Every year since I have started teaching, it seems harder and harder to fit social studies into the day. The main emphasis has been on math and ELA. I have been lucky enough to be a part of the Teaching American History grant in Albion with some wonderful people and where I have picked up some of the most valuable teaching techniques. With that said, some of my favorite lessons are those that weave together reading, writing and history. While at the Library of Congress a few summers ago with my American History cohort, one of the staff members showed us a primary source. It was a picture of a little girl working in a factory. He asked us to think about "What she was thinking?" That gave me the idea to create activities where students take a look at primary sources with speech/thought bubbles built in. After reading about the topic in depth and researching, the students then get the primary sources and fill in these speech and thought bubbles with what they believe the people are thinking. This activity forces students think critically and place themselves in a person's shoes from another time and place.
Here is a "What Were They Thinking?" activity for St. Patrick's Day.
I have also made a 6 pack of these for multiple topics we study in 4th grade. Available here.
