Social Education January/February 2024
Teaching Social Studies in Polarized Times
Social Education January/February 2024
Special Section:Teaching Social Studies in Polarized Times
Volume:88
Num:1
Guest Editors: Jeremy Stoddard and Diana E. Hess
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The Keys to the White House: The Outlook for 2024
The 13 diagnostic questions in the Keys election prediction model provide unique insight into this year’s presidential contest and offer important lessons for teaching students about elections.
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Teaching with Documents
The Legislative Process: Teaching Civics and Civil Discourse with Primary Sources
The featured lesson on the legislative process helps students build important skills in civil discourse.
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Sources and Strategies
Helping Students Reflect on the Era of Yellow Journalism through Historical Cartoons and Newspapers
The featured political cartoon from the era of yellow journalism can serve as an excellent jumping off point into a classroom lesson on misinformation and the link between news and public behavior.
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Lessons on the Law
Eminent Domain, the Fifth Amendment Takings Clause, and the Rule of Law
Inviting students to examine upcoming Supreme Court cases that consider a citizen’s right to own private property can springboard into an engaging lesson on the Fifth Amendment and the rule of law.
Teaching Social Studies in Polarized Times
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The Effects of Political Polarization on Social Studies Education and What We Should Do
What we teach and how we teach it can help students create a political climate in which difference is not demonized and trust and political friendship are the aims.
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Facing Partisan Conflict: How Social Studies Educators Can Lead Towards a Diverse Democracy
By fostering a commitment to respectful and evidence-based dialog, teachers can aid students in developing the necessary skills for supporting a diverse democracy.
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The Political Polarization of Pre-Adolescents: Affective Polarization in America’s Youth
Understanding the prevalence of affective polarization is essential for teachers to mitigate the increased animosity students are showing towards those from different political parties.
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Discussing Politics in Polarized Times: How Structure Can Help
Providing students with thoughtful structure and norms for political discussions encourages them to productively disagree and to work towards understanding different viewpoints.
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Talking Our Way into Trusting
Quality classroom discussion across partisan assumptions leads to trust-building among classmates with differing perspectives.
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Anti-Social Media: Teaching Slow Responses to Fast Media
Providing students with opportunities to think critically about the content they find online can reduce misinformation and polarization.
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Unpacking Gerrymandering and its Effect on Polarization in America
The featured lesson invites students to consider the impact of gerrymandering and what should be done about the practice of redrawing legislative districts to favor the incumbent party.
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“Follow the Money”: Conducting Inquiry into the Funding and Role of Special Interests in Political Campaigns
Understanding the role of special interests in political campaigns and their use of sensational messaging to play on fears, can help young people spot these efforts and reduce the effects of affective polarization.
