Social Studies Ideas

FRONT PAGE:

--Read a story datelined from your city. Did you learn anything about the city?

--A paper’s front page usually has local articles on it. Find each of the localities on a map. Give directions to an out-of-town guest on how to get there and at least one landmark to see there.

--Cut pictures of three government leaders from the paper. Who are they, and what is their job in government?

--Government and education are often in the news – their cost, their failures, the people involved. Students’ grades are regularly mentioned. How would you as a student rate your government? Your education? What would you base your grades on? What would be cause for a failing grade?

--Make a grade card for your city/local government.

--Many believe that the Bill of Rights is just an old piece of paper. Clip articles that have reference to one of the first 10 amendments to our Constitution.

--List several social problems that the community is dealing with, using examples from the newspaper. Divide into teams. Each team should agree on a possible solution. Discuss the various solutions.

--Write a letter to the editor suggesting the various solutions suggested for community problems.

INSIDE:

--Who goes to court?

--Why do couples wanting to get married have to go to court?

--Why are the babies listed each day? Who would want to know?

--Why does the government want to know how much you paid for your new home or who sold it?

--What does the government do with money from fines?

DEATH NOTICES:

--What age group has the largest number of deaths?

--Keep a chart of the reported deaths, noting the age, sex, day of the week and cause of death (accident, illness, etc.) for a month. Do any of the statistics prove or disprove news and health related articles?

--Do older people have more siblings than younger? Does there seem to be a trend?

--How many people were born in another state?

--Map the journey people must have traveled to get from their place of birth to their place of death.

--What kinds of jobs did the people have?

--What historical periods/crises did the people live through? (The Great Depression, the Turbulent ’60s, WWII, the Korean War, the Holocaust, the Sept. 11 attacks)

OP/ED PAGES:

--What symbolism is used in the political cartoon?

--Do you agree or disagree with the political cartoon message?

--Read the editorial. List all of the facts, and then all of the opinions stated. Did the editorial change your mind on the issue?

WEATHER:

--Locate the cities from a smaller map on the classroom map of the United States

--Pick cities from those listed that were in the original 13 colonies

--What is the temperature in world capitals of our allies in WWII?

--Plan a two-week trip to three cities outside Ohio. What will you need to pack in your suitcase for the trip?

--Looking at the weather in the truck farming states (those growing tomatoes, carrots, onions, etc.) will the price in the grocery stores be going up or down? Why?

--Is this good weather for farmers to plant/harvest crops in the Midwest/Southeast/Plains areas Will fishermen on the East Coast be able to go out to catch lobsters?

--What would Native Americans from your area be doing at this time of year? (Moving to better hunting grounds? Preparing for winter?)

DISPLAY ADS:

--Clip examples of types of ads (propaganda) used to get people to buy a certain product:

Basic Ad: Package and brand name only

Famous People Say: People like to use the same thing a rich or famous person

uses

--Youth Appeal: “You’ve come a long way, baby!”

--Symbols: Ronald McDonald, Jolly Green Giant, etc.

--Romantic Appeal: “You’ll be as beautiful or handsome as … if you use this

product”

--Humor: People like to laugh, and if the ad is different/funny enough, people will

remember and buy the product

--Grocery Store Ads: Plan meals for one week (three meals per day) for a family of four. What’s the total? Are the meals balanced with the food pyramid?

--Sale Ads: Add the savings if you bought one of each item mentioned.

CLASSIFIED ADS:

--Choose an antique or collector’s item and write its history.

FEATURE STORIES:

--Who wrote the article? Do you like the style of writing? Do you like the topic?

MISCELLANEOUS:

--Abbreviations: CIA, B&O, PG, AP, GE. Team up for one week. Which team can find the most abbreviations?

--Find examples of people at work. Describe a typical day on the job.

--Read your horoscope each day and write the day’s outcome in your journal. Is there any connection?

--Research the type of architecture shown in pictures of old/historic homes and buildings.

--Write or describe the music or sound you think of while looking at a photo. (Do you hear a Sousa march when you see a photo of a marching band?)

--Make a collage of people’s expressions.