Best Practices

A social studies classroom is an environment where all students are engaged in learning. Students actively participate in hands-on activities, and they are challenged to do the work of historians, geographers, economists, and active participants in society as they gather and analyze information.

Best practices in social studies highlight strategies effective teachers use to support the learning of civics, economics, geography, and history. Look-fors provide a list of what visitors will see in social studies classrooms. All files below are in PDF format.

• Look Fors in K–5 Social Studies
• Look Fors in Grades 6–8 Social Studies
• Look Fors in Grades 9–11 Social Studies
• Best Practices in K–5 Social Studies
• Best Practices in Grades 6–8 Social Studies
• Best Practices in Grades 9–12 Social Studies