Social Studies

C3 Framework: Start by reading this document which heavily influenced the Iowa standards.

C3 Framework Synopsis: The Iowa SS inquiry standards are tightly aligned to the C3 Framework.  This synopsis can help you understand the C3 Framework in a nutshell. 

Supporting Inquiry-Based Teaching and Learning: Chapter 8 outlines ways administrators can support inquiry in the classroom

Making Inquiry Possible: Explore the why, what, who, and how of inquiry-based instruction through a series of documentary films that feature teachers working together to make inquiry possible.

Four films explore these four questions:

• Why inquiry?

• What makes inquiry possible?

• What does inquiry look like?

• How do you build an inquiry culture?

Featured Resources include:

Making Inquiry Possible article explains the project

Civics Test Inquiry

C3 Blogs

Social Studies Inquiry Observation Form: use this form as is to observe for inquiry in the classroom or revise to meet your needs.

 Common Core Shifts: These shifts directly connect to the literacy standards for social studies. This document also contains some student and teacher look fors.

Inquiry Teacher Practices: This is the resource I have not sourced but the "look fors" language could be very helpful when you observe.

MA Observation Checklists: The grade level observation look-fors for ELA can help you identify the literacy standards that could potentially be implemented through social studies.

Social Studies Videos: These videos from Georgia classrooms offer a view of what inquiry can look like at various grade levels. 

Inquiry Design Model (IDM) Template: This can give you an idea of what a unit design can look like (one model) 

C3 Inventory: Samples of inquiry based units

Using the Question Formulation Technique in the Classroom: Questioning is at the heart of inquiry. Learn more about the QFT and its use in the social studies classroom by engaging in this micro credential.

Marginalization of Social Studies: This one page graphic serves as a way to explore why an emphasis on elementary social studies instruction  is needed in our schools.

Coaching Change in Social Studies Instruction: slide deck to walk you through an inquiry as you learn about inquiry.

Change Matrix Coaching Questions

1. Do we have a clear vision of what social studies inquiry looks like at each of the three levels (elem, MS, HS)?

2. Is that vision co-owned?

3. Is there a manageable, realistic action plan to achieve the vision? Does the action plan include clearly defined outcomes (steps), address new learning needed, provide the time and resources to meet the outcome and define how we know we have met the outcome?

4. What skills are required for this work? 

5. Where can we build on existing strengths?

6. How and where can we build skills to fill gaps?

7. Why should teachers do this? What is in it for them (incentives)? What are the built in accountability measures?

8. Do teachers have the resources needed to do this work?

   1.  Instructional materials that support the standards and inquiry

   2. Time to do the work

   3. Coaching, administrative support