The Social Studies Teacher Podcast

Ever taught a unit in September only to realize your students barely remember it by March? 😩 You’re not alone! That’s where spiral learning comes in. In this episode, I’ll show you what spiraling is, why it works, and 4 practical strategies you can use in social studies (and beyond) to help knowledge stick.👉 Here’s what we’ll cover:What is Spiraling? Why Spiraling is Important 4 Easy Strategies you can do ASAPWith a little planning, your students won’t just learn it and lose it — they’ll carry that knowledge with them all year long.Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Free Social Studies Guided Lessons Daily Passage Bundle for Social StudiesWorld Cultures CurriculumBlog Post - Episode 111Let's Connect!Listen/watch on YoutubeShop TPT ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum! Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832

In this bonus episode of The Social Studies Teacher Podcast, I’m giving you a timely update on some major news out of Texas. The State Board of Education has officially voted on big changes to the K–8 Social Studies TEKS, shifting to a chronological approach and creating a brand-new framework for how we teach history, geography, government, and culture. It is expected that these standards are put into effect beginning 2030.I’ll walk you through:The highlights of the SBOE’s September 2025 meetingHow each grade (K–8) will change under the new proposalThe move from 8 strands down to 5 strandsThe timeline for implementation (likely 2030)What this means for your classroom right nowIf you’re a Texas teacher (or just curious about curriculum changes), this episode will help you feel prepared and confident. And don’t worry- my Smart & Simple Social Studies resources are fully aligned with the current TEKS, and I’ll continue to update everything when the time comes! Let's Connect!Listen/watch on YoutubeShop TPT ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832 Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!

Do your students groan when it’s time for vocabulary? 😩 You’re not alone! In this episode, I’ll share 4 engaging social studies vocabulary strategies that will make vocabulary instruction meaningful, fun, and effective.We’ll start by looking at the three tiers of vocabulary (Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3) and see where social studies fits in. Then, I’ll walk you through four practical strategies you can start using right away in your classroom:Interactive Word Walls – bring words to life with skits, drawings, and hands-on activities.Vocabulary Journals – help students build their own personalized “dictionary” for review.Games and Movement – charades, four corners, bingo, and more!Context and Stories – use real-world examples and storytelling to make words stick.These vocabulary activities are perfect for upper elementary social studies teachers (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade) who want low-prep, high-impact strategies to boost student comprehension, critical thinking, and test prep.📌 If you’re looking for ways to:Make social studies more engagingTeach vocabulary beyond boring worksheetsSave time with easy-to-implement strategies…this episode is for you!Resources Mentioned: General Social Studies: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Studies-Vocabulary-Word-Wall-Cards-Bulletin-Boards-for-Upper-Elementary-12164521 Texas History: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Texas-History-4th-Grade-Vocabulary-Word-Wall-Cards-Bulletin-Boards-12313715 U.S. History: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/US-History-5th-Grade-Vocabulary-Word-Wall-Cards-Bulletin-Boards-BUNDLE-12749068 Episode 110 Blog PostLet's Connect!Listen/watch on YoutubeShop TPT ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832 Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!

Looking for fun and engaging social studies activities for your upper elementary classroom? In this video, I’m sharing 4 creative and easy-to-implement social studies lessons designed for grades 3-5. These hands-on activities make history, geography, government, and culture come alive for your students while keeping planning stress-free for you!What You'll Learn4 ready-to-use activities perfect for social studies centers or whole-group lessonsIdeas that build critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skillsWays to integrate history and geography with engaging projectsLow-prep activities that work with any social studies curriculumWhether you’re teaching 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade, these activities will help you create meaningful and interactive lessons that your students will love.Resources Mentioned: Daily Passage Review BundleGuided Notes Texas HistoryGuided Notes Upper ElementaryProject Bundle All Learning StationsGuided CurriculumBlog Post - Episode 109Let's Connect!Listen/watch on YoutubeShop TPT ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum! Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832

Looking for fun, engaging, and low-prep ideas for your reading block? In this video, I’m sharing 5 ELA reading stations and literacy center activities perfect for grades 3–5. These stations are designed to build reading comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, and writing skills - all while keeping students actively engaged!📚 What You’ll Learn: ✔️ How to set up 5 easy reading stations ✔️ Literacy center activities that save you time ✔️ Differentiation tips for upper elementary classrooms ✔️ Strategies to keep students motivated and on taskWhether you’re a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade teacher, these ideas will help you run effective and fun literacy centers that support every reader in your classroom. Resources Mentioned:Reading Response Menu BundleWriting Response Menu BundleGrammar and Vocabulary Task Card BundleInternet WebQuest BundleAcademic Vocabulary Word of the Week - Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5 Blog Post - Episode 108Let's Connect!Listen/watch on YoutubeShop TPT ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum! Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832

