The Huron Intermediate School District, in conjunction with Saginaw Valley State University, is proud to present the results of a year-long educational reform project called SSER—Social Studies Education Reform. With the help of several dedicated Huron County teachers, administrators, and curriculum personnel, a county-wide social studies curriculum has been developed. A user-friendly format is present and space is allowed for teachers to add their own resources as they see fit.
It is recommended that grade-level teachers review the document together and discuss realignment processes and how this document will be used within the district. The format of the document has several sections to become familiar with. First, a scope and sequence of all social studies topics to be taught in K-12 was developed. It is hoped that the vertical alignment of this scope and sequence will eliminate duplicating of instruction between grade levels and guaranteeing teaching of lessons at all levels of instruction.
Second, benchmarks have been identified for every lesson at every grade-level/course for the K-12 curriculum. Cross-referencing was made to insure that all students in Huron County are exposed to and taught state recommended benchmarks. These benchmarks will also help teachers understand what concepts students are expected to know as outcomes of that course. When reading the benchmarks identified for each unit, you will notice a capital letter. Each beginning capital letter stands for one of the seven perspective areas of social studies, i.e.: H=Historical Perspective, G=Geographic Perspective, C=Civic Perspective, E=Economic Perspective, PD=Public Discourse, I=Inquiry, and CI=Citizen Involvement.
Each grade-level has a set of focus questions that direct the teacher about what information the students are to be taught. An Annual Focus Question will be consistent throughout that grade-level/course. It is the general theme for content understanding that is consistent throughout the entire course. The Unit Focus Question is directed at helping the teacher and students zero in on what specific information should be gained from this individual unit being taught. And finally, the Lesson Focus Question is designed to converge meaning at a very specific level of understanding within each lesson of the unit.
Each unit has a title followed by a lesson emphasizing major content/ideas that should be covered. This lesson will provide insight into information recommended for that particular lesson. Please understand these lessons are intended as a guideline and additional material should be added to the lesson to meet the needs of your students. If time permits, it is recommended that teachers expand upon the content being taught. The lessons were developed keeping the state benchmarks for each grade-level in mind. It is recommended that each of those benchmarks listed be taught at the grade-level corresponding to it. You will also notice, that some units have Additional Instructional Examples/Strategies listed at the end of the unit. These are ideas that could help teach the concepts identified in the lesson outline.
The document also includes a list of recommended lesson vocabulary words and Core Democratic Values linked to the lesson being taught. During the development of this document, MEAP was kept at the forefront while identifying vocabulary pertinent to the lesson. Students must understand words before they can understand the concepts being taught. Therefore, it is highly recommended that the identified vocabulary words and Core Democratic Values be taught and stressed with the students as the content is being taught.
Instructional and Resource Materials have been identified for each unit in the following categories: MICLiMB, Saginaw Valley State University, SCOPE, Regional Educational Media Center 11 (REMC), HISD Resource Clearinghouse, Other Sources (books, movies, maps, multi-media, etc.), and Websites. Please note that websites are constantly being revised and updated. Therefore, you may come across a recommended website that is no longer available or does not meet the original needs of the curriculum.
Finally, you will find Lesson Assessment Examples attached to each unit of the document. These assessment examples are directly linked to the lesson focus questions; therefore assessing the information intended for each particular lesson/unit.
For additional information, contact the Huron Intermediate School District .989.269.6406 or visit their website at www.hisd.k12.mi.us. The Social Studies Curriculum Specialist is available for group of individual consultation/training regarding clarification or implementation of this county curriculum document.
SSER Participants
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Bad Axe Public Schools
- Robert Grigg
- Jill Hedley
- Steve Kennedy
- Angie McArthur
- Gail Piotter
- Jason Sarsfield
- JoAnn Steinbis
Harbor Beach Community School District
- Shelley Boehmer
- Nancy Bucholtz
- Judith Grigg
- Denise Kish
- Elayne Kraska
- Toni O’Neil
North Huron Schools
- Mindy Collier
- Terry McGrath
- Laurie Preston
- Terri Rubringer
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Owendale-Gagetown Area School District
Port Hope Community School
Ubly Community Schools
- Clark Curtis
- Moses Garner
- Richard Kain
- David Roland
- William Sweeney
Parochial Schools
- Andrea Rapson - Zion Lutheran
Huron Intermediate School District
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