Social Studies Core Ideas 

As an educator, I believe effective social studies instruction challenges students to make meaningful connections, fosters empathy, and, at times, inspires activism. Students should have opportunities to learn about people, places and customs that are unfamiliar to them, to build their sense of global awareness, cultural understanding, and appreciation for different perspectives. When students are encouraged to think critically and connect what they’re learning to the world around them, they’re more likely to grow into kind, informed, and engaged individuals who want to make a difference in their communities.

What This Looks Like in the Classroom 

To teach a 5th grade class about European explorers, I read the story Encounter by Jane Yolen. This lesson combined key social studies concepts with literacy skills. As we read, we paused to identify elements of the story arc, which helped students strengthen their summarizing and sequencing abilities. Students were also encouraged to think deeply about the story’s message and themes.

For those unfamiliar, Encounter tells the story of how the Taíno people's land was taken by European explorers during the Age of Exploration. Although the book is realistic fiction, it closely reflects historical events—specifically the gradual takeover of the land now known as Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The leader of this expedition was Christopher Columbus. After reading, students reflected on what they had previously learned about Columbus and Columbus Day, and compared it with the new perspective presented in the story. This helped them begin to think critically about history, explore multiple viewpoints, and better understand the complex legacy of European exploration.

Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pLTo1vHXTv-TNd3aQcer9TcUV9F-sg9uKJYPl2NbyKk/edit?usp=sharing 

Extension of this lesson plan: Students gathered research in groups, about a famous explorer. They worked together to create a powerpoint presentation detailing their findings about their explorer and presented them to the class.