Welcome to the Elementary Social Studies page of the NSCSS web site!
We hope to make it easier for elementary teachers to access valuable social studies resources. (Some of these resources may also be posted on other resource pages if they are designed for K-12 education.)
We hope to make it easier for elementary teachers to access valuable social studies resources. (Some of these resources may also be posted on other resource pages if they are designed for K-12 education.)
Introducing a new resource for elementary Nebraska studies!
Join two children as they visit the State Capitol and learn about the role of state senators in Nebraska's unicameral legislature. The story emphasizes the characteristics needed in leadership including perseverance that the willingness to work together.
Author Amanda McGill Johnson is a former Nebraska State Senator. She visited with many touring classrooms across the state. She is active in community service, and is the director of a nonprofit agency in Omaha. She and her husband live in Omaha with their two children.
Read the article about the book and author from the Omaha World-Herald
The book is currently available from Amazon.com
OR Francie and Finch Bookshop in Lincoln
OR The Bookworm in Omaha
Join two children as they visit the State Capitol and learn about the role of state senators in Nebraska's unicameral legislature. The story emphasizes the characteristics needed in leadership including perseverance that the willingness to work together.
Author Amanda McGill Johnson is a former Nebraska State Senator. She visited with many touring classrooms across the state. She is active in community service, and is the director of a nonprofit agency in Omaha. She and her husband live in Omaha with their two children.
Read the article about the book and author from the Omaha World-Herald
The book is currently available from Amazon.com
OR Francie and Finch Bookshop in Lincoln
OR The Bookworm in Omaha
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The new Nebraska State Social Studies Standards reflect an instructional shift towards inquiry. For elementary teachers who would like help with the inquiry process for young learners, you might view the resources listed below.
The new Nebraska State Social Studies Standards reflect an instructional shift towards inquiry. For elementary teachers who would like help with the inquiry process for young learners, you might view the resources listed below.
Georgia has developed a new resource to help elementary teachers.
The URL is https://www.georgiastandards.org/Georgia-Standards/Pages/Everyday-Inquiry-in-Elementary-School-Social-Studies.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
The URL is https://www.georgiastandards.org/Georgia-Standards/Pages/Everyday-Inquiry-in-Elementary-School-Social-Studies.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
The Minnesota Department of Education in collaboration with the state historical society put together a series of social studies PD videos. URL is http://education.mnhs.org/videos-for-teachers
InquirED has released a new inquiry lesson plan around the compelling question: How can we create a historical record of important events? You can view this lesson and the library of lessons they have released here.
Links and learning activities tied to humanities councils in the states and territories are included in our Investigating Local History Teacher’s Guide. This includes resources for using the NEH funded Clio website and app that teaches about local history, culture, and geography.
Youth in Action Film
This new film from Brave New Films showcases the role young people play in improving their communities. The film is broken into eleven segments to show different examples of all the ways that young people engaged in taking informed action.
This new film from Brave New Films showcases the role young people play in improving their communities. The film is broken into eleven segments to show different examples of all the ways that young people engaged in taking informed action.
Geography for Kids
Geography for Kids is a new resource that highlights geographic thinking and basic geographic concepts for young kids. You can view the website here.
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Geography for Kids is a new resource that highlights geographic thinking and basic geographic concepts for young kids. You can view the website here.
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The Nebraska State Bar Foundation is offering a new Civics Education program, Kids Voting- Nebraska ABC. In Nebraska, 63% of the eligible voting population turned out to vote in 2016, which is above the national average, but the Foundation hopes to improve that number by starting with our kids.
Kids Voting offers nonpartisan lessons, resources, educational tools and hands-on activities.
Kids Voting is adaptable for in-person learning, distance learning or homeschooling.
The objectives of this educational program are to create lifelong voting habits in children, to increase family communication about citizenship and increase voter turnout.
The five key components are:
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Kids Voting offers nonpartisan lessons, resources, educational tools and hands-on activities.
Kids Voting is adaptable for in-person learning, distance learning or homeschooling.
The objectives of this educational program are to create lifelong voting habits in children, to increase family communication about citizenship and increase voter turnout.
The five key components are:
- Curricula for K-12 students
- Mock election processes by paper ballots or electronic voting
- Activities to involve families
- Educator support and resources
- Research on impact and effectiveness
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FREE Resources for Fourth Grade Nebraska Studies
from the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation!
FREE Resources for Fourth Grade Nebraska Studies
from the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation!
