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contact information:

• Jana Boody
  Social Studies Specialist
  207-624-6828
  Fax: 207-624-6821
  jana.boody@maine.gov

Learning results Information

• Parameters for Essential Instruction
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Welcome to the Maine Department of Education Social Studies Website

Social Studies is “the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence.”
– The National Council for the Social Studies

The primary purpose of Social Studies is to develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world (National Council of the Social Studies, 1994, p.3).  The great architects of American public education, such as Thomas Jefferson, Horace Mann, and John Dewey, believed that every student must be well versed in our nation's history, the principles and practices which undergird citizenship, and the institutions that define our government. Understandings of commerce and geography were critical to their thinking as well.  In essence, Jefferson, Mann, and Dewey viewed the study of Social Studies as critical to the mission of public schools. Indeed, they would applaud the inclusion of a "responsible and involved citizen" in the Guiding Principles, as well as social studies as one of eight content areas in the Learning Results.

A strong Social Studies education depends upon a clear understanding of its interrelated disciplines. Without knowledge of the geography and economics of earlier times, history offers only lists of people, events, and dates. Without knowledge of history, the institutions of American government and the dynamics of today's global economy are difficult to understand.  Although Social Studies curricula vary in their breadth and depth, the Social Studies Standards reflect a focus on government, history, geography, and economics as the pillars of the content, with other disciplines within the social sciences deemed important, but not essential.

- from the 2007 Maine Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction (p. 104)

 

Maine Department of Education Social Studies ListServ

"Maine Social Studies Updates" is a ListServ designed to keep PK-12 Social Studies Teachers current on issues and information from the Maine Department of Education. This is a one-way, informational ListServ. When you subscribe, your email will not be made public, and providing your name is optional. Should you have questions about the ListServ, please contact Jana Boody at the Maine Department of Education.

Information about, or subscribe to, the Social Studies Listserv.

View Listserv Archives.

 

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SUPPORTING MATERIALS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE 2007 LEARNING RESULTS

The Maine Department of Education is developing several tools to support deeper understanding of the revised Maine Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction for Social Studies. As these materials are finalized, they will be posted on this website.

Social Studies PowerPoint - Provides an introduction to the Learning Results revision process, changes in structure and content for Social Studies standards, and potential considerations for implementing the revised standards.

Narration Notes for Social Studies PowerPoint and Multimedia Presentation - Companion notes to the Social Studies PowerPoint: PDF or RTF (text only) format.

3-Part Multimedia Presentation. Click on the links below to view.

Flash Presentation: Part 1 - Legal and Philosophical Foundations
Flash Presentation: Part 2 - Differences in Form and Content
Flash Presentation: Parts 3 & 4 - Implementing the 2007 Standards, and Cross-Content Connections

 

Comparison Chart (PDF) for the 1997 and 2007 Maine Learning Results – Provides an overview of the 2007 Maine Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction and how these are similar and different from the 1997 version.

 

 

 

 

 

 * Note: Many of the documents provided on this website are in PDF format. In order to access these materials, you will need the Adobe Reader program installed on your computer. For further information, or to download Adobe Reader for free, click on the Adobe Reader icon below.

 

 

Updated 3/5/09 -pb

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