Teaching and Learning Elementary Social Studies, 9th edition

·          Throughout, this text emphasizes the importance of social studies education in creating active, thoughtful, critical participant-citizens. 

·          A unique chapter on Inquiry, Discovery, and Problem Solving: Children as Researchers (Ch. 8) is based on constructivist principles and encourages teachers to use strategies that help children become active critical thinkers.

·          A wealth of practical applications, including sample lesson plans and In the Classroom features, makes the text a valuable, professional reference that pre-service teachers will keep for their libraries.

·          Both an overview chapter on the social studies knowledge base (Ch. 3, Setting the Standards) and individual discipline-related chapters link social studies content to NCSS Standards and to discipline-specific standards throughout.

·          Teaching and Learning Values, Character Education, and Moral Development (Ch. 11) focuses on “what really matters” and provides strategies for resolving dilemmas and avoiding conflict.

·          End of chapter activitiesprovide opportunities for students to reflect on chapter content, as well as explore further in the field and create artifacts for their portfolios.

• New coverage of the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) Standards as well as the knowledge base children should have.
• Additional lessons and activities have been added throughout and all are now linked directly to the NCSS Standards.
• Additional insights from such theorists as Jerome Bruner, Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, John Dewy, and more, contributing to teacher candidate's understanding of constructivism and children as constructivists of knowledge.
• New and additional coverage of the idea of children as researchers, interdisciplinary teaching and learning, connections to literature, and citizenship education.
• New coverage of teaching and learning strategies, children as makers and readers of maps, and literacy including electronic literacy and the Internet.
• New focus on character education, moral development, and service learning.