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Nebraska NEST Financial Scholars
"The Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office offers three interactive, web-based educational programs that bring critical financial literacy to Nebraska students and their families. Powered by EverFi, Inc., these programs are all offered at no cost to schools or taxpayers."
treasurer.nebraska.gov/financial-literacy/
treasurer.nebraska.gov/financial-literacy/vault/Vault-One-Pager2015.pdf (Elementary Grades 4-6)
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"The Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office offers three interactive, web-based educational programs that bring critical financial literacy to Nebraska students and their families. Powered by EverFi, Inc., these programs are all offered at no cost to schools or taxpayers."
treasurer.nebraska.gov/financial-literacy/
treasurer.nebraska.gov/financial-literacy/vault/Vault-One-Pager2015.pdf (Elementary Grades 4-6)
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Use this link to view the webinar (approx. 1 hour). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nf3qZ2kDd0&feature=youtu.be ******************************************************************
Nell K. Duke, professor in literacy, language, and culture at the University of Michigan, calls for more instructional time for science and social studies education at the elementary level. Watch this presentation as she explains why she supports 45 minutes of science AND social studies instruction every day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAWO2lvAnjI
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAWO2lvAnjI
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FREE LESSON PLANS!
Click on the lesson title to view.
· Every Penny Counts (gr. K-2)
· ABCs of Saving (gr. K–2; 3–5)
· A Perfect Pet (gr. K–2; 3–5)
· Big Banks, Piggy Banks (gr. K-2; 3-5)
· Cowboy Bob Builds a Community (gr. 3-5)
· Inventive Incentive (gr. 3–5)
· Money Comes and Goes (gr. 3–5)
· Goods and Services: Some are Private, Some are Not (gr. 3-5; 6-8)
· Setting Goals (gr. 6–8)
· The Price of Gasoline: What's Behind It? (gr. 6-8)
· Effects of the Recession (gr. 6–8)
· Be an Energy Saver (gr. 6-8; 9-12)
· To Buy or Not to Buy (gr. 6–8; 9–12)
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Durham Museum Digital Learning Opportunities
The Durham Museum’s digital learning program offers unique opportunities for learners of all ages. Taught by educators, these engaging and interactive classes follow National and State Social Studies Standards and are filled with primary sources featuring artifacts, videos, and photographs along with pre- and post-visit activities. Each session lasts 30 minutes (time can be made flexible; Virtual Vault opportunities are approximately 15 minutes). Each session should be booked at least two weeks in advance.
ALL ABOARD (RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES K-5) Hop aboard our passengers cars, steam engine and caboose for an authentic look at train travel and how it shaped our country! This class includes an authentic 1950’s video that will show students what it was really like to travel during this incredible time in history.
HISTORIC SCHOOLROOM (RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES K-5) Step back to the 1890’s and see how different it was to attend a one-room school! Explore daily life from this time period through artifacts, stories and reciting real lessons students did in their classroom. Who will be the spelling bee champion or have the best penmanship? Find out in our virtual one-room schoolhouse!
NATIVE AMERICAN LIFE (RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES K-5) Explore the life of the Plains Indians tribes. Enter the Durham Museum’s tepee and earth lodge to interact with Native American artifacts and meet Scout, our resident buffalo. Learn how the Native Americans used the resources around them throughout the centuries, before showing off your own buffalo artifact creation!
PIONEER LIFE (RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES K-5) Visit our log cabin and experience the life of a Great Plains pioneer. Students will take part in a “choose your adventure” session where they will have to make the tough choices the pioneers had to make as they prepared to travel west and build a new life!
Building of the Transcontinental Railroad (Recommend for Grades 4-8)
In 1863, President Lincoln signed a document that designated the eastern terminus of the proposed transcontinental rail route in Omaha, Nebraska. Within a short time dirt was flying in Nebraska and California where the western route was started. Thousands of workers, supply trains and equipment were used to complete this project and connect the United States. After six years, the rails were joined at Promontory Point, Utah on May 10, 1869.
Art Deco in Architecture (Recommended for Grades 5-8)
Experience Omaha’s Union Station, a world-renowned example of Art Deco Architecture. Built in 1931, Union Station’s style represents the power, strength, and masculinity of the railroad industry it housed. This videoconference will allow viewers to explore the history of the building as well as the intricate details that make up this specific architectural style.Other Virtual Field Trips: In addition to the fantastic digital learning opportunities listed above, we also offer the following classes as virtual field trips.
