Michigan Council for the Social Studies

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Click for the MCSS Toolbox 2025 Winter Issue

The former MCSS Journal+ is now a publication focused on the nuts and bolts of teaching social studies K-16.

From the Editor, Bob Pettapiece

A new year with both new ideas and some reused ones. Most ideas are presented after the MCSS announcements sometimes helter- skelter; the way they arrived than together. Enjoy browsing for something you can use this year or in the future.

As usual, there is a great deal of history. And, while history is important (one of my major areas), NCSS recognizes several other disciplines. We could always use more of the others as well as history.

This issue leans heavily towards secondary teaching and ideas; I believe good ideas can be often used up and down the grade levels, with some creative tweaking.

One of the articles discusses students teaching the class for a while. I used to let students run my Friday current events class. I was the moderator at first, then I decided (very wisely) to have students lead the discussions while I sat in the class. It was very successful.

Much of the talk today is about using technology, in particular AI. Like cell phones, this can be a problem or a solution. As a former technology instructor, I believe in making the best of innovations. And like most things in life, tech may be best used sparingly as the teacher (you) become more comfortable with it.

As most of us are aware, our citizens need financial education. From using and balancing a checkbook to investing for the future, our students deserve to be able to run their finances

If you have lesson plans, ideas, or suggestions for the next MCSS Toolbox, please contact Bob Pettapiece (pettapiece@wayne.edu). We love to share what teachers are doing each day in the classrooms and cover the current issues that face Social Studies educators.

The next issue is scheduled to come out in the Winter of 2025

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