How Can Social Studies Inspire Student Inquiry and Civic Engagement?

Significant shifts are reshaping social studies instruction, and they’re here to stay. Have you encountered the transformative framework known as the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies? You’re likely familiar with its impact, even if you don’t recognize the formal name. The C3 Framework serves as a guiding light, ushering in dynamic changes in how we approach social studies education.

Unleashing Inquiry: The Role of Social Studies Frameworks

These shifts in social studies instruction encompass the concept of inquiry, emphasizing skill application through social studies-centered content. They promote the integration and expansion of literacy, mainly through civic media, within the social studies disciplines, culminating in actionable insights. The C3 Framework fosters a culture where students are encouraged to actively inquire about their social studies learning. It challenges them to seek credible evidence to address these inquiries and actively share their findings with others.

How North Godwin Empowered Education: Turning STEM Dreams into Reality

Written by Karen Baum, Instructional Specialist Godwin Heights Public Schools

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is a fantastic way to engage students in learning about the world around them, develop their problem-solving skills, and provide them with hands-on learning where they can create, collaborate, and think critically. We wanted North Godwin students to have STEM experiences where they could enjoy this type of 21st-century learning, but where to start?

The Journey Begins

Conversations about STEM learning goals began in the Fall of 2019. We worked with Kent ISD consultants Marcus Deja, Wendi Vogel, and Keith Tramper. We discussed what other districts were offering students for STEM learning, and we looked at published programs available for elementary students, like Engineering in Elementary STEM Education (EIE). However, we didn’t find any program that seemed the right fit for our community of learners. Equity was our priority, and we realized that we needed to make our program available to all students to achieve it. To achieve this goal, we decided to offer STEM opportunities during the school day, and we made teacher professional learning central to the design of our program. As we continued to plan for the new year, March 2020 brought COVID and school closures, and our STEM plans were quickly put on the back burner. 

Elevating Student Success: The Importance of College and Career Readiness

As educators, we feel immense pride and fulfillment when we run into a former student in public. Seeing their goofy grins and meeting their partners and family make us happy, but what brings us the greatest joy is when they proudly share their current post-secondary education or career pursuits. One thing that all educators have in common is our desire to build lasting relationships with our students, help them grow and develop, and ultimately watch them successfully launch into their next step.

These truly happy interactions stem from a well-rounded foundation of academic knowledge, social-emotional skills, and reflection on the day-to-day realities of a career. This educational journey starts in elementary school and should progress gradually, becoming more detailed and reflective during adolescence and reaching its highest point during high school.