The Blog
Welcome to The Southern Teach blog! I love sharing strategies and ideas with others! Here on the blog you’ll find a variety of tips and tools for upper elementary educators. Check out the recent posts or filter by category!
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New Texas TEKS Social Studies Standards Changes in 2024
In November 2022, the Texas State Board of Education approved significant revisions to the Social Studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), set to be implemented in the 2024-2025 school…
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5 Fun Second Week of School Social Studies Activity Ideas
After a likely exhausting first week, where you were constantly teaching and reinforcing classroom rules, getting to know your students, and practicing routines, the second week provides an opportunity to…
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5 Fun First Week of School Social Studies Activity Ideas
Looking for some fun activity ideas for your upper elementary students for the first week of school? You’ll love these simple but easy-to-implement ways to get in the groove of…
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7 Tips and Activity Ideas for Teaching Economics Skills in Upper Elementary
Teaching economics skills might seem challenging, but with the right approach and resources, you can make it fun and educational. By breaking down complex ideas into simple steps and using…
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9 Tips and Activity Ideas for Teaching Government Skills in Upper Elementary
Teaching government skills and civics skills to upper elementary students can feel like a daunting task, especially if you’re not entirely confident in your own grasp of these topics. However,…
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7 Tips and Activity Ideas for Teaching Culture and Society Skills in Upper Elementary
As teachers, we play a crucial role in helping students appreciate and learn about diverse celebrations, customs, traditions, and the contributions of people to society through art, science, music, and…
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6 Engaging Tips and Activity Ideas for Teaching History Skills in Upper Elementary
Need some ideas on how to teach history skills to your 3rd-5th grade students? You’re in the right place! In this article, I’ll share tips and activity ideas to make…
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8 Tips and Activity Ideas for Teaching Geography Skills in Upper Elementary Students
Geography is more than just learning about maps; it’s about understanding how our world works and how people fit within it. Teaching geography to third, fourth, and fifth graders lays…
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6 Memorable Teaching Moments and Lessons Learned From Them
As the school year winds down, many teachers find themselves reflecting on their experiences, thinking about what went well and what didn’t, and questioning their career path. In this blog…
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Using Novel Studies to Teach Social Studies for Upper Elementary
If you’re an ELA and a social studies teacher or you teach ALL the subjects, it can be a little tricky trying to find the time to teach social studies.…
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Tips and Ideas for Using Journal Prompts in Social Studies
In the world of elementary education, finding ways to seamlessly include social studies in lessons can be tough. But, there’s a powerful tool teachers can use: journaling. Journal prompts offer…
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4 Teacher Mistakes to Avoid: Lessons Learned from an Educator
Have you ever felt that you’re just not up to par with all those teachers on social media? They seem to always be doing everything right and are picture-perfect? Can…
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24 Engaging Activity Ideas to Teach Students About the 20th Century
One of my favorite social studies topics to teach to upper elementary students is about all of the events that happened during the 20th century. It’s packed with cultural shifts,…
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5 Ways to Make Social Studies Fun
It seems rare to say that we can make upper elementary social studies fun – it’s hard to find the time to teach social studies in the first place! But…
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I’M KIRSTEN
Welcome to the blog! I love helping upper elementary teachers by creating resources and sharing ideas that are engaging, research-based, and TEKS-aligned. If you’re looking for 3-5 classroom ideas teaching tips and resources, you’re in the right place!
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THE MEMBERSHIP
This exclusive membership for Grades 3-5 teachers will be primed to set you up for success with engaging and minimal-prep activities on multiple topics that are taught in upper elementary social studies. Minimize the prep time while maximizing meaningful (and fun) social studies learning opportunities with your students throughout the year!
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