This document discusses how incorporating literacy components like reading, writing, oral communication, and listening can make social studies more meaningful for students. It provides essential questions about how to promote social studies through literacy and vice versa. Examples are given for classroom use in primary and upper grades, such as reading biographies, writing journals or family histories, giving oral reports, and taking field trips. Resources for further information are also listed.

1. Literacy and Social Studies
Claire Mills
Teli Hernandez
Megan Noblett-Olsen
John Whitaker
DeAnn Tenhunfeld

2.  Reading
 Writing
 Oral
 Listening
Incorporating all literacy components into
a social studies program will make both
subjects more meaningful to our students.
Literacy Components

3. Essential Questions
How do you promote social studies
through literacy?
How do you promote literacy through social
studies?
Do you need a book?

4. Examples for Classroom Use
Primary Grades:
 Reading a biography of historical figures (Abraham Lincoln)
 Writing in journals
 Give oral reports
 Fieldtrip to the Railroad Museum http://www.csrmf.org/default.asp
 Upper Grades:
 Read Island of the Blue Dolphins
 Writing autobiographies/family history/family interviews
 Give oral reports
 Bring in a guest speaker (grandparents)

5. Resources
 California Department of Education: Recommended
Reading
 http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/rl/ll/litrlgenres.asp
 The Globe Program
 http://www.globe.gov
 NCSSonline
 http://ncss.org
 Linquist T., and Selwyn, D. Social Studies at the Center:
Integrating Kids, Content, and Literacy

6. Should literacy be a part of social
studies?
Literacy is a natural part of social studies.
It is up to the teacher to incorporate all
components of literacy. It supports all
learning modalities.
Puts into practice state and national
language arts and social studies
standards.
Brings it to LIFE.
It’s not boring.