Did you know that writing is considered an area of weakness in schools not just in the United States, but globally? According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), only 1 in 10 students worldwide are proficient writers. This research shows that the lack of proficiency is attributed to gaps in the students’ ability to complete basic writing tasks. Additionally, many students falter when it comes to organizing ideas and using appropriate grammar and spelling.

Sharing a common vision of expectations for all students and holding opportunities for educators to engage in strategic planning are not new trends within schools and districts. They are essential to pinpoint dips in ELA test results and determine instructional solutions to address the areas of weakness.

Literacy standards and writing proficiency

These initiatives gained traction when the Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS) came on the scene in 2010. Within the CCLS, there are literacy standards for science and history. The history standards, for instance, refer to primary and secondary sources. They ask students to distinguish between “fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment” in a text.

Writing proficiency continues to be an area of weakness each year. Because of this, school boards and educators have begun to look at how often educators are inviting literacy concepts into other curricular areas. If implemented, these would give students multiple opportunities to develop advanced literacy. School boards and educators have realized that focusing on literacy during only one period of a typical high school or middle school day (the ELA block) has willingly omitted literacy from ⅞ of the school day. 

What is disciplinary literacy?

Disciplinary literacy is not a push for content-area teachers to take on part of an English teacher’s load by assigning writing or reading in class. Instead, it is developing activities that challenge students to read, write, and think like experts in a given field (i.e. thinking like a historian). Disciplinary literacy is having students think deeper by turning social studies content (and science) into real-life questions, scenarios, and texts.

Activity ideas

Whether you are looking for quick swaps or multi-day lessons that focus on both writing and social studies, there are a number of resources out there that can support you in your efforts. 

I’ve pulled together just a few examples for your elementary and middle/high school grade bands! These activities will help revamp your social studies lessons to include more writing. 

1) Elementary informational writing

Most elementary curriculum has at least one unit on informational writing. One way to help students reinforce what they have learned about the structure of informational writing is to build on a literacy unit focused around informational writing. For example, have students focus on a notable American who has expanded the rights and freedoms of people. The, have students support with evidence.

2) Elementary persuasive writing

Most elementary curriculum usually includes a unit on persuasive writing. For example, this unit can focus on helping students build a solid argument by backing it up with evidence that can persuade their reader. After reading or listening to school or community rules and the people who enforce them, have students as young as 1st or 2nd grade, write a paragraph explaining why one rule mentioned is important (the persuasive writing piece). Then, students can go in to explaining what could happen if someone broke that rule.

3) Middle school primary source analysis

Next, consider having students analyze primary source documents. In this activity, students can understand the author’s viewpoint about the impact of westward expansion on Native Americans. They can back up this analysis with support from text evidence. 

This is just one example of a great resource for an age appropriate, standards-aligned social studies (and science) lesson found on Literacy Design Collaborative. I encourage checking out the library for more ideas for primary source activities. Some recommended topics such are the French Revolution, Emancipation Proclamation, Industrial Revolution, and other historical turning points. 

4) High school song analysis

Let’s face it, high school students love music. It is likely a daily occurrence that you have to ask at least one student to take out their earbuds at the start of class. Tapping into their interests and switching it up with a song lyric analysis activity might be the best solution. Consider challenging your ninth or tenth grade students to annotate the lyrics to a historical song. Then, they can use this to reference to specific historical events (i.e. the Deep South, the Great Depression, etc.). 

5) DBQs

Lastly, this activity idea is definitely nothing new to educators, especially social studies teachers. Something as simple as a document based question (DBQ) activity is great for incorporating more writing into social studies. One idea is to have your high school or AP students analyze a series of primary sources. Then, they can evaluate how FDR’s administration maintained continuity and fostered change in the role of the federal government during the Great Depression, for example.

Keep in mind, it can take time to build an extensive library of instructional materials. You can start by gathering a few primary resources and grow from there. Don’t expect a complete overhaul of your social studies lesson library overnight!

Learn more about writing activity suggestions and social studies content! Check out our course offerings on our online professional development platform, OTIS for educators. 

For more tips, tricks, and tools for teaching in and out of the classroom, check out more content on the Teq Talk blog or our YouTube channels OTIS for educators and Tequipment.

We also offer virtual professional development, training, and support with OTIS for educators. Explore the technology and strategies that spark student success — no matter where teaching or learning are happening!

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