I really don't have any Social Studies projects planned for this year. We do U.S. Geography. Does anyone have a cool hands-on project to share.
This is my first year teaching, but at my first 4th grade team meeting I was told about one of our projects we have in the spring. It's called the wax museum. Each child chooses a person in history (Abe Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, etc), researches that person, and writes a one minute, first person speech. They also dress up as the person. I believe that they also put on buttons. We place all the fourth graders around the building, where they stand for about 30 minutes each session (~3 sessions). Then other grade levels come out and walk around. I think we invite parents as well. When someone pushes the button on the student's costume, the student says his/her speech, then they go back to their wax position. I guess the kids LOVE doing it.
Geography... - I have the students make a 3-D map of our state and label different cities as well as regions. I have kept a few years of them and have them stored at school. They can use textured paper, tissue paper, clay, paint, and other materials. The maps have turned out BEAUTIFUL in the past few years. - My kids also go on an "adventure" throughout the state by reading maps and figuring out clues to questions posed at them. It's like "This island is located southwest of Jacksonville and is on the Atlantic Ocean... blablabla."
I had a spelling list turn into a really fun social studies lesson! We had a list of spelling words that were National Parks. Most of my students had never heard of them so we extended it to assigning one of the parks to each student in the class. They researched the park and created some way for them to SHOW us the park. They used everything from poster boards to actually re-creating them with dioramas, modeling clay, etc. THE KIDS LOVED IT! When each presented their national park, we all learned where they were and why it was famous or had become a park.
I've done illustrated timelines on rolls of cash register receipt tape. I worked better with older students (sevens and eights for history) but if you simplify it, it could be worth a try. You can often find these rolls at dollar stores. Obviously, we have a different SS curriculum up here in Canada so I can't give you any topic-specific suggestions. As a major in history, I really like to make the past come alive. Tell them stories, give them scenarios to simulate or respond to. This past year we created our own medieval kingdom for our Medieval Times unit and the kids just ate it up. Each student had different roles in feudal society and we linked what the curriculum required to the events in our own kingdom (roles in society, knighthood, castle construction, the plague etc.). Whatever your topic(s), just make it seem real and you'll have them in your hands.
Although this isn't necessarily hands on I thought I'd add it because it was very popular with my classes. When I taught 4th grade we studied Ohio History. Each student selected a city and wrote the chamber a letter requesting information about their city. The students were very excited when they got mail at school with their name on it. Many cities sent large envelopes full of info. We also sent thank you notes once we received the info. The students also used our classroom computer to reseach info. The students then had to take the information and create a brochure about their city and present it to the class. The end products were great and I was able to incorporate many language arts concepts into it.
-Hands-on map for geography -A play about St. Augustine (with music that we compose ourselves) -Students draw and label a colonial town (it's AWESOME) Oh, there is SO MUCH MORE... yet I cannot think right now. (Today was Open House!) Most of my kids LOVE social studies this year. Or I have a few, anyway, where they say it is their overall favorite subject.
