Principles Curriculum principles are fundamental beliefs intended to guide and support decisions related to teaching and learning-decisions about curriculum, classroom environment, resource selection, instruction, and assessment and evaluation. The following principles, based upon current research and knowledge about teaching and learning, are designed to guide instruction and learning in Middle Level Social Studies. Curriculum Principles Learning Teaching Students learn most effectively in environments that promote active learning through purposeful and challenging experiences. Instructional strategies that facilitate active learning include exploration, inquiry, critical and creative thinking, problem solving, decision making, discussion, debate, and reflection. Topics should be personally, as well as academically, meaningful.
Students learn and develop in different ways and at varying rates.
Instructional strategies that appeal to a variety of learning styles provide opportunities for interaction and collaboration, as well as for independent learning. Assessment criteria should be identified for both process and product. Students learn most effectively when they know and actively select and apply strategies to develop understanding and make meaning. Instruction should provide opportunities for students to learn a variety of strategies for understanding, generating and applying new knowledge, skills and attitudes. Students learn most effectively when they find personal relevance in the concepts, knowledge, skills and values being taught.