Click for the MCSS Toolbox 2024 Fall Issue

The former MCSS Journal+ is now a publication focused on the nuts and bolts of teaching social studies K-16.

From the Editor:

Welcome to the Election Day Edition of the MCSS Toolbox. It is often said, every election is important. I believe that is especially true this year. Not only is it a presidential election, but there are other important offices to fill, including senator from Michigan. I have included many resources for you and yourstudents to make informed votes

From the Editor, As Desmond Washburn of Facing History and Ourselves states, “As we begin a new school year amidst so much going on outside of our school buildings . . .. With the upcoming US presidential election and ongoing strife around the world, fostering in your students the ability to ethically participate in our democracy is vital. Facing History has resources for you in this moment and for the year ahead, including how to start off the school year strong by building a reflective classroom, how to teach through a contentious election season, tools for fostering civil discourse, and more. . . .”

Further he offers, “Make sure to download our new classroom and hallway posters for you and your teachers to create an inviting and reflective learning environment.”

Starting on page 3 are many more suggestions to help your students deal with elections. While most of the ideas are aimed at secondary students, most can be tailored for students K-12 and beyond. I am a believer a good teacher only needs the seeds to be planted and they can make them grow in their own soil. One of the resources mentioned below is public radio and TV news, PBS & NPR. One reason I like them is they are willing to do fact checking.

One day while listening to WDET in Detroit, a guest speaker had stated that we need to elect his candidate to get us out of the Recession. Immediately after the interview played, the host stated that we are not in a Recession. One need only look at the stock market. Three bits of wisdom from one who has experienced elections for a long time: In each election many offices are filled from president or governor to judges. Be sure to look down the ballot, not just at the top. There is NO such thing as a perfect candidate! One must vote for the choices on the ballot.

If you have lesson plans, ideas, or suggestions for the next MCSS Toolbox, please contact Bob Pettapiece  (pettapiece@wayne.edu).  We love to share what teachers are doing each day in the classrooms and cover the current issues that face Social Studies educators.

The next issue is scheduled to come out in the Winter of 2025

Previous Issues:

Winter 2024

Fall 2023

Winter 2023

Fall 2022

Winter 2022

Fall 2021

Winter 2021