Looking for engaging, low-prep social studies-themed stations that work for your upper elementary classroom? In this episode of The Social Studies Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing 7 flexible station ideas that can fit into your ELA block, dedicated social studies time, or even a fun Social Studies Friday rotation!📚 Whether you teach 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade and only have 30 minutes (if you're lucky!), these stations will help you reinforce reading skills like main idea, summarizing, and inferencing - all while covering key social studies topics.Here’s what we’ll cover:✔️ Daily Social Studies Passages✔️ Task Cards✔️ Primary Source Analysis✔️ WebQuests✔️ Journals & Writing Reflections✔️ Digital Interactive Tools✔️ Small Group Station Ideas💡 You’ll also learn how to differentiate with ease, incorporate these into your existing rotations, and why you don’t need to launch all 7 stations at once. Mentioned in the episode:🔗 Smart & Simple Social Studies Membership (with built-in station activities!) 🔗 Episode 107 Blog Post🔗 Related post: 5 Literacy ELA CentersLet's Connect!Listen/watch on YoutubeShop TPT ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832 Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!

🎉 Plan the First 10 Days of Social Studies with Me! 🎉In today’s episode, we’re planning out the first 10 days of your social studies block together. Whether you teach 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade, this episode is packed with low-prep, engaging activities to help you start the year strong.I’ll walk you through:✔️ How to build classroom community from Day 1✔️ Tips for setting up interactive notebooks✔️ When (and how!) to introduce warmups and guided lessons✔️ How to gradually build routines for a smooth year ahead✔️ Examples of what I used to do in my own upper elementary classroomEven if you have 20 or 30 minutes for social studies, you’ll find helpful ideas you can tweak to fit your schedule and grade level.Related Blog Posts🔗 Fun SS Activities for the 1st Week of School 🔗 Fun SS Activities for the 2nd Week of School 🔗 How to Set Up Interactive Notebooks Mentioned Resources:🛒 Back-to-School Social Studies Activities 🛒 Interactive SS Notebook Covers 🛒 Daily Social Studies Warmups + Guided Curriculum Download the free back to school guide for Texas Teachers! Mentioned in this episode:Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum! Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832

Feeling overwhelmed trying to fit social studies into your school year? In this episode, I’ll walk you through how to map out a yearlong pacing plan for upper elementary social studies - whether you teach geography, history, government, economics, or culture.I’ll break it down quarter by quarter and show you how to plan realistically and effectively, even with limited time in your schedule.📚 Perfect for 3rd–5th grade teachers who want:A clear social studies pacing guideTips for balancing standards across the yearReal solutions that work in real classroomsLinks and ResourcesEpisode 105 - Blog Post✅ Want a done-for-you pacing guide and resources? Check out my Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum: https://thesouthernteach.com/social-studies-curriculum/Mentioned in this episode:Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832 Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!

Social studies often gets pushed to the back burner in elementary classrooms. But why? In this episode, I’m breaking down the two biggest challenges upper elementary social studies teachers face and sharing real solutions you can use starting tomorrow.Whether you’re struggling with limited time, lack of resources, or just feeling unsure where to start, you’re not alone - and there are solutions. If you want to teach engaging, standards-aligned social studies without the overwhelm, this video is for you.🎯 What You’ll Learn:The top 2 challenges upper elementary teachers face with social studiesWhy these issues are so common across schoolsSimple, actionable ways to bring social studies back into your weekly routineOG Blog PostFamous People in HistoryTeaching Literary Nonfiction Check out the Guided CurriculumLearn more about the Membership School Subscriptions for Texas Teachers Mentioned in this episode:Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832 Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!

Fonts might seem like a small detail, but in the classroom, they can make a big impact. Whether you’re designing anchor charts, worksheets, slideshows, or decor, the right font can boost readability, student engagement, and your overall classroom vibe. In this episode, I’m sharing my go-to fonts from Google Fonts, Microsoft Office, Canva, and TPT - plus tips on how to use them effectively and where to find the best teacher-friendly options for your next project (or next school year!).Episode Highlights:My favorite Google FontsMy GO-TO font available through Microsoft OfficeCanva fonts that are perfect for classroom visualsWhere to find cute and clear fonts on TPTTips for choosing fonts that work with your content - not against itIf you’ve ever found yourself down a rabbit hole searching for the perfect font… this one’s for you!Resources and LinksBlog Post - Episode 103https://ladybugsteacherfiles.com/how-to-find-new-google-fonts-fast/ https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/font-pairing-tips/ KG FontsAG FontsKA FontsLet's Connect!Listen/watch on YoutubeShop TPT ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832 Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!

