Two-Column Notes

Date:
8/31/16

Page #

Name:
Devon Hundley

Class/Subject:
EDTL 2760: Introduction to the Teaching of Social Studies
Topic or Chapter
Why Kids Dont Like Social Studies
Schug, M. C., Todd, R. J., & Beery, R. (1984). Why Kids Dont Like Social Studies. Research in Social Studies
Education. Athens, GA: University of Georgia, pp. 47-53.
The Text Says
Notes (key concepts, direct quotes, etc.)

I Say
My notes, commentary

Page #47

Even more alarming are studies showing that young

people do not feel social studies is a particularly
valuable or interesting part of the school curriculum
(pp. 47).

I think this is because there is such a strong emphasis on the

science and math courses (STEM). People do not think
there are careers allocated to the social sciences.

Pages
#48-50

The text discusses basically how social studies is

boring and ranks lower than all other subjects.

Page #50

One implication of student thinking about the

importance of social studies is that we do not do a
very good job of communicating why social studies
knowledge and skills are valuable (pp. 50).

Page #53

The dominant reasons students preferred their

favorite courses to social studies were that they
provided more variety in instruction and more
opportunities for being successful (pp. 53)

Other courses have interesting aspects that get people

involved, whether that be experiments or novels or group
activities. Social studies can be pretty cut and dry, which is
not appealing to everyone. Maybe if educators tried to
incorporate real-world applications in the classroom, more
students would be interested in social studies.
Before coming to college, I did not realize the application
history has on life. Social studies invokes critical thinking
skills that are necessary and fundamental. Because
everything in history is a catalyst for the next event or
reaction. This is just not being communicated at the lower
grade levels.
I have never taking an interactive social studies class and I
think that is a large portion of the issue. Students need
hands-on activities. They need to move and think and find
ways to relate why events precede others.

1) My favorite teachers in school were my social studies teachers. They were the reason I grew up to have a passion for learning and
specifically for the social sciences. They themselves were the most passionate teachers I had ever had. My fifth grade social studies
teacher gave us a lot of autonomy in our learning. For book projects we had to read within the subject of history, but that also included
historical fiction. Reading interesting historical fiction at a young age made me want to learn more about the truths behind the stories.
I clearly remember reading a book that was the Chinese version of what we think of Cinderella. In the book, foot binding was a part of
the story line and not knowing what that was, I began researching it and learning about an entirely different culture I had known
nothing about.
2) I think the authors came to very valid points from the study. Social studies can be boring at times, but there are so many aspects that
are interesting. I think educators do need to find new and invigorating ways to bring the information to students. It is very possible to
have projects in social studies courses rather than taking notes every single day. When I was in eleventh grade, this was for an English
course but could have been applied to a history course, I read Schindlers List and made a concentration camp. Instead of writing a
book report, I used a shoe box and made a model of what a concentration camp would look like from the perspective in the book. T