Social+Studies+Skills+and+Methods

== == =Obtaining Information= 1. Use multiple sources to define essential vocabulary and obtain information for a research project including: a. Almanacs; b. Gazetteers; c. Trade books; d. Periodicals; e. Video tapes; f. Electronic sources. http://www.nationmaster.com/statistics NