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Journal of Social Studies Education Research 

Sosyal Bilgiler Eğitimi Araştırmaları Dergisi 

 

2015: 6(2), 1-17 

 

© 2015 Journal of Social Studies Education Research, ISSN: 1309-9108 

Preserving Social Studies as Core Curricula in an Era of Common Core 

Reform 

David W. Denton1 & Cindy Sink2 

Abstract 

 Education reform over the last two decades has changed perceptions of core curricula. Although social studies 

has traditionally been part of the core, emphasis on standards-based teaching and learning, along with elaborate 

accountability schemes, is causing unbalanced treatment of subjects. While the research literature indicates teachers 

are spending less time on social studies, perceptions about the subject are more complicated. Some educators accept 

the value of social studies knowledge and skills, while others see it as an auxiliary subject for supporting test 

achievement. Integration is one way elementary school teachers reconcile the need to focus on tested disciplines, while 

holding to traditional notions of the core curricula. Results from a case study involving elementary teachers show 

integration as the preferred method for teaching social studies. Participants, however, also indicated they were unable 

to achieve effective integration due to time constraints, limited training, and inadequate curricular resources. The 

trajectory of standards-based reform suggests educators will continue to encounter obstacles that impede integration. 

Systematic change that preserves the place of social studies as part of the core curricula is unlikely. Nevertheless, 

adoption of Common Core standards presents an opportunity for educators to reexamine the merits of social studies 

integration. 

Keywords: case study, Common Core, core curricula, elementary, integration, social studies 

Introduction 

Traditionally, subject areas considered part of the core curricula have included English, 

mathematics, science, and social studies (Tyler, 2004). However, the reality of high-stakes 

testing since 2001 has elevated literacy and mathematics above other subjects. For example, the 

Center on Education Policy (2007) reports 62% of elementary schools have increased time for 

literacy and math, while simultaneously reducing time in non-tested subjects by up to 145 

minutes per week. Research by Heafner and Fitchett (2012) corroborate this trend, indicating 

time for social studies has decreased in grades three through five, by up to 60 minutes per week. 

Nevertheless, despite evidence to the contrary, Holloway and Chiodo (2009) assert that social 

studies concepts are taught, just not in the “allotted portion of time” normally assigned to 

                                                            
1 Assistant Professor, Seattle Pacific University, dentod@spu.edu 
2 Clinical Instructor, Seattle Pacific University, sinkc@spu.edu 



Journal of Social Studies Education Research 2015: 6(2), 1-17  

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departmentalized planning (p. 237). Rather, according to Holloway and Chiodo, elementary 

school teachers are teaching social studies concepts by integrating them with reading, language 

arts, mathematics, and other disciplines. As an alternative to both perspectives, Houser (1995) 

and Bisland (2012) claim elementary teachers were neglecting social studies well before the era 

of standardized testing. Reasons cited by Houser and Bisland for diminished attention include 

pressure to cover other content, faulty teacher preparation, lack of administrative support, and 

dearth of content knowledge among elementary teachers. 

Though diminished attention to social studies in elementary grades is lamentable, it could 

be argued the problem is a symptom of the way educators prioritize what students should learn, 

and to what level of precision. The history of education is full of examples showing how each 

new generation of educator contends with the question, What knowledge is most worth 

learning?, just as Herbert Spencer did in 1854. For Spencer, the answer was scientific 

knowledge. Yet if the content of standardized test items in the current era is any indication, the 

knowledge most worth learning today is subject matter required for mastering basic literacy and 

mathematics. Standardized tests reveal priorities about what matters. Students are tested in 

reading, writing, and math, suggesting disintegration of disciplines through assessment. It can be 

further argued that attempts to improve achievement through high-stakes testing has resulted in 

greater separation between subjects, contrary to principles of integration, which some suggest 

promote critical thinking skills such as transfer, error detection, and concept learning (Haskell, 

2000; Thomas, 2007). 

