History

    We have drawn on the world history standards outlined by the National Center for History in the Schools [http://mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks/standards/world/] as well as the research and writing standards outlined by the Mid-continent Regional Educational Laboratories (McREL) [http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks/standardslib/langarts.html]. These standards provide excellent guidelines for teachers on how to focus research and writing activities in their classrooms. We feel that these standards provide excellent guidelines for teachers on how to focus social sciences work in their classrooms.

    As a social sciences unit, the Holiday Explorations Unit requires students to learn about holidays in their historical context, helping them develop a deeper understanding of the reasons people celebrate particular holidays.

    Following is an evaulation of how the Holiday Exploration Unit addresses some of the world history standards, in which the student:

• "Understands the biological and cultural processes that shaped the earliest human communities;"
• "Understands the economic, political, and cultural interrelations among peoples of Africa, Europe, and the Americas between 1500 and 1750."

  Writing

    As a research and writing unit, the Holiday Explorations Unit requires students to practice their skills in collecting and presenting research data in written format.

    Following is an evaulation of how the Holiday Explorations Unit addresses some of the writing standards provided by McREL. The unit addresses specific standards that indicate that the student:

• "Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of the writing process;"
• "Effectively gathers and uses information for research purposes;"
• "Demonstrates competence in speaking and listening as tools for learning."

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