Introduction | Sample Lessons | Unit Outlines |Contact Information

Introduction

The Integrated Social Studies/English Langugage Arts Curriculum for grades 1 - 5 was developed by teachers during summer workshops over the last four years. The project received its impetus from the Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES Curriculum Council and the BOCES curriculum staff. The decision was made to use the methodology of Backward Design developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTigue, and to publish the results on the web so that the curriculum would be available to all teachers in the region. The New York State Learning Standards for Social Studies and English Language Arts, and the New York State Education Department Social Studies Scope and Sequence Content Understandings were used as a framework for unit development.

When teachers met initially, an agreement was reached on the basic principles that would guide the project. The teachers envisioned a curriculum that would be:

  • teacher friendly. The lessons which would support the unit design would include specific procedures, clearly spell out the materials needed, and provide the appropriate worksheets and rubrics.
  • based on child-centered learning experiences and connected to the local, regional, and state communities.
  • in harmony with the Learning Standards developed by the New York State Education Department. The curriculum would include models at the primary level of the types of questions found on the Fifth Grade Assessment: Multiple Choice Questions, Constructed Response Questions and a Document Based Questions. All of the skills identified by the New York State Education Department in Social Studies and English Language Arts that a child in the primary grades should possess would be incorporated into the lessons.
  • open to the integration of already developed units done in individual districts.
  • integrated with the best practices in instructional technology. These include:
    • encouraging higher order thinking skills
    • involving collaborative learning
    • using information sources that could not be found elsewhere, or are not as rich
    • engaging the research spirit
    • utilizing real-time data
    • having real world connections
    • allowing for online publishing or input from others

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Sample Lessons

These sample lessons are provided for districts who are interested in previewing the materials before implementing this curriculum in their district. All materials are web-based, and are reviewed and revised each year. This is a "living, breathing" curriculum. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Marla Gardner or Judy Powers at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES. (914) 248 - 2332.

Please note that you will not be able to link to the other lessons in the curriculum. You will have access to all files and links for one lesson only, for each grade level. If links go to other sections of the curriculum, they will not be operational.

Unit Outlines for All Grade Levels

Click here for a printable outline of the entire Integrated Social Studies/ELA curriculum. This file lists all unit and lesson names for the curriculum for all five grade levels.

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Developed at
PUTNAM/NORTHERN WESTCHESTER BOCES
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES

Marla Gardner, Director
Judy Powers, Curriculum/Staff Developer
Mirla N. Morrison, Social Studies Consultant
Linda Brandon, Instructional Technology Consultant

For further information regarding this curriculum and staff development program, please contact Dr. Marla Gardner (914) 248-2332. (mgardner@pnwboces.org)

©2006 by Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES, 200 BOCES Drive, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598-4399

All rights reserved. No portion of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or oltherwise) without the prior written permission of the Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES Curriculum Center.

 

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Revised 9/28/07