This document outlines a vision for powerful social studies education that is meaningful, values-based, challenging, active, and integrative. It emphasizes using authentic activities and assessments to engage students in making decisions while considering social issues and diversity. Students are expected to think critically and respect opposing views while striving for instructional goals and working productively with others. The vision calls for flexibility, teachable moments, and relating prior knowledge to current experiences through discussion, readings, writing, and hands-on activities. It also aims to integrate disciplines, time periods, theory and practice, research and applications, technologies, and connections to life.

1. A Vision for Powerful Social Studies

2. Meaningful not trivial useful in and out of school centers on powerful ideas emphasizes authentic activities and assessments

3. Value-Based ____ engages students in making decisions ____ aware of social policy implications ____ realizes social diversity ____ sensitivity to cultural similarities and differences ____ commitment to social responsibility and action ____ involves critical thinking ____ recognition of opposing points of view ____ respect for well-supported positions ____ involves ethics

4. Challenging ____ expected to strive to achieve instructional goals ____ challenged to come to grips with controversial issues ____ participate assertively but respectfully in group discussions ____ work productively with others (a learning community) ____ well-reasoned arguments rather than opinions voiced without adequate thought or commitment ____ uses varieties of sources of information with different perspectives ____ makes well-reasoned and informed decisions

5. Active ___ flexibility requiring reflective thinking and decision making as events unfold during instruction. ____ captures "teachable moments" ____ physical activity as well as thinking activities relates prior knowledge to current experiences ____ via discussion, readings, writing, etc. ____ "hands-on" and "minds-on"

6. Integrative ______crosses disciplinary boundaries _____ across time and space ____ links past and present ____ links theory and reality ____ links research and practical applications ____ involves new technologies ____ connected with life and social issues ____ involves knowledge and skills