Shifting priorities through emphasis on test achievement has brought the place of social 

studies within the core curricula into question. It has also required creative solutions by 

elementary teachers for reconciling their beliefs about social studies and how to teach in a 

system that may neglect, dismiss, or marginalize non-tested disciplines. One way primary grade 

teachers manage this tension is through integration (Holloway & Chiodo, 2009; Pederson, 2007). 

However, integration means different things to different people, as indicated by the various 

definitions presented over the years (Czerniak, Weber, Sandmann, & Ahern, 1999). 

Integration and Integrated Curricula 

Banks (1993) defines integration as “the extent to which teachers use examples, data, and 

information from a variety of cultures and groups to illustrate the key concepts, principles, 

generalizations, and theories in their subject area or discipline” (p. 25). Alternatively, Parker 



David W. DENTON & Cindy SINK 

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(2005) defines integration as an “approach that purposefully draws together knowledge, 

perspectives, and methods of inquiry from more than one discipline to develop a more powerful 

understanding of a central idea, issue, person, or event” (pp. 452-453). Similarly, Badley (2009) 

defines integration as “curriculum or instruction that combines, draws upon or encourages 

students to see connections between the contents of two or more academic disciplines” (p. 115). 

Lastly, Beane (1995) defines integration as 

not simply an organizational device requiring cosmetic changes or realignments in lesson 

plans across various subject areas… it is a way of thinking about what schools are for… 

about the uses of knowledge… curriculum integration is the search for self- and social 

meaning (p. 616). 

The way integrated curricula is conceived also varies. For example, Beane (1995) 

describes integrated curricula as design of learning activities around projects that depend on a 

variety of disciplines for addressing personally and socially meaningful problems. Alternatively, 

Hinde (2005) is less theoretical, describing integrated curricula with principles of effective 

practice, such as 1) activities aligned with lesson objectives, 2) lessons planned so they preserve 

the integrity of social studies content, 3) learning segments designed to account for prior 

knowledge and potential misconceptions, and 4) use of authentic knowledge and skills that 

transfer between disciplines. Czerniak et al. (1999) provide more detail, citing several 

professional organizations for a comprehensive conception of integrated curricula, but again a 

conception that exemplifies effective practice. According to Czerniak et al., integrated curricula 

1) maintains content integrity while facilitating connections between disciplines, 2) fosters 

collaboration, 3) promotes democracy, 4) deploys multiple learning strategies, 5) respects diverse 

ideas, 6) uses a variety of sources including experimentation, 7) applies symbol systems for 

representing, and 8) uses different types of assessments. 

Examples of integrated lessons and activities in elementary classrooms take many forms. 

Integration results as students or teachers select problems or controversial issues to resolve 

(Hinde, 2005). For example, grade three students investigate the effects of immigration on 

communities through biography, demographic analysis, and geography. Alternatively, traditional 

units may be revised around a theme (Wraga, 1993). For example, grade two students learn about 

their community by identifying recreational activities, their geographic location and distance 

from school, and paint pictures and write poems to symbolize what the activities mean to them. 



Journal of Social Studies Education Research 2015: 6(2), 1-17  

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Another variation on the theme approach is to merge disciplines so students construct their own 

generalizations about phenomenon (Parker, 2005), such as grade four students concluding that 

culture is shaped by environment. Another example, one that retains traditional subject divisions, 

is sequencing. Sequencing includes activities from different disciplines organized to show 

relationships. For example, a grade five class learning about continents and oceans in social 

studies, simultaneously studies oceanography during science, and reads Island of the Blue 

Dolphins in language arts (Hinde, 2005). 

