I plan to teach 6th grade social studies, below is the information I have found, and copied and pasted, for it listed under Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills by chapter
§113.18. Social Studies, Grade 6, Beginning with School Year 2011-2012.
(a) Introduction.
(1) In Grade 6, students study people, places, and societies of the contemporary world. Societies for study are from the following regions of the world: Europe, Russia and the Eurasian republics, North America, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Southwest Asia-North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific realm. Students describe the influence of individuals and groups on historical and contemporary events in those societies and identify the locations and geographic characteristics of various societies. Students identify different ways of organizing economic and governmental systems. The concepts of limited and unlimited government are introduced, and students describe the nature of citizenship in various societies. Students compare institutions common to all societies such as government, education, and religious institutions. Students explain how the level of technology affects the development of the various societies and identify different points of view about events. The concept of frame of reference is introduced as an influence on an individual's point of view.
(2) To support the teaching of the essential knowledge and skills, the use of a variety of rich primary and secondary source material such as biographies, autobiographies, novels, speeches, letters, poetry, songs, and artworks is encouraged. Motivating resources are available from museums, art galleries, and historical sites.
(3) The eight strands of the essential knowledge and skills for social studies are intended to be integrated for instructional purposes. Skills listed in the social studies skills strand in subsection (b) of this section should be incorporated into the teaching of all essential knowledge and skills for social studies. A greater depth of understanding of complex content material can be attained when integrated social studies content from the various disciplines and critical-thinking skills are taught together. Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.
(4) Students identify the role of the U.S. free enterprise system within the parameters of this course and understand that this system may also be referenced as capitalism or the free market system.
(5) Throughout social studies in Kindergarten-Grade 12, students build a foundation in history; geography; economics; government; citizenship; culture; science, technology, and society; and social studies skills. The content, as appropriate for the grade level or course, enables students to understand the importance of patriotism, function in a free enterprise society, and appreciate the basic democratic values of our state and nation as referenced in the Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.002(h).
(6) Students understand that a constitutional republic is a representative form of government whose representatives derive their authority from the consent of the governed, serve for an established tenure, and are sworn to uphold the constitution.
(7) State and federal laws mandate a variety of celebrations and observances, including Celebrate Freedom Week.
(A) Each social studies class shall include, during Celebrate Freedom Week as provided under the TEC, §29.907, or during another full school week as determined by the board of trustees of a school district, appropriate instruction concerning the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, in their historical contexts. The study of the Declaration of Independence must include the study of the relationship of the ideas expressed in that document to subsequent American history, including the relationship of its ideas to the rich diversity of our people as a nation of immigrants, the American Revolution, the formulation of the U.S. Constitution, and the abolitionist movement, which led to the Emancipation Proclamation and the women's suffrage movement.
(B) Each school district shall require that, during Celebrate Freedom Week or other week of instruction prescribed under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, students in Grades 3-12 study and recite the following text: "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness--That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed."
(8) Students identify and discuss how the actions of U.S. citizens and the local, state, and federal governments have either met or failed to meet the ideals espoused in the founding documents.
(Source: Texas Education Agency at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/)
I love the idea of teaching social studies to children. I have this idea of what it means to teach this subject to kids, and after reading the essential knowledge skills, I feel the thoughts I had on it are in line with the Texas Education Agency. I think it will be easy to utilize the skills for the TEKS in this subject area, especially with the help of technology and technology with visual aids in particular. I think that I can teach about the people, places, social issues, and government of other places. Using visual aids in technologies images of other places and diagrams of their government can be presented to students in a way that will hold their attention. I can show pictures of the way a society works, and governs in a different country. I want to open their minds to the WORLD, not just the united states, and I feel that through social studies, with the aid of technology, I can really affect their learning experience. At least, that's what I think it means to teach this subject.
I think the most important TEKS for 6th grade social studies is the first one listed. I think this because it is the very definition of social studies, and it is an age appropriate guideline. I will make sure this particular area of the 6th grade social studies TEKS requirement is fulfilled, because it is the most basic thing that they need to learn about social studies. I intend to have them use technology to understand how societies differ from place to place. I want them to understand that each place has a different government, educational systems, and religions beliefs and practices. I want them to walk out of my classroom feeling wiser about the world, even at a young age, I feel like it is important to make students understand that there is a whole, diverse, wonderful world out there that they can learn from!
