EDU 400 Teaching Science and Social Studies in the Elementary School

This writing-intensive course is designed to provide elementary education teacher candidates with the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary for the teaching of science and social studies content in the elementary school curriculum. Candidates will become proficient in planning, writing, implementing and evaluating science and social studies instruction as specified in the Florida Elementary Education Subject Area Competencies 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27. Thus they will acquire knowledge of how to write and implement scientifically based instructional practices in the following curricular areas: history; geography; government and civics; economics; assessment in science and social studies; knowledge of matter; knowledge of forces, motion and energy; knowledge of Earth and space science; knowledge of life science; knowledge of the nature of science; and knowledge of the relationship of science and technology. In order to improve their writing skills, class participants will spend time with students in school and teach them how to write social science-based and science-based texts. Field hours required. This course requires students to brainstorm, free-write, research, rewrite, present information and peer-edit. A significant aspect of this course is teaching students about writing and learning through teaching writing, as well as learning through writing.

Credits

4

Prerequisite

Admission to teacher education program.

Distribution

(W)