Effective teaching in social studies

In this section, find out more about key social studies teaching and learning approaches, including building
conceptual understandings, and approaches to social inquiry. Follow links to the social sciences Best Evidence
Synthesis, and discover a range of effective teaching strategies for the social sciences.

Building conceptual understandings

Concepts are embedded in all the social studies achievement objectives across the four conceptual strands of The New Zealand
Curriculum. They are an essential part of teaching and learning in social studies.

Social inquiry
Through social inquiry, students ask questions, gather information, and examine the background to important societal ideas and
events. They are able to explore and analyse values and perspectives relating to these ideas and events; and develop
understandings about issues and the ways that people make decisions and participate in social action.

Using evidence
Using evidence, such as the Ministry of Education's Best Evidence Synthesis (BES) programme, can be a catalyst for systemic
improvement and sustainable development in education. The social sciences best evidence synthesis has a focus on quality
teaching and learning for diverse learners in the social sciences.

Teaching strategies
There are may useful teaching strategies to support effective teaching in social sciences. This section contains a variety of graphic
organisers; cooperative learning ideas; tools and resources for writing and presenting information; and ideas for oral and visual
activities.

Teaching strategies
There are may useful teaching strategies to support effective teaching in social sciences. This section contains a
variety of graphic organisers; cooperative learning ideas; tools and resources for writing and presenting
information; and ideas for oral and visual activities.

Graphic organisers
This section has a wide variety of graphic organisers such as charts, webs, diagrams, maps, templates, grids, and wheels to help
students organise and display information and their findings.

Cooperative learning
Explore these group and team activities in which students have opportunities to work together to achieve shared learning goals.

Writing and presenting information

This section includes links to suggestions for written activities, such as essay and paragraph writing, questionnaires, surveys,
graphic organisers, and descriptions.

Using oral and visual activities

These links to information about oral or visual forms of literacy are useful for teaching and learning in social studies. This
includes the use of pictures, photos, drawings, audio conferences, booklets, biographies, and interviews.