One of my absolute favorite ways to bring history to life is through historical fiction - and yep, it just so happens to be my favorite genre! In today’s episode, I’m sharing how you can use historical fiction to help your upper elementary students connect with the past in a meaningful, memorable way. From book recs to tips for incorporating these stories into your social studies block, you’ll walk away with fresh ideas for making history feel real.Episode Highlights:Why historical fiction is a powerful tool for teaching historyMy top historical fiction recommendations for upper elementaryCreative ways to integrate literature into your social studies lessonsBooks open doors - and in this case, they just might open a window into the past for your students.Resources and LinksBlog Post - Episode 102https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/historical-fiction-picture-books https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/5th-grade-historical-fiction https://shop.scholastic.com/teachers-ecommerce/teacher/genre/historical-fiction.html?p=1&n=20 Let's Connect!Listen/watch on YoutubeShop TPT ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832 Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!

The last week of school is here, and let’s be honest - it’s wild, unpredictable, and full of energy. In this episode, I’m sharing five simple, low-prep social studies activities that are perfect for those short, chaotic time blocks. These ideas will help you wrap up the year with purpose and keep your students engaged while still reinforcing key social studies skills. Whether you're trying to fill 10 minutes or plan a whole class period, these activities are fun, meaningful, and easy to implement.Episode Highlights:“Where Do You Live?”Classroom Timeline CapsuleHistorical Figures HeadbandsCreate a Summer Road Trip PlanInterview a Classmate or Family MemberYou don’t need a lot of time or energy to make the end of the year special - just hit play and grab an idea or two to finish strong!Resources and LinksBlog Post - Episode 101https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/jeopardy-fun-social-studies-activity/ Let's Connect!Listen/watch on YoutubeShop TPT ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum! Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832

Welcome to the 100th episode of The Social Studies Teacher Podcast! 🎉 I truly can’t believe we’ve made it to triple digits. I’m beyond grateful for this community of amazing educators, and I thought it’d be fun to celebrate by taking a trip back in time. In this episode, we’re looking at 100 years of social studies - what’s changed since 1925, and what surprisingly hasn’t. From old-school textbooks to the way geography and history were taught, we’re diving into the past to better understand the present (and maybe even spark a few ideas for the future).Episode Highlights:A peek at what social studies textbooks looked like in 1925How geography and world history were originally taughtThe progress we’ve made in social studies educationWhat still needs to change for our students todayThanks for being part of this milestone moment - here’s to 100 more episodes of making social studies simple, engaging, and fun!Resources and LinksBlog Post - Episode 100Let's Connect!Listen/watch on YoutubeShop TPT ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832 Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!

Social studies isn’t just a subject we teach in school - it’s happening all around us, every single day! From historical events and current news to civic engagement and even the geography of where we live, there are so many ways to help kids connect with the world in a meaningful way. And as parents, we have a unique opportunity to guide them in developing critical thinking skills, empathy, and a deeper understanding of history and society.In this episode, I’m sharing simple, realistic ways to bring social studies into everyday conversations - without making it feel like another lesson! Whether you're a parent looking to spark meaningful discussions or a homeschooling family wanting to integrate social studies naturally, these strategies will make it easy and engaging.Episode HighlightsWhy Social Studies Conversations at Home Matter5 Steps for Parents to Talk About Social Studies at HomeAdditional Tips for Homeschooling Families Social studies isn’t just about memorizing facts—it’s about understanding the world and our place in it. Let’s make it something our kids actually enjoy talking about. Tune in for simple, doable strategies you can start using today!Resources and LinksBlog Post - Episode 99NewselaScholastic NewsGuess in 10Catan JuniorTicket to RideI SurvivedLiberty's Kidsa...

Between lesson planning, grading, managing a classroom, and actually teaching, it always seems to feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day! But here’s the good news: there are simple strategies you can use to save time without sacrificing quality instruction.In today’s episode, I’m sharing seven time-saving tips to help you plan, grade, and manage social studies more efficiently. These strategies will help you spend less time on paperwork and more time engaging with your students.Episode Highlights:Batch Your Lesson Planning – Plan smarter, not harderReuse & Adapt Resources – Make the most of what you already haveUse Self-Grading Quizzes – Cut down on grading timeGrade Assignments Efficiently – Strategies to speed up the processStreamline Social Studies Stations & Group Work – Keep things organized and effectiveUse AI & Tech Tools for Social Studies – Let technology do some of the heavy liftingSet Work Time Limits & Stick to Them – Avoid overworking and stay on trackIf you’re looking for ways to lighten your workload and make social studies more manageable, this episode is for you!Resources and LinksBlog Post - Episode 98https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/grading-tips/ https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Time-Management-Strategies-for-Teachers-6262172 Let's Connect!Listen/watch on YoutubeShop TPT ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832 Social Studies Guided CurriculumEasy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!