I am going to be teaching 4th and 5th grade ELA/Social Studies. I would like to know how to set up the block? My ideas: Balanced Literacy approach. I would like to do a read aloud at the carpet, modeling comprehension strategies, mini lesson with reading workshop, centers where I can do guided reading, and word work will be part of this. I want to do writing portfolios and keep a file for each one of the students. Social Studies - I want to do centers. I haven't figured them out.
Check out TPT for interactive social studies notebooks for centers. I've also seen year long Google slides/Powerpoints projects on topics such as countries, biographies, and landforms.
Integrate where you can. Read a SS text in your reading groups if you have to. They could work on a SS assignment while you pull reading groups, etc. 2 hours and 45 minutes is a lot of time--especially if you use it well.
As already mentioned, I'd integrate social studies as much as possible in with reading and writing lessons. When not possible, I would probably do 80 minutes of reading (including read aloud and small groups), 60 minutes of writing (including spelling and grammar), and 25 minutes of social studies.
I will be easier than you think. Research and write about landforms, historical figures, events in history, etc. Tie your read aloud into social studies.
