Integration Ideas for Using Technology in Social Studies

1. Instead of writing a paper or essay have students develop a web page on their topic; not only will this take higher order thinking skills, it also will prevent students from plagiarizing.

Examples:
• Student created Biome web pages: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~nicki76/biomes.html
• China: http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/apr99/index.html

2. There are many online activities that allow students to use their social studies skills and technology. They can be tours, timelines, simulations etc., but they are always engaging.

Examples:
• The First Thanksgiving, includes a the Voyage of the Mayflower, a timeline, and a tour of the Plimouth Plantation: http://teacher.scholastic.com/thanksgiving/
• Interactive tour of Ellis Island: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/index.htm
• Pearl Harbor: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/social/wwii_interactives.htm

3. Elementary and middle school students will match the states to their correct position on a USA map: http://www.scholastic.com/play/prestates.htm

4. Students use specific websites to answer questions about social studies topics.

Examples:
• Ahoy Columbus! Test your Christopher Columbus knowledge here: http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/columbus.htm
• Amazing Aztecs: http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/aztec.htm
• Lewis and Clark’s Trail: http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/lewisandclark.htm

5. Play the History Mystery game. Students are provided with online clues to solve the mystery of identifying the object: a person, place, thing or event in history. A teacher guide is found with each activity.

Examples:
• Bill of Rights: http://teacher.scholastic.com/histmyst/start.asp?Game=11
• Explorers: http://teacher.scholastic.com/histmyst/start.asp?Game=25
• Ancient Egypt: http://teacher.scholastic.com/histmyst/start.asp?Game=45

6. Create your own Virtual Scrapbook on a social studies related topic or use an existing one.

Example:
Newfoundland and the great War: http://collections.ic.gc.ca/great_war/gallery/scrapbook/default.html

7. Have students create a photo essay on a social studies related topic.

Example:
Teacher Lesson: http://ali.apple.com/ali_sites/deli/exhibits/1000308/The_Lesson.html

8. Have students create an Interactive Map of the area you are studying, using Excel. They will be able to add comments to specific areas on the map itself. There is a printable or online tutorial here: http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial059.shtml

9. Have the students create a timeline for the era you are studying. Online directions for this activity can be found here: http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial059.shtml

Example:
http://www.microsoft.com/education/CreateTimeline.aspx

10. Have the students create a newpaper of a time period using Microsoft Publisher. For example, let the students create a newspaper that would have been published during the time that Sparta was a prominent city state in Greece. Students could create a flyer or advertisement for an event in history--a flyer asking all interested parties to attend the Salem Witch Trials.

11. Use presentation software, such as PowerPoint, to insert digital pictures of a current event and make a class presentation. Students could use the images to write a newspaper article or a caption to go along with the image.