Nonetheless, mastery of the representative set of information helps students develop a framework to make sense of the content. Enliven The Text A wonderful social studies textbook provides a foundation for a successful social studies classroom, but a wonderful textbook is not enough. It is essential to draw on literature and multimedia resources that deal with the historical period being studied. These resources draw students beyond fact and data. Stories vividly set the historical scene and give students insight into historical figures as real people.
Students are then better able to relate to the trials and triumphs of people in history.
Books, films, realia, and the broad range of new instructional technologies forge stronger links with what students learn from the text. Encyclopedias, atlases, maps, and other reference materials extend students perspective beyond history into geography, economics, sociology, anthropology, and political science. Projects using these hands-on resources encourage students to integrate their learning experience and, at the same time, express their creativity. Conclusion Social studies instruction can be modified so that it is accessible to students, particularly LEP transition students. By organizing the major ideas, sampling rather than covering, and enlivening the text, we can help students make sense of the subject.