I don’t know about you, but there never seems to be enough time in the school day and so I had to come up with 3 creative ways to fit in my social studies!
One time, I actually told my principal “Oh, I don’t teach Social Studies and Science”.
O.M.G.
What I MEANT to say, was that I don’t have a traditional social studies and science “block of time” during my day.
When I did have a traditional social studies block, I NEVER had enough time for it.
It was always the thing that got pushed back or skipped completely.
I knew something had to change, so I got creative!!
Here are 3 ways you can fit in Social Studies lessons into your day WITHOUT a traditional social studies time:
1. Read Alouds
2. Videos
3. Writing Station
Social Studies Hack #1: Read Alouds
Read alouds are the perfect way to blend social studies topics and lessons with your (more important) comprehension lessons!
And the best part?
Read alouds are something that you are doing every single day anyway!
If you really want to save some time, switch out one of your daily read alouds with a social studies read aloud to knock out two subjects with one “stone” (book).
The “I Am” series books like the “I am Abraham Lincoln” book seen on the left is my go to series when we are working on biographies!
Social Studies Hack #2: Videos
Brainpop Jr. is my favorite go-to place for great content in the form of less than 10 minute videos! They also have a great “take a quiz” component! If you don’t have access to Brainpop Jr., there are also tons of great, FREE videos on youtube!
What makes this strategy efficient, is that in can be ANY time of day!
• 5 extra minutes before lunch
• “after recess cool down”
• morning work/prep for dismissal
P.S. One of my very favorite videos to watch is “Scrambled States of America” on Bookflix! It's a solid 30 minute video that we can watch over several different days. Then we follow it up with the “Map of my Country” activity seen on the right!
Social Studies Hack #3: Writing Station
After I’ve read a story or watched a video, I love to have my students “apply” their learning through writing!!
I like to keep it simple and consistent.
I use social studies activities in my writing station ALL YEAR LONG!
I like creative writing activities that allow my students to think “beyond the text” and I also use a lot of informational activities where students record what they have learned about a particular subject.
The reason I really love these activities for “consistency” is because the students know what to expect and I’m not wasting any time explaining or modeling how to complete them.
I'm not kidding.
After the first 5-6 weeks of school, my students are already so familiar with these activities that they automatically know what to do.
Also, adding them into my writing station saves me TIME!
Not a day goes by that I don’t do guided reading stations so I know that the activity will not be skipped!
What do I do with the time that I save?
Check out:
Want done-for-you, no prep Social Studies units?
Everything you saw in today's post can be found in my Year-Long, Standards Aligned Social Studies Bundle!
More Social Studies Favorites:
