distancing in class.  In fact, this is encouraged!

I tell students, "Everyone gets stuck once in a while... so ask for help if you need help, and help someone if you know how to do what they're struggling with."  

What's great about this activity is that it gives students a chance to talk with each other and solve problems together, which is something I want them doing all year long anyway!  This gets that ball rolling.
Picture
Picture
I teach 8th grade, and this activity takes students about 20 minutes to do (depending on their level of expertise using Google Slides).

What's fun is that when students are done and you make the answer key available, you'll hear some laughing in class and comments like, "Oh, wow!  I was WAY off on the Mississippi River!"  Or, "Meh... I was pretty close on New York City."

Some students will turn their screens toward each other to show them either how close or how far away they were.  

They get a chance to do something, talk to each other, and begin a bond that will hopefully grow as the year goes on.  



I suggest trying the activity first so you know how to assist students.  Here's the answer key slides that you can share with students when they're done.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
You can find this activity for free in my TpT store by clicking HERE

Enjoy!
​Matt @ Surviving Social Studies

​TpT Store
​Instagram
Pinterest
​Facebook 
1 Comment

Labor Day Sale!

9/7/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture

I just wanted to let everyone know that my entire store will be 20% off today (9/7/2020) in celebration of Labor Day.  Lots of digital resources to choose from as seen below.


Enjoy the day (and the sale)!

Best,
Matt @ Surviving Social Studies

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
1 Comment

How I Use Murder, She Wrote to Teach History

8/30/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
So, how does Murder, She Wrote fit into a history class? The answer is – perfectly! We start with the basics in my history class… fact, opinion, inference, and corroboration. We could go through a boring PowerPoint in that first week defining all of those terms, do a formative assessment where I can see if they understand the difference, blah, blah, blah… that’s not my style. I want these kids to get into the mindset of history, have fun while they’re at school, and do activities that will trick them into learning. Angela Lansbury comes through with Murder, She Wrote and never lets me down.

So, many years ago I thought, how can I make this… not boring. It just so happened my daughters were little… watching Beauty and the Beast… and I heard the voice of Mrs. Potts. I was like, “Oh my gosh… I know that voice, but how? It’s the Murder, She Wrote lady!” This was way before Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube. I went to the public library… sure enough… they had the whole series. I knew I needed to give it a try.

I went to work that Saturday and put the video in… took pictures of all the characters… and the rest, as they say, is history. It honestly wouldn’t matter which episode you use. If you want to use the one from this example.... it is called Coal Miner's Slaughter. I've used many different ones over the years, but this is a surefire hit. Murder, She Wrote is available on Amazon Prime. I, of course, recommend viewing the episode before you use it so you know when to stop.

If you use Coal Miner's Slaughter... I stop at 16.51 for Inference #1 (then you can burn through the advertisements with the projector and sound off). This is where you'll ask students to share their facts, opinions, and inferences. I then stop again at 33.04 for Inference #2... and ask for facts, opinions, and inferences. Finally, I stop again at 41:35 (this is critical! When the phone line is cut...STOP!) This is where students make inference #3 and I ask questions using the same tactics as before. It's fun to say, "OK, well...let's finish this tomorrow" and you'll hear a "NOOOOOO!!!" in unison, which is always fun.

Once they learn who did it there's a lot of fun conversations in class. I promise you, no matter what you do for the rest of the year... you can always refer back to this lesson and the terms fact, opinion, inference, and corroboration. This is the sheet I give students. You can make the same for yourself by just playing whichever episode you'd like to use and take pictures of each character.

It really is a lot of fun and a great way to get the kids involved right away!

Enjoy!
Matt @ Surviving Social Studies
​
Picture
Picture
murder_she_wrote_-_introduction_to_history.pdf
File Size: 70 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Picture
Don't forget to keep your students safe by having them come up one at a time for help this year!  Works like a charm!  Just click on the image.

0 Comments

How I Use Social Studies Bulletin Boards

3/14/2020

0 Comments

 

There's something about wondering what's hiding underneath that gets people to stop and look.  Think about how many bulletin boards you've walked past either as a teacher or a student and never stopped to look because what was on the board didn't grab your attention.  

I love seeing a student or staff member stop and peek under one of the cards of these bulletin boards to see if they guessed correctly.  The mystery of what's underneath is what makes these social studies bulletin boards different... people stop and look!
Picture
Picture
Picture




There are 3 bulletin boards outside of my classroom and one of them is used for  announcements, one is used to connect to what we are learning about, and one is dedicated for fun.  That's where these resources come into play.  I want something for my students to see that might be something they didn't know about before.  


​
Picture
It's nice having resources that I can use as an extension to what we are learning about in class.  For example, right now we are learning about Manifest Destiny in our history class and students were introduced to President James K. Polk.  They don't hear that name much when it comes to presidents because they've usually only heard of the "big names" such as Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, and Kennedy.  The other day I saw a student flipping open the cards until they found James K. Polk and then read the information on the cover.  Then they flipped open the next two president cards to see who came after. 

​That's exactly what I wanted to have happen with these!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
This Presidents of the United States Bulletin Board is available in my TpT store along with the Election Word Wall that will come in handy this fall during election season!


Here's some more interactive social studies bulletin boards I use throughout the year as well as Word Walls I include for the different units I teach.  One of the best things is when my student helpers ask if they can take down bulletin boards and put up new ones.  That saves me a ton of time and they enjoy the task... or the candy they get for helping :)
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Enjoy!
​Matt @ Surviving Social Studies

​TpT Store
​Instagram
Pinterest
​Facebook 
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    May 2022
    August 2021
    March 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

©️ Surviving Social Studies