All Aboard//Historic Schoolroom//Neighborhood Store//Pioneer Life//Native American Life
Virtual Vault: The Durham Museum’s Virtual Vault is a unique opportunity to see behind-the-scenes while learning about a topic that your class is studying! These 15-minute experiences are perfect as an introduction to many topics in your classroom and take students into the vault to view artifacts about the following topics:
WWII Trunk // Money Matters // Exploring Maps // Unique Nebraska // Retro Tech
For more information on our Digital Learning opportunities, contact:
Abby Jung
ajung@durhammuseum.org
402.444.5027 ext. 528
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Durham Museum Digital Learning Opportunities
The Durham Museum’s digital learning program offers unique opportunities for learners of all ages. Taught by educators, these engaging and interactive classes follow National and State Social Studies Standards and are filled with primary sources featuring artifacts, videos, and photographs along with pre- and post-visit activities. Each session lasts 30 minutes (time can be made flexible; Virtual Vault opportunities are approximately 15 minutes). Each session should be booked at least two weeks in advance.
ALL ABOARD (RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES K-5) Hop aboard our passengers cars, steam engine and caboose for an authentic look at train travel and how it shaped our country! This class includes an authentic 1950’s video that will show students what it was really like to travel during this incredible time in history.
HISTORIC SCHOOLROOM (RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES K-5) Step back to the 1890’s and see how different it was to attend a one-room school! Explore daily life from this time period through artifacts, stories and reciting real lessons students did in their classroom. Who will be the spelling bee champion or have the best penmanship? Find out in our virtual one-room schoolhouse!
NATIVE AMERICAN LIFE (RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES K-5) Explore the life of the Plains Indians tribes. Enter the Durham Museum’s tepee and earth lodge to interact with Native American artifacts and meet Scout, our resident buffalo. Learn how the Native Americans used the resources around them throughout the centuries, before showing off your own buffalo artifact creation!
PIONEER LIFE (RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES K-5) Visit our log cabin and experience the life of a Great Plains pioneer. Students will take part in a “choose your adventure” session where they will have to make the tough choices the pioneers had to make as they prepared to travel west and build a new life!
Building of the Transcontinental Railroad (Recommend for Grades 4-8)
In 1863, President Lincoln signed a document that designated the eastern terminus of the proposed transcontinental rail route in Omaha, Nebraska. Within a short time dirt was flying in Nebraska and California where the western route was started. Thousands of workers, supply trains and equipment were used to complete this project and connect the United States. After six years, the rails were joined at Promontory Point, Utah on May 10, 1869.
Art Deco in Architecture (Recommended for Grades 5-8)
Experience Omaha’s Union Station, a world-renowned example of Art Deco Architecture. Built in 1931, Union Station’s style represents the power, strength, and masculinity of the railroad industry it housed. This videoconference will allow viewers to explore the history of the building as well as the intricate details that make up this specific architectural style.Other Virtual Field Trips: In addition to the fantastic digital learning opportunities listed above, we also offer the following classes as virtual field trips.
All Aboard//Historic Schoolroom//Neighborhood Store//Pioneer Life//Native American Life
Virtual Vault: The Durham Museum’s Virtual Vault is a unique opportunity to see behind-the-scenes while learning about a topic that your class is studying! These 15-minute experiences are perfect as an introduction to many topics in your classroom and take students into the vault to view artifacts about the following topics:
WWII Trunk // Money Matters // Exploring Maps // Unique Nebraska // Retro Tech
For more information on our Digital Learning opportunities, contact:
Abby Jung
ajung@durhammuseum.org
402.444.5027 ext. 528
***********************************************************************************************
Through a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program, the State Historical Society of Iowa developed Primary Source Sets to help
educators meet the Iowa history standards within the Iowa Core in Social Studies. These Primary Source Sets address national and international history as well as Iowa’s history within each set.
Primary Source Toolkit
Are you new to using primary sources or unsure of how to use primary sources with your students? Download the Primary Source Set Toolkit to learn how primary sources can bring history to life. The toolkit has information for teaching students of all ages, kindergarten through 12th grade and older. This toolkit can be used with Primary Source Sets or any primary source you bring to the classroom.
iowaculture.gov/sites/default/files/history-education-pss-toolkit-final.pdf
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educators meet the Iowa history standards within the Iowa Core in Social Studies. These Primary Source Sets address national and international history as well as Iowa’s history within each set.
Primary Source Toolkit
Are you new to using primary sources or unsure of how to use primary sources with your students? Download the Primary Source Set Toolkit to learn how primary sources can bring history to life. The toolkit has information for teaching students of all ages, kindergarten through 12th grade and older. This toolkit can be used with Primary Source Sets or any primary source you bring to the classroom.
iowaculture.gov/sites/default/files/history-education-pss-toolkit-final.pdf
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