SS+Site+Visit+Committee

SS Site Visit Subcommittee

This is an awesome subcommittee!

Initial information we received from School Districts that were contacted//** //Information from web sites on neighboring school districts//
 * //This is the letter that was put together to send out to the Districts for information and possible visits
 * //Topics discussed at Site Visitations//**
 * [[file:Social Studies Curriculum Info from websites.doc]]

__Pennridge School District - Upper Bucks County__** www.pennridge.org


 * Not on a formal curriculum review cycle
 * They have created their own K-12 Social Studies Goals based off of NCSS standards. They have not been renewed in over 10 years.
 * They are looking at going to standards-based grading

//Elementary// - PSD alternates Science and Social Studies - 1/2 MP each - Multi-text approach, trade books - Grade 2 = Basal texts and Social Studies Alive! - They are looking at Read 180 - Use Achieve 3000 for finding articles at different reading levels (split costs with Special Ed.) - Social Studies is separate from LA curriculum

//Middle School// - Needs revision - 7th grade is only grade K-12 that works primarily with geography - 8th grade Civics

//High School// - 9th & 10th grade = American History, 11th = World Cultures, 12th = Political Science 1/2 and 1/2 of either economics, psychology, or sociology - No block scheduling - AP's = Government, American and World. They used to offer Micro and Macro Econ in a 1 yr. course but it has not been offered since 2002 - Electives = law, international politics - Newer curricula utilizes essential questions - Looking at teaching more depth than breadth

- The visit focus was for technology, however, LM technology has more to offer than UDSD at this time
 * __Upper Dublin - Middle and High School Visit__**

**Upper Dublin - Fitzwater Elementary** Their scope and sequence seems to be much like ours. They may be less concerned with standards for S.S. at this point.

-similar content-class size smaller @ elem level (cut off at 22, but sizes actually around 19) -40 minute blocks alternating with Science -learning support student are included in reg ed for SS, sometimes with an aide -gifted students are pulled out for support, but included in SS classes -no true differentiation in SS-current events are recognized with Weekly Reader or Time for Kids

Materials Upper Dublin uses (K-5) Nystrom: Exploring Where & Why is used K-5 3rd grade-Houghton Mifflin: Communities 4th & 5th grades-Harcourt: Horizons 5th grade Interact Simulations: Discovery & Pioneers