Table Of Content“Essentials of Middle and Secondary Social Studies is a thoughtful introduction into the practice
of teaching middle and secondary social studies. As a true methods book, Russell and Waters
focus on an array of approaches to teaching. For anyone interested in a book that is built
around the practical aspects of teaching social studies, this is a must-read book.”
Bonnie Bittman,
Assistant Professor of Teacher Education,
The University of Hawaii
“The strength of Essentials of Middle and Secondary Social Studies is in its ability to provide reader
with practical applications of research-based instructional strategies. Filled with illustrative
vignettes, activities, and lesson plans, this book would be valuable for pre-service teachers who
are just entering the classroom, as well as in-service teachers who may be looking for new
ways to enliven their instruction.”
Wayne Journell,
Professor of Secondary Social Studies Education,
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
“Too often, methods texts are rich in the ‘why’ of teaching the content. This book is outstand-
ing in that it focuses upon the ‘how’ as well as the ‘why’. Education student will benefit greatly
from the wide and diverse research-based strategies to teach all students in today’s educational
world. Indeed, this book truly covers the ‘essentials’ of social studies instruction today.”
Dr. Brad Burenheide,
College of Education, Kansas State University
Essentials of Middle and Secondary
Social Studies
Building on the success of the of previous editions, Essentials of Middle and Secondary Social Studies
Third Edition focuses on the key issues central to the teaching of middle and high school social
studies, including lesson planning and instructional strategies. Written in an engaging, conversa-
tional style, the text encourages teachers in their development as professionals and enables them to
effectively use creative and active learning strategies in the everyday classroom.
New to This Edition
This third edition has been refined with new and relevant topics and strategies needed for effec-
tively teaching middle and high school social studies. New features include:
• An expanded chapter on the decision- making process in secondary social studies. This chapter
provides additional discussion about the importance of helping middle and high school learn-
ers better understand the decision- making process and offers strategies for helping teachers
make connections between choices, values, character development, and social justice.
• An updated chapter on technology designed to better prepare secondary social studies teach-
ers to effectively incorporate technology into their instruction. Focus is given to virtual teach-
ing and learning, media literacy, teaching with film, and numerous other ways to improve
teaching and learning in the digital age.
• Updated further readings and helpful resources for all chapters to include supplemental dig-
ital and video sources related to various topics throughout the chapter. These resources were
specifically curated to be impactful for preservice and in-s ervice teachers, as well as anyone
teaching secondary social studies methods courses.
• Added a “Checking for Understanding” section of questions at the end of each chapter
that focuses on comprehension, application, and reflection on key concepts throughout the
chapters.
• An expanded discussion of the Common Core Standards and C3 Framework and how it
impacts teachers.
• An updated chapter titled “Experiencing Social Studies”. This chapter focus on topics such as
teaching with drama, role play, field trips, and service learning.
• Each chapter includes a “Helpful Resources” section that details various websites and online
resources for further discovery.
William B. Russell III is Professor of Science Education at The University of Central Florida.
Stewart Waters is Associate Professor of Social Science Education at The University of Tennessee,
Knoxville.
Essentials of Middle and Secondary
Social Studies
Third Edition
William B. Russell III and Stewart Waters
Cover image: © Getty Images
Third edition published 2023
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 William B. Russell and Stewart Waters
The right of William B. Russell and Stewart Waters to be identified as authors of this work
has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any
form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks,
and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Second edition published by Routledge 2018
First edition published by Routledge 2013
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Russell, William B., author. | Waters, Stewart, author.
Title: Essentials of middle and secondary social studies / William B.
Russell III & Stewart Waters.
Description: Third edition. | New York, NY: Routledge, 2022. | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021056802 (print) | LCCN 2021056803 (ebook) | ISBN
9781032107905 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032107899 (paperback) | ISBN
9781003217060 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Social sciences—Study and teaching (Elementary)—United
States. | Social sciences—Study and teaching (Secondary)—United
States.
