Teaching Social Studies and Geography Through the Erie Canal

No matter what social studies subject I am teaching each year, my very first lesson is based in geography.

Children need to learn the beauty of the natural world before they become interested in saving it.

The diffusion of writing systems or materials was often determined by religion, politics, or economics.

If you could take your students on a field trip anywhere, where would you go? What kinds of things would you like them to see or to learn on this quest?

The public lands of the United States cover more than six hundred million acres and include national parks, national seashores, national wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, national forests, monuments, select lakes and seashores, underground mineral reserves, marine sanctuaries, historic and scenic trails, and national grasslands.

Why am I here? Where do I come from? Who am I? Questions like these are answered in part through stories handed from one generation to another.

In the primary grades, maps are useful tools to help the young reader put stories into perspective and develop a sense of place.

Ask any teacher in any discipline at any grade level and they will tell you that literacy is one of their biggest concerns and challenges.

Many students have trouble understanding the geographic context of United States history even though they can often relate the themes to their lives.