Effects of Integration on Student Learning 

Educators at the elementary level identify integration as a way to improve learning 

(Bisland, 2012; Hinde, 2005) even though systematic empirical analyses showing the effects of 

integration are rare (Ellis & Fouts, 2001). Nevertheless, some research exists which continues to 

persuade educators of the positive effects of integration. For example, Vars (1997) summarized 

the effects of curriculum integration on student learning and concluded that it was equivalent, 

and often better, in comparison to conventional departmentalized programs. Ellis and Fouts 

(2001), however, cautioned that the analysis by Vars is more of a synthesis, rather than a critical 

evaluation of empirical evidence and they also suggest that too few studies exist for any kind of 

meaningful analysis. Hartzler (2000), however, conducted a meta-analysis of integrated 

curriculum programs and found they had a positive effect on student performance on state tests 

and program developed assessments. Hartzler proposed that teachers taking an integrated 

approach need not fear student failure or declining test scores. In summary, while systematic 

empirical research on the effects of curriculum integration is limited, integration as an approach 

to instructional design is routinely associated with higher-level thinking skills, unified sense of 

process, real-world application, heightened motivation, and depth of understanding (Ellis & 

Fouts, 2001; Vars, 1991). 

However, integration in an era of common core reform may also be used as a 

diversionary phrase, satisfying traditional notions of the core curricula, but in reality freeing 

educators to focus their efforts on improving test achievement. While the use of integration for 

deflection may seem implausible, there is precedence for observing gaps between what teachers 

say they believe about instruction and what they actually practice in the classroom, and research 

suggests this is the case for some social studies educators. For example, Bailey, Shaw, and 

Hollifield (2006) found that primary teachers reported preferring inquiry-based instruction, but 



David W. DENTON & Cindy SINK 

5 
 

the same teachers also reported using it infrequently. Similarly, Faulkner and Cook (2006) 

surveyed middle school teachers and found they reported using a wide array of instructional 

practices, while simultaneously indicating they relied mostly on discussion, lecture, and 

worksheets. Similar discrepancies between what teachers say they prefer and what they actually 

do have been found by Bolinger and Warren (2007) and Leming, Ellington and Schug (2006). 

Elementary teachers who claim integration as a method for making time for social studies 

in an era of standards-based change are equally vulnerable to saying one thing and doing another. 

Some reasons for this are that effective integration requires comprehensive understanding of 

multiple subjects, with insight about how and when subjects relate, along with opportunities to 

plan integrated lessons. Integration is also contrary to typical subject matter divisions, which 

ease lesson planning and assessment, enabling teachers to handle objectives and activities as 

discrete elements. Even when integration is used, it may be superficial since teachers have to 

contend with pressure to raise and maintain test scores (Winstead, 2011). In addition, not unlike 

other educational interventions, professional training and curricular resources may be lacking, 

diminishing opportunities for teachers to integrate efficiently (Pederson, 2007). 

Obstacles to Effective Integration 

Time is perhaps the most significant obstacle teachers at the elementary encounter as they 

attempt to teach social studies, while simultaneously attending to three other major subject areas 

(Bisland, 2012). There is no shortage of studies indicating issues with time. Along with findings 

reported by the Center on Education Policy (2007) and Heafner and Fitchett (2012), VanFossen 

(2005) provides further evidence social studies teaching is becoming increasingly marginalized 

across kindergarten to grade five. Similar to previous research, VanFossen cites lack of 

administrative support, lack of pressure to perform on a state-wide social studies assessment, and 

lack of clear understanding of the goals of social studies learning. Yet, a more troubling finding 

reported by VanFossen is less than one in three elementary teachers associated social studies 

with its foremost purpose, citizenship education. 

