ED 3382-501

Curriculum and Instruction in Social Studies

2006 Spring
Instructor: Mary Helen Haines

Office: Teacher Development Center

Classroom: GR 2.508
Office Hrs: Wednesday 6 to 7, or by appt.
Phone: 214-801-3844
Email: mhhaines@utdallas.edu
Class website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CISS-UTD/

Required Textbooks:
1. Teaching Social Studies in Middle and Secondary Schools, Fourth Edition
by Peter H. Martorella
2. A Link to the Past: Engaging Students in the Study of History, 2004, NCSS.
By Yell, et. al.
3. Texas Social Studies Framework, Texas Education Agency, 1999 (for sale at TDC
$10.00, or free online at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/ssc/ under downloads)

Highly Suggested booklets for TExES preparation:

TEKS Biographies and Glossary: Available $10.00 at TDC, or free online at
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/ssc/
Essential Websites:
www.tea.state.tx.us/teks
www.sbec.state.tx.us

Course Description: Curriculum and Instruction in Social Studies is designed to help prepare
students for successful and effective classroom teaching. Current theories and methodologies
will be studied and practiced with an emphasis on their practical applications to Social Studies
curriculum using the current national and state standards.

Course Objectives:
The student will:
1. use the Social Studies TEKS, as well as other material, to plan a unit of study.
2. observe a variety of teaching techniques during field experience and reflect on their
effectiveness.
3. gain experience for the TExES tests in Social Studies with practice exams.

Course Requirements:
1. Professional attitudes and behavior that demonstrate your ability to be a successful
classroom teacher. This includes punctuality, preparation, attendance, and respect for
others. See attendance policy below.
2. Twenty hours of classroom observation. Currently employed teachers will observe ten
hours taught by other teachers in their school system, or read three journals in lieu of the
observations.
3. Develop a major unit plan with complete lessons and assessments.
4. Take mid-semester and final exams that will include TExES practice test for your area.
Evaluation: Unit Plan 40%
Observation Report 20%
Exams 20%
Attendance 10%
Preparation 10%
100%

Attendance Policy: Because the nature of this course is experiential, absences will directly
affect the student’s ability to comprehend and incorporate the material covered in class. If you
are absent for any reason, you should contact a classmate to find out what you missed. You will
be held responsible for work due the class meeting following an absence and making copies of
material missed. More than one absence will result in 0 points for class attendance. After three
absences, you should initiate drop proceedings. Exceptions to this policy must be worked out
with the professor.

Syllabus
Date Topic Assignment Due

1-Jan. 11 Introduction to Social Studies Teaching

Jan. 13 Registration Deadline for TExES test

2-Jan. 18 TEKS /TExES Ch. 1-4 in Martorella,

Introduction – Ch. 4
Computer Lab in Texas Social Studies
GR. 3.206 Framework

Diagnostic Test Due

Go to SBEC Website
www.sbec.state.tx.us Take your
practice test (Social Studies or
History), bring to class.
Print out the Domains and
Competencies for your test from the
Test Framework.

3-Jan. 25 Planning to Teach: Ch. 5 in Framework pp. 39-46

Instructional Planning Ch. 5 in Martorella
Review Wong Ch. 21, 22

4-Feb. 1 Planning continued Unit Proposal due

Print out TEKS for your unit’s
course and bring to class
5-Feb. 8 Assessment in the Social Studies Ch. 14 in Martorella
Classroom Ch. 5 pp. 53-65 in Framework
Review Wong Ch. 23

6-Feb. 15 Mid-Term Exam

Feb. 18 TExES Exam Date

7-Feb. 22 Assessment continued Unit Exam due

8-Mar. 1 Social Studies Instructional Methods Ch. 5 in Framework pp. 46-53

(Coop. Learning, Simulations, Inquiry) Ch. 6, 7 in Martorella (hand in)
Link: Interactive Lecture p. 14;
Conceptual Cont. p. 36; Coop. Group
p. 52
Mar. 6-11 Spring Break-no class

9-Mar. 15 Methods continued Ch. 8, 9 (hand in)

(Skills, Values) Link: Philosophical Chairs p. 41
One Lesson Activity Due

10-Mar. 22 Methods continued Ch. 10, 11 (hand in)

(Multicultural, Reading) Link: KWL p. 9; RAFT p. 26;
Ant. Guide p. 30; Note Taking p.
32; I-Search Essay p. 48

11-Mar. 29 Methods continued Ch. 12, 13 (hand in)

(Technology, Special Needs) Link: Response Group p. 18;
Video Viewing p. 22

12-Ap. 5 Unit Plan Due

Methods continued

13-Ap. 12 Observation Report Due

Methods continued

14-Ap. 19 Review session

15-Ap. 26 Final Exam

Instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus as needed.