Classification: LCC LB1584 .R86 2022 (print) | LCC LB1584 (ebook) | DDC
372.89—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021056802
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021056803
ISBN: 978-1-032-10790-5 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-10789-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-21706-0 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003217060
Typeset in Bembo
by SPi Technologies India Pvt Ltd (Straive)
Contents
List of Illustrations xiii
Preface xv
1 Becoming a Professional Social Studies Teacher 1
Looking Ahead 1
Can You? Do You? 1
Focus Activity 1
Influences and Experiences 2
Professional Certification, Conduct, and Ethics 2
Professional Organizations 6
Professional Development 6
Looking Back 10
Extension Activity 11
Reflective Questions 11
Helpful Resources 11
Further Reading 11
References 12
2 Contemporary Social Studies 13
Looking Ahead 13
Can You? Do You? 14
Focus Activity 14
The Goals of Social Studies 14
Why Is There Controversy in Social Studies? 16
Incorporating Themes from the Standards 19
Social Studies and the Common Core 20
College, Career, and Civic Life Framework and Social Studies 22
NCSS National Standards for the Preparation of Social Studies Teachers 23
Constructivism and Social Studies 24
A Problems Approach to Social Studies 24
Problems Approach in the Classroom 25
The Social Science Disciplines 27
Looking Back 31
Extension Activity 32
Reflective Questions 32
viii Contents
Helpful Resources 32
Further Reading 33
References 34
3 Planning Social Studies Instruction 35
Looking Ahead 35
Can You? Do You? 35
Focus Activity 36
Why Is Planning Important? 36
Setting the Stage: Creating the Environment 37
Why Don’t Teachers Plan? 37
Long- Range Planning 39
Textbook-Centered Units 39
Types of Planning for Social Studies Units 41
Expanded Textbook Units 41
Deciding on Unit Topics 43
Developing the Unit Plan 45
Instructional Objectives 46
Content Outlines and Flowcharts 46
Concept Webs 46
Moving Toward the Development of Activities 48
Unit Elements Format 49
Finding and Using Prepared Units 55
Planning for Shorter Instructional Sequences 56
Looking Back 63
Extension Activity 63
Reflective Questions 64
Helpful Resources 64
Further Reading 64
References 65
4 Assessment and Evaluation 66
Looking Ahead 66
Can You? Do You? 66
Focus Activity 66
The Role of Assessment in Social Studies 67
Principles of Assessment 68
Guidelines for Assessment 69
Authentic Assessment and Portfolios 71
Assessment through Tests 72
Assessing Projects and Reports 75
Subjective Assessment 75
Peer Assessment and Self- Assessment 76
Checklist and Rubric Assessment 76
Analytical Assessment 76
Teacher Observations and Anecdotal Records 78
Contents ix
Looking Back 79
Extension Activity 80
Reflective Questions 80
Helpful Resources 80
Further Reading 81
References 81
5 Reading and Writing in Social Studies 82
Looking Ahead 82
Can You? Do You? 82
Focus Activity 83
Every Teacher Is a Reading Teacher 83
Reading and Writing Assignments in Social Studies 83
Reading Skills Needed in Social Studies 84
Helping Students Read Social Studies Materials 85
Extended Teacher Definitions 89
Teacher- Provided Experiences 89
Student-Centered Experiences 89
Less Can Be More: Quality Reading in Social Studies 91
Reading Textbooks 93
Reading Questions and Task Statements 96
Reading Social Studies- Themed Trade Books 96
Connecting Writing to Both Social Studies and Reading 99
Organizing to Write 100
Developing Research and Reporting Skills 102
Writing Creatively 103
Classroom Episode #1 104
Looking Back 106
Extension Activity 106
Reflective Questions 107
Helpful Resources 107
Further Reading 107
References 108
6 Social Studies and Diverse Learners 109
Looking Ahead 109
Can You? Do You? 109
Focus Activity 110
Multiple Intelligences 110
Multicultural Directions in Social Studies 111
Social Studies and English Language Learners (ELLs) 112
Social Studies and Exceptional Education Students 114
Looking Back 116
Extension Activity 116
Reflective Questions 117
Helpful Resources 117