While time is readily quantifiable, perceptions of the importance of social studies are 

more difficult to measure, but they are also indicative of the status of social studies as a 

diminished component of the core curricula. For example, Lintner (2006) surveyed elementary 

principals and found they ranked social studies sixth in importance, out of nine subjects, behind 

science and before physical education. Lintner also reported some principals valuing social 



Journal of Social Studies Education Research 2015: 6(2), 1-17  

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studies for its focus on other cultures and global citizenship, yet still more principals viewed 

social studies as a supplement for enhancing reading and writing. Similarly, Gibson (2012) found 

that some educators ranked reading, writing, and math above social studies, along with teachers 

reporting they struggled to understand the purpose of teaching social studies concepts, such as 

awareness of other cultures and citizenship. Vogler (2011) reported similar results, indicating 

that teachers integrated information such as historical facts, rather than concepts. One shared 

conclusion from this research is that effective social studies education requires more than just 

time. It requires continuous training and curricular resources to assist concept teaching through 

effective practices such as inquiry-based activities and reflective examination (Bisland, 2012). 

Not the least of these requirements is emphasis on the goals and mission of social studies, in 

particular citizenship education. 

Integration to Preserve Social Studies as Part of the Core 

Excluding significant changes to the trajectory of standards-based reform, one solution 

for managing non-tested subjects is to rely on the promise of content integration. However, as 

previously noted, empirical studies testing the effects of integration on student learning shows 

mixed results (Hinde, 2005). Nevertheless, Vars (1991) contends that students involved in 

integrative or interdisciplinary studies perform as well as students who approached curricula in 

traditional ways. Alternatively, Schug and Cross (1998) argue that keeping subjects separate and 

teaching through direct instruction has a greater impact on student achievement. Since results 

compiled by Vars and Schug and Cross more than a decade ago, research dealing with 

integration has increased. However, the literature is somewhat confined by the number of 

descriptive studies across a dispersed number of subjects, such as integrating social studies with 

technology (Maloy, Poirier, Smith, & Edwards, 2010); science (Singletary & Miller, 2009); 

mathematics (Kinniburgh & Bryd, 2008); visual arts (Lucey & Laney, 2009); and literacy 

(MacPhee & Whitecotton, 2011). One reason for the dearth of empirical studies is that 

integration is challenging to describe, hard to implement, and even more difficult to measure 

(Hinde, 2005). 

Nevertheless, standards-based reform has fueled consistent interest in integrating social 

studies in an era of standardized testing and accountability. For example, searching the 

Educational Research Information Center database for peer reviewed articles using the terms 

standards, integration, and social studies produces more than 30 results. However, growth in the 



David W. DENTON & Cindy SINK 

7 
 

literature dealing with Common Core reform and social studies appears to be relatively 

undeveloped. For example, searching the same database for Common Core and integration 

produces 10 results, but only a few of these studies deal with social studies. For example, Berson 

and Berson (2013) have written on the connection between social studies and Common Core by 

linking literacy skills with adoption of multiple perspectives. In addition, Kenna and Russell 

(2015) have investigated changes in secondary social studies teachers’ instructional practices as a 

result of adopting Common Core standards. The articles by Berson and Berson and Kenna and 

Russell are likely the first of many which will make connections between Common Core and 

social studies knowledge and skills. 

The brief analysis of literature covering obstacles to integration and potential for 

integration to promote social studies within elementary classrooms shows levels of underlying 

complexity. Some of these complexities include allocation of time, prioritization of tested 

subjects, and training and resources for teaching integrated lessons. In addition, adoption of 

Common Core standards in many states has added another layer of uncertainty. While studies 

exist showing the trajectory of social studies in an era of standards-based change, there are few 

studies investigating integration as a way to reinvigorate social studies education. Additional 

information is needed for reexamining integration as a possible strategy for maintaining, or even 

improving, the place of social studies as part of the core curricula. The study that follows 

attempts to addresses a few of these gaps by reexamining time devoted to social studies 

instruction, perceptions of integration as an approach to social studies instruction, curricula used 

for integration, and available resources and training for planning and deploying integrated 

lessons. Although information was gathered using case study procedures, focused on a 

convenience sample of participants, results provide helpful points of departure for further 

investigation. 

