Integrating Social Studies and Literacy Instruction
Literacy is woven into the fabric of elementary social studies learning. As students build social studies content knowledge and disciplinary skills, they engage in deep literacy work: interrogating diverse sources, evaluating and constructing arguments, examining differing points of view and perspectives, and developing the skills to share their ideas and findings.
Recent research also indicates that when teachers integrate high-quality social studies and literacy instruction, literacy outcomes for students improve significantly. On average, elementary students who receive an additional 30 minutes of social studies instruction per day outperform students with less social studies time by 15 percent on fifth-grade standardized reading assessments.
In order to reap the literacy benefits of increased social studies time, social studies instruction must support the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy (CCSS-ELA). Inquiry Journeys uses the CCSS-ELA as supporting standards for all units.
Download inquirED's Literacy Practices and Supports resource to explore our inquiry-based approach to integrating social studies and CCSS-ELA literacy instruction, including the direct practices and supports provided to social studies students and teachers within the Inquiry Journeys curriculum.
About inquirED
inquirED was founded by teachers with the mission of bringing inquiry-based social studies to every classroom. Inquiry Journeys, inquirED’s elementary social studies curriculum, is used in schools and districts across the country to help students develop deep social studies content knowledge and build the inquiry skills that are essential for a thriving democracy.