Here are 50 strategies for creating meaningful social studies experiences for K-8 students -- four overarching and forty-six specific strategies --organized alphabetically, accompanied by assessment tools, and introduced by grade level and National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) standards indicators. Features: Linking of strategies to NCSS standards Including an explanation of the standards at the front of the book. Prepares students to work in an increasingly standards-based, test-based educational environment. Thorough description of each strategy Including rationale for its appropriateness and references to respected research. Ensures students the benefits of current scholarship in the field. Applications and Ideas section with each strategy Provide either a classroom application or an assessment tool. Teaches students to recognize the difference between what a teacher taught and what his/her students learned. Illustrates strategies "in action" in real classrooms with real learners.

Procedural Recommendations section with each strategy Outlines how to prepare for, facilitate, and direct the strategy. Gives students a guide for using the strategy in their own first classroom. References and Resources section with each strategy Lists scholarly support, additional readings, websites, and/or helpful organizations. Provides reliable information for further study and research. Technology icons throughout the text Tag strategies that call for the use of classroom technology. Illustrates ways to take advantage of the Internet, digital photography, software, and the like in real classrooms with real learners.