Methods and Results 

The study was divided into exploratory and confirmatory phases, according to procedures 

outlined by Creswell and Clark (2007), with the purpose of validating trends found in current 

literature, along with identifying new questions for investigation. The exploratory phase included 

a convenience sample of 11 student teachers earning endorsements in elementary education. 

Student teachers observed their mentor teachers for several weeks, and responded to open-ended 



Journal of Social Studies Education Research 2015: 6(2), 1-17  

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questions about the amount of instruction occurring in social studies and other subjects, and also 

the type of curricula mentor teachers used for social studies instruction. 

Results of the exploratory phase indicated student teachers observing between 0 and 90 

minutes of social studies instruction per week, with an average of 60 minutes. These results 

confirm findings from other studies on the subject of time dedicated to social studies instruction 

(see Bisland, 2012; McGuire, 2007; National Council for the Social Studies, 2008; Pederson, 

2007). Another result was absence of dedicated social studies curricula for social studies 

instruction. Rather, three students observed use of social skills and literacy curricula, and what 

they identified as integration of social studies concepts. For example, one student teacher 

reported the mentor had just started using WorldScapes, a literacy program including various 

types of texts (Hand to Mind, 2013) for teaching social studies. Two other student teachers 

observed mentors using Second Step and Steps to Respect, curricula for teaching social emotional 

knowledge and skills (Committee for Children, 2012). The majority of observations made by 

student teachers, however, indicated their mentors were not teaching social studies, or that 

mentors were integrating social studies with other subjects. 

Information gathered from student teachers about how their mentors handled social 

studies in the exploratory phase prompted questions around integration. Specifically, whether 

elementary teachers in the convenience sample taught social studies through integration, the 

kinds of curricula used for integration, and whether teachers had access to resources and training 

for effective integration. 

Data was collected from 14 elementary school teachers using a survey with 14 items, 

scaled from 1 – strongly agree to 5 – strongly disagree, and two open-ended questions. A 

different group of 14 student teachers, separate from the exploratory phase, requested that their 

mentor teachers complete the survey over the course of several weeks. Participating mentors who 

completed the survey worked in five districts around a large metropolitan area. Schools where 

teachers were employed ranged from 550 to 270 students, with varying rates of socio-economic 

status as indicated by receipt of free or reduced price meals between 88 and 10 percent. 

Similar to results found in the exploratory phase, participating teachers identified 

integration as their preferred method for teaching social studies content (M = 1.50). Participants 

also reported possessing knowledge and skills required for integration (M = 1.64) and that 

students were being instructed in social studies-specific concepts as well as fields such as 



David W. DENTON & Cindy SINK 

9 
 

economics and geography (M = 1.97). Teachers were neutral (M = 3.50) when asked whether 

they had enough time to plan integrated lessons and also indicated they would like to learn more 

strategies for integrating social studies with tested subjects (M = 2.43). On a similar item, 

teachers indicated they spent more time teaching basic skills in comparison to social studies 

subject matter (M = 2.29). Teachers were somewhat positive when asked if they would spend 

more time on social studies if they were provided additional training (M = 2.67). However, 

teachers were somewhat neutral when asked if they would spend more time on social studies if 

their district showed more leadership in the area of social studies instruction (M = 2.86). Figure 1 

summarizes results from the survey. 

 
Figure 1. Survey results from fourteen elementary school teaches about their use of integration 

for teaching social studies. 

On open-ended responses, teachers indicated some cohesiveness with the kind of 

curricula used for teaching social studies. Five teachers reported using Storypath, an integrative 

approach based on storytelling (Interact, 2013), while four others indicated using a textbook, and 

three reported using Social Studies Alive. One teacher reported using integration and another 

teacher simply reported other. Unlike results from the exploratory phase, no teachers reported 

using Second Steps or Steps to Respect as substitutes for social studies curricula. Teachers 

indicated variation in school support in terms of integration. For example, one teacher wrote, 

“There are no resources or curricula to teach social studies in my district - I try to integrate it 

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Prefer
Integration

Knowledge
and skill for
integration

Teach
concepts and

fields

Time to plan
integrated

lessons

Strategies for
integration

Basic skills
over social

studies

More time
with training

More time
with

leadership

A
gr

ee
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
  D

is
ag

re
e



Journal of Social Studies Education Research 2015: 6(2), 1-17  

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whenever I can.” Similarly, another participant wrote, “District standards and guidelines are 

totally unsupported by materials or professional development.” 

