Instructional Presentation: Integrating Math Skills to Social Studies Lesson Plan

Free Articles

Abstract

Sir Claus Moser was tasked by the UK Government in 1998 to create a report about how to resolve the vast basic skills problem in the country. In 1999, known as the Moser Report, Sir Moser not only included in the report statistics on the literacy and numeracy skills problem but also his recommendations and the plans of action. In relation to Moser Report, this paper aims to assist social studies teachers on how to include math skills in teaching social studies.

Instructional Presentation: Integrating Math Skills to Social Studies Lesson Plan

Civic issues and duties, people relations, government-people interaction, history are a few of the main focus of social studies. Normally, it is taught in schools using the traditional way of teaching. The teacher could ask higher-order thinking skills until the students arrive at the intended level of learning. Or the teacher could have film viewing about prevalent issues in the country. Or the teacher could assign groups of students to do reporting on the subject matter. Between the literacy and numeracy skills, in the way social studies is being taught, we can say that students might develop more on the literacy skill. How about the numeracy skill?

Teaching and learning math skills is not limited during math subjects only. In fact, teaching math skills can be integrated in all subjects. In social studies for example, graphing, tabulating, and analyzing graphs are some math skills that can be of great help in discussing the lesson. For example, the lesson is about the rate of adult literacy and numeracy in the country (National Literacy Trust, 2008). Setting aside the traditional way of presenting the lesson, the teacher can show to the class the tabulated result of adult literacy. Have the students analyze the data presented. Draw insights from them as to what the data represents. For better visualization and understanding, the teacher can show a pie chart or a type of graph that shows the contribution of a value to the total value. See sample pie chart:

Data is based on the Adult Literacy Levels in England: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/Database/stats/adultstats.html

We Will Write a Custom Essay Specifically
For You For Only $13.90/page!


order now

The teacher can ask the students to compare the chart with the tabular data. From the students’ response, assess if the class would be able to understand the lesson using charts and tabular data.

There are other types of charts that can be used to present data to the students. These are column chart (used when comparing values across categories), line chart (used to display trends over time), and bar chart (used for comparing multiple values). There are also customized charts like pictorial charts where images replace column, line, or bar. For the students to familiar themselves with the types of charts, they can study using Microsoft Office Excel. Or they can visit the following link for online tutorial on creating graphs: http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx (Date accessed: July 23, 2008).

The teacher can also ask the students to create other charts using the same data in the pie chart. This way, the students could learn which chart is appropriate to use. As the students learn to graph, make sure they also learn to analyze what the chart means and what is the appropriate chart to use with the given tabular data.

There are many lessons in social studies where math skills could be applied. Population, economy, natural resources, among others are broad lessons that can be presented with graphs. Now students not only learn the literacy skill but numeracy skill as well. Training and exposing students as early as possible in learning both literacy and numeracy skills are necessary so that the future generations are assured of more equipped and more skilled individuals.

Literacy and numeracy are equally important skills, so one should go with the other. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone. Teachers teach literacy and at the same time, numeracy or vice versa. Teachers must be able to create a balance between these skills. Teachers must encourage the students to love and to have both skills.

References

“Literacy Changes Life: Adult Literacy Levels.” (2008). National Literacy Trust. Retrieved July 23, 2008, from http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/Database/stats/adultstats.html

“Literacy Changes Life: Background to Skills for Life – The Moser Report.” (2007). National Literacy Trust. Retrieved July 23, 2008, from http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/socialinclusion/adults/moser.html

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

x

Hi!
I'm Katy

Would you like to get such a paper? How about receiving a customized one?

Check it out