Social Studies and the Young Learner - Volume 19 Number 1 - September/October 2006

Sep 29, 2026

This issue highlights how civic education and social studies can make democracy an active part of children’s lives across Grades K–6. It features conference information for the 86th NCSS Annual Conference in Washington, DC, plus editor’s notes and multiple classroom-focused articles. Topics include critical literacy, children’s literature for history, classroom space and routines, democratic character development, learning about voting, deliberation in school, and teaching core U.S. symbols.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Editor’s notes

Featured classroom approaches to democratic learning

Teaching about democratic government and voting

Civic discourse and symbols of democracy

Non-Proft 0rganization U.5.Postage lI…I凹…I""Il…lIl" 86996 YL 12/06 1BG 00034 BN 00002 little Rock,AR MARYGROVE COLLEGE Permit \#2112 DETR01T M148221-2546 PAID social studies and theyoungearneChildren'sVoices forDemocracy AQuarterly for Creative Teachingin Grades K-6Volume 19 NumberiSeptember/October2006wwwsocialstudies.org NCSS The 86th NCSSAnnual Conference This December,we return to Washington,DCbecause we all have a special connection to the city. Looking for new ideas to use in the classroom?Need to recharge your batteries?Then attendthe conference where you can meet renownededucators,policy makers,and pundits.Confirmedspeakers are pictured below. Special programming includes: Henry Louis Eleanor Clift Gates,Jr. The National Geographic Society sponsors anadult geography bee.Jeopardy host Alex Trebek willmoderate,so start studying! The Capitol Steps perform at a special ticketedevent on Saturday evening.They have worked in18 Congressional offices,and represent 62 years ofHouse and Senate staff experience.Their humorousand irreverent song parodies will have us all rollingin the aisles! Linda Fasulo John Stossel Registration is now open!Preregister via internet,fax,or mail.Register by October 8 and save morethan 10%.Download the Preview for conferencedetails www.socialstudies.org/conference. Washington,DCDecember 1,2 and 3 editor’s notes “…with Liberty and Justice for All.” Linda Bennett Their words and deeds should exemplify democracy in theclassroom and beyond.In their article “Making Democracyan Active Force in Students'Lives,"Jonette Ford and ErycaNeville relate how students in a fifth grade classroom wereempowered through critical literacy and social studies experi-ences to made democracy an active force in their lives. The future of our democracy depends on more than sim-ply having students recite the Pledge of Allegiance-it's havingchildren live theirlives in accordance with the democraticide-als they are learning about.Civic education for a democraticsociety begins with the inclusion of children's,words,deeds,and experiences in the processes of democracy. Myra Zarnowski uses children’s literature about ordinaryobjects in to share aspects of history with young students.In“Objects that Take Center Stage in History Books,”four com-mon items-glass,girls'clothing,codfish,and peanuts-becomea focus for studying the progress of human society. In the teaching resource section,Lisa Gross shares classroomobservations and derives insights into how teachers might usespace and routine to promote democratic opportunities.Grosswrites,“We must critically examine our intentions and negoti-ate ways in which our students can grow and develop into self-sufficient,independent members of a greater society." Karon LeCompte carries the thesis of a book,DevelopingDemocratic Characterin the Young,into the secondgrade class-room.In“Conditions of Democracy:Elementary Perspectives,she describes how she presents her students with eleven condi-tions,one at a time,inviting the students to discuss what eachone means to them. In“Your Voice,Your Vote,”Lori Mathys and Linda Bennettdiscuss how fourth graders can learn about the history of vot-ing and the democratic process in the United States.As theNovember elections draw near,a historical look at the votingprocess can help students understand the power of voting andthe importance of participating in the election process. I hope my first issue as editor of Social Studies and theYoung Learner makes you think about democracy in yourclassroom.Is the classroom a place for students to freely discusstheir ideas and opinions?Do we daily promote the ideals ofour democratic society?3 “Sharing the ‘Current Events'in Children’'s Lives”by JeffPasse is a guide to "sharing time"in the classroom.This is anactivity during which students discuss “current events”in theirlives.Children gain insights by listening to their peers describetheir experiences

FAQs

What central theme does the editor emphasize in this issue?

Democratic education must go beyond reciting the Pledge and instead support children’s everyday lives in accordance with democratic ideals.

How do the articles connect social studies content to children’s experiences?

They use activities and classroom practices—such as sharing current events, discussing democratic conditions, and practicing deliberation—to help students learn from peer experiences and classroom challenges.

Which democratic symbols does the issue address for classroom teaching?

It focuses on the American Flag, the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, and the Pledge of Allegiance as concrete icons representing democratic ideals.

Sep 29, 2026

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