Discussion 

Use of integration. Results from both phases of the study suggest participating 

elementary teachers identified integration as the primary method used for teaching social studies 

content. Similarly, teachers reported having sufficient knowledge and skill for deploying 

integrative pedagogy. However, these claims were contradicted by results showing a lack of time 

for planning integrated lessons and the need for more integration strategies. Likewise, teachers 

inferred the importance of social studies by reporting that they taught related concepts and 

knowledge, but at the same time teachers reported that basic skills were somewhat more 

important. Similar to studies by Bailey, Shaw, and Hollifield (2006) and Faulkner and Cook 

(2006), participating teachers reported contradictory information, perhaps because they were 

both expressing their beliefs about social studies, but also reporting the reality of how they focus 

their time on tested subjects. 

Curricula used for integration. Participating teachers reported using a wide variety of 

curricula for integrating social studies, including social skills curricula, literacy curricula, and 

traditional textbooks. Other teachers reported using project-based curricula, or reported no 

curricula at all. According to Hinde (2005), there is little consensus about what an integrated 

curriculum looks like, and results of this study concur with the variability that comes with 

integration. However, whether history, geography, anthropology, economics, or other fields were 

included as part of participating teachers’ efforts of integration were unclear. There was no 

evidence that “the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic 

competence” was occurring (National Council for the Social Studies, n.d.). Rather, results 

seemed to validate findings by Bailey, Shaw, and Hollifield (2006), who reported that “teachers 

would teach social studies when, or if, they got around to it” (p. 22). 

Training and resources for integration. Participants narrowly indicated they would 

spend more time on social studies if they had additional training. Their enthusiasm for district 

leadership in the area of social studies instruction was even more neutral. However, participants 

did not indicate outright dismissal of social studies or integrative pedagogy. The contrary seemed 

to be true. Participants identified integration as their preferred method and they also validated the 

importance of social studies. Nevertheless, there was no evidence to suggest teachers were 



David W. DENTON & Cindy SINK 

11 
 

engaged in the kinds of activities called for by Gibson (2012), Lintner (2006), and Vogler (2011) 

necessary for sustaining an integrated approach to content, such as concept teaching, inquiry, and 

reflective analysis. 

Conclusion 

Standards-based reorganization and accountability schemes measured by test 

achievement show little sign of abating. Even if educational leaders abandon reform activities 

implemented over the last decade, the momentum behind these efforts is sure to prohibit 

balanced treatment of subjects. The precarious state of education budgets and consequences 

associated with low test scores are exerting additional pressure that discourage reapportioning 

time and resources to subjects like social studies. Standards-based reorganization and 

accountability activities are changing the way educators think about core curricula. The latest 

example of this is adoption of Common Core standards, which are for literacy and mathematics 

learning, rather than acquisition of social science knowledge and skills. Nevertheless, some 

standards clearly overlap with social studies concepts. For instance, Common Core requires 

students be able to cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary sources or 

distinguish fact from opinion to make a reasoned judgment. The overall emphasis, however, is 

clearly focused on improving achievement associated with literacy and mathematics. 

At the same time, most educators at the elementary level embrace the use of integration 

as a way to reconcile the value of social studies content with the necessity of test achievement. 

However, results from this study suggest the sample of teachers claim integration as their 

preferred method for social studies instruction, but struggle to achieve effective implementation. 

