Social Studies: People, Places and Environments

Pre-K-12: Standard 3

• Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of people, places and environments. The study of people, places and human-environment interactions assists learners as they create their spatial views and geographic perspectives of the world.

Social Studies: Power, Authority and Governance

Pre-K-12: Standard 6

• Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of how people create and change structures of power, authority, and governance. Understanding the historical development of structures of power, authority, and governance and their evolving functions in contemporary U.S. society, as well as in other parts of the world, is essential for developing civic competence.

National Council for the Social Studies, Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (Washington, D.C.: NCSS, 1994). This book may be purchased by calling 800-683-0812. Electronic copies of it are not available.

Source: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies

English Language Arts: Evaluating Data
K-12: Standard 7

• Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.

Standards for the English Language Arts, by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English, Copyright 1996 by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. Reprinted with permission.

Source: NCTE/IRA Standards for the English Language Arts

Make current events fun with images to engage students and inspire creativity. Use thematic die-cuts for social studies bulletin boards, attach to posters for creative writing or make decorative report covers.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Supplies Used: Black Stamp Pad, Cardstock, Colored Pencils, Crayons, Glue, Patterned Paper, Scissors Black Stamp Pad

The teacher will die-cut the materials for student use prior to the lesson.

1. Die-cut XL silhouettes for bulletin boards and LG or SM silhouettes for student reports.
2. Die-cut silhouettes using multiple colors of construction paper or cardstock.
3. Using illustrated figures as a guide, cut hat, beard, hair and clothes out of appropriate colors and layer on top of base shape using glue machine. To layer, leave one shape whole and cut highlights out of other colors (Figure A).
4. Create subtle shading to accentuate eyes, nose, mouth and chin by drawing thin lines with colored pencils or crayons (Figure B).

George Washington:

1. Die-cut Ribbon for George Washington's hair and glue in place (see Main Photo).

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

1. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s hair is rubber stamped using the Tiny Paw Print stamp with a black ink pad.
2. Die-cut two Tiny Paw Prints using Self-Adhesive Rubber to make a stamp.
3. Peel backing off one Tiny Paw Print and place on Tiny Clear Plastic Stamp Mount.
4. Peel backing off second Tiny Paw Print and place directly on top of first Tiny Paw Print shape (Figure C).
5. Use the Tiny Paw Print stamp and black ink pad to create Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s hair (Figure D).

Display decorated silhouettes in the classroom (see Main Photo).