The Social Studies Teacher Podcast

How can you help students understand what’s happening in the world (without overwhelming them)? In this episode, we’re diving into how to teach current events in the classroom in an age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful way. You’ll learn practical strategies for connecting real-world news to social studies standards while helping students build critical-thinking and empathy skills.In this episode, you’ll learn:✅ Why teaching current events matters for social studies and citizenship✅ Common challenges (and how to handle them)✅ Recommendations for kid-friendly news sources✅ Ways to connect headlines to history, geography, and culture✅ How to use videos, podcasts, and visuals to make the news come alive💡 Perfect for:Upper elementary and middle school social studies teachersClassrooms with limited time for social studiesTeachers who want to foster curiosity and civic awarenessEven short, structured current-events discussions can help your students think critically, stay informed, and see the connections between history and the present day.Action Tip: Pick one kid-friendly news story this week and bring it into your classroom, and see how your students connect and engage!Related Links:Blog Post: Episode 117Recommended Resources:Recommended Current Events Sources:CNN 10 https://www.youtube.com/cnn10Scholastic News https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/Newsla https://newsela.com/Time for Kids https://www.timeforkids.com/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

🎉 10K DOWNLOADS! I can’t believe The Social Studies Teacher Podcast has officially hit this milestone - all thanks to YOU!To celebrate, I’m counting down the Top 10 most downloaded episodes of the podcast — the ones you’ve loved, shared, and replayed the most. These episodes are packed with practical tips and real-classroom ideas to make social studies engaging, meaningful, and low-prep.👩‍🏫 In this special episode, you’ll hear:The most popular topics teachers keep coming back toQuick takeaways from each episodeWhy these lessons continue to inspire upper elementary classroomsWhether you’re new to the podcast or a longtime listener, this is the perfect place to start!📲 Listen to the full episodes:The Social Studies Teacher Podcast: https://pod.link/1692254335🎧 Links to the Top 10 Episodes:https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/cultural-sensitivity-during-the-holiday-season/https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/social-studies-lesson-key-components/https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/social-studies-interactive-notebooks/https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/challenges-social-studies-teachers/ https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/social-studies-pacing-guide/https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/teaching-social-studies-priority/ https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/first-week-of-school/https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/engaging-social-studies-lessons/https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/podcast-for-educators/ https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/fun-social-studies-activities/ If you’ve found the podcast helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teacher friend who loves social studies!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-studies-teacher-podcast/id1692254335 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!

Holidays can be a magical time in the classroom, but they can also be tricky to navigate. In this episode, I’m sharing 4 practical ways to make your holiday lessons more inclusive, culturally responsive, and welcoming for every student.You’ll learn how to celebrate the season while respecting the diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and traditions your students bring to class.In this episode, you’ll discover how to:✅ Shift from “holiday parties” to cultural learning experiences✅ Include global celebrations in your lessons✅ Encourage student voice and family traditions✅ Use reflection and connection instead of comparisonThese ideas are easy to implement, low-prep, and perfect for upper elementary classrooms, especially if you want to build community and cultural understanding during the winter months.Related Blog Post: https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/cultural-sensitivity-during-the-holiday-season/Explore more classroom-ready holiday resources: ❄️ Winter Holidays Around the World Unit: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 🎄 Christmas Around the World Unit: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832 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

Bring global celebrations to life in your classroom this season! 🌎✨In this episode, I’m sharing 8 winter holidays celebrated around the world that are perfect for teaching cultural awareness, geography, and world traditions — all while keeping your students engaged and inspired. These holidays span from October through January and include hands-on classroom ideas you can use right away.🎉 Here’s what we’ll explore:1️⃣ Diwali 2️⃣ Día de los Muertos 3️⃣ Hanukkah 4️⃣ Las Posadas 5️⃣ Christmas6️⃣ Kwanzaa 7️⃣ New Year’s Eve/Day 8️⃣ Three Kings Day/Epiphany Perfect for:Upper elementary teachers (Grades 3–5) looking for multicultural holiday lessons, social studies activities, or winter-themed projects that go beyond Christmas.Resources Mentioned:Blog Post - Episode 114🕯️ Winter Holidays Around the World Unit 🎄 Christmas Around the World Unit 📖 The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie DePaolaLet'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

Planning social studies lessons doesn’t have to be stressful! In this episode, I’m walking you through 5 key components every social studies lesson needs to keep students engaged and learning - without adding extra prep time.This is a remix episode that includes a brand new lesson example on the Thirteen colonies! Whether you’re teaching about the Thirteen Colonies, U.S. History, or any other topic, you’ll learn how to:✅ Write clear and student-friendly learning objectives✅ Start with an engaging hook or question✅ Incorporate active learning and collaboration✅ Use primary sources and real-world connections✅ End with meaningful reflection and assessmentThese strategies work for upper elementary social studies, including 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade — and you can easily adapt them for any unit.Resources Mentioned:Blog postCourse: Social Studies Simplified Learning Intentions PostersThirteen Colonies UnitLet'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!