Claiming integration as a solution for teaching social studies content without discussing 

issues of time, training, or curricular resources, or the pressure exerted by high-stakes testing, is 

disingenuous. Circumstances suggest additional compromise, even though many advocates of 

social studies teaching and learning are sure to see additional concessions as untenable. 

Alternatively, there are others who already recognize the need for a pragmatic approach. 

Adoption of Common Core standards presents the next opportunity for practical solutions. It is 

also an opportunity for educators and researchers to reexamine the merits of integration, and the 

necessity to address implementation. Although small in comparison to what is needed, Table 1 

shows some examples for promoting this work. Nevertheless, expecting a few examples will 



Journal of Social Studies Education Research 2015: 6(2), 1-17  

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cause educators to invest significant time and resources toward integration is optimistic, but any 

strategy that preserves social studies as part of the core curricula is certainly worth considering. 

Table 1. Integration of Social Studies Content with Common Core standards 

Common Core Literacy 

Standard 

Social Studies Content Integrative Learning Activity 

Provide a concluding 

statement or section related to 

information 

Summarize major ideas in a 

conclusion statement 

Work in pairs to summarize 

two ideas from Lee’s 

Resolution of 1776 claiming 

America’s independence from 

Britain 

Distinguish the literal and 

nonliteral meanings of words 

and phrases in context 

Recognize instances in which 

more than one interpretation of 

factual material is valid 

Listen to MLK’s I Have a 

Dream speech and then 

interpret two phrases 

Read grade-level prose and 

poetry orally with accuracy, 

appropriate rate, and 

expression 

Understand and analyze causal 

factors in major events in 

history 

Study and analyze poetry, such 

as Western Wagons, by 

Rosemary and Stephen 

Vincent Benét, then recite a 

portion of the poem 

Compare and contrast the 

point of view from which 

different stories are narrated, 

including the difference 

between first- and third-person 

narrations 

Understand that there are 

multiple perspectives and 

interpretations of historical 

events 

Read historical fiction such as 

Crispin, Catherine, Called 

Birdy, or Robin’s Country and 

compare and contrast 

perspectives 

Identify the reasons and 

evidence a speaker provides to 

support particular points 

Identify a situation in which a 

decision is required 

Listen to Franklin Delano 

Roosevelt’s speech declaring 

war on Japan in 1941 and then 

discuss three supporting 

details 



David W. DENTON & Cindy SINK 

13 
 

Report on a topic or text or 

present an opinion, sequencing 

ideas logically and using 

appropriate facts and relevant, 

descriptive details to support 

main ideas or themes 

Understand and apply 

reasoning skills to conduct 

research, deliberate, form and 

evaluate positions 

Study and collect data on a 

local school issue, such as 

playground equipment or 

lunch room; share a 

presentation of results 

Common Core Math Standard Social Studies Content Integrative Learning Activity 

Draw a picture graph or a bar 

graph to represent a data set 

with up to four categories 

Understand that members of a 

community make choices 

among products and services 

that have costs and benefits 

Conduct a survey of four 

common products, such as 

paper towels or pizza, and 

represent results in a graph 

Generate data by measuring 

lengths using rulers marked 

with halves and fourths of an 

inch 

Understand and apply how 

maps and globes are used to 

display regions 

Determine efficient and scenic 

routes between school and a 

local store or park 

Represent real world and 

mathematical problems by 

graphing points in the first 

quadrant of the coordinate 

plane 

Construct and use maps to 

show and analyze information 

about European settlement in 

the Americas 

Use a coordinate plane and 

geographic coordinates to 

analyze and compare early 

American settlements, such as 

Savannah, Williamsburg, and 

New York 

Summarize numerical data sets 

in relation to their context 

Understand the geographic 

factors that influence the 

movement of groups of people 

in the past or present 

Infer geographic influences 

from statistics of immigrant 

populations in the U.S. from 

1860s to 1960s  

  



Journal of Social Studies Education Research 2015: 6(2), 1-17  

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