Chapter 1          Understanding the Development of Social Studies Concepts and Young Children   Chapter 2          Planning Social Studies Activities with Young Children   Chapter 3          Child Development, Families, and Communities in the Social Studies Context   Chapter 4          Using Age Appropriate Methods and Strategies for Teaching History to Young Children   Chapter 5          Practicing Civics, Government, and Citizenship in Early Childhood Classrooms   Chapter 6          Helping Young Children Understand Economics and Social Issues   Chapter 7          Age Appropriate Understanding of Geography   Chapter 8          Diversity, Anti-Bias, and Multicultural Education   Chapter 9          Assessment

Social Studies and Young Children presents developmentally appropriate strategies for teaching social studies to young children, with a focus on NCSS and NAEYC standards and using trade books, activities, and other resources designed to reach young children. Written in an easy-to-understand style, the book weaves current research-based principles of developmentally appropriate practice throughout. Through the book’s experiential, hands-on learning approach, teachers see how to reach young learners, pique their interest, and use their natural curiosity to develop more critical thinking. The developmental learning focus promotes the idea that by understanding how young children learn, teachers will be more successful in presenting material in a way that children are able to comprehend, further allowing them to build knowledge as they are developmentally able to make sense of the material. Cross-curricular teaching and learning is promoted through the inclusion of a list of trade books in each chapter. A variety of strategies, activities, resources, and key chapter sections illustrate the concepts and help students make the connections to daily classroom practice.   The First Edition of Social Studies and Young Children includes: Students make the connections between the theory and learning of social studies. Chapter 1 presents helpful background information about learning theory, including an illustrative table that summarizes theorists and their ideas about young learners. Learning and understanding of the text concepts, diversity, and inclusion are enhanced through a variety of key chapter sections. Students become familiar with what children should be learning as they plan for learning goals. Included are 10 NCSS themes and relevant NAEYC standards listed in every chapter. An understanding of what is developmentally appropriate for teaching social studies content and concepts is accomplished through references to child development and DAP throughout the book. Concepts and ideas are illustrated and clarified. Numerous practical and useful examples, activities, and resource ideas relevant for different age groups appear at the end of each chapter. Teachers see how to provide relevant, appropriate assessment for young children in a full chapter devoted to the topic. (Chapter 9) Teachers see how to integrate social studies into the everyday lives of their students, and to teach social studies with other subjects through the book’s interdisciplinary experiential method presented throughout.

Students make the connections between the theory and learning of social studies. Chapter 1 presents helpful background information about learning theory, including an illustrative table that summarizes theorists and their ideas about young learners. Learning and understanding of the text concepts, diversity, and inclusion are enhanced through a variety of key chapter sections. Big idea boxes summarize the key ideas in each chapter, providing classroom applications and pointing out the standards met, helping readers understand what they can expect in the chapter. Adaptations for English Language Learners incorporate best practices for all young learners and focus on practices that help students who are linguistically diverse learn in a variety of ways. Accommodations for Children with Diverse Needs boxes promote appropriate methods, materials, and interactions for children with special needs. Sample Activities integrated through each of the chapter narratives are highlighted in lesson planning sections. Each chapter includes a section with ready-to-use sample activities. Literature Connection sections provide examples of trade, fiction, and nonfiction books that can be used with social studies topics and integrated with literacy and other subject areas. Resources sections provide lists of additional sources that can be used either as background information or directly with children. Home/School Connection boxes emphasize the importance of the home to each child’s learning experience and provide ways to engage families. Learning Centers sections emphasize the importance of play for young children’s learning and provide ideas for practical applications in classroom settings. Students become familiar with what children should be learning as they plan for learning goals. Included are 10 NCSS themes and relevant NAEYC standards listed in every chapter. An understanding of what is developmentally appropriate for teaching social studies content and concepts is accomplished through references to child development and DAP throughout the book. Concepts and ideas are illustrated and clarified. Numerous practical and useful examples, activities, and resource ideas relevant for different age groups appear at the end of each chapter. Teachers see how to provide relevant, appropriate assessment for young children in a full chapter devoted to the topic. (Chapter 9) Teachers see how to integrate social studies into the everyday lives of their students, and to teach social studies with other subjects through the book’s interdisciplinary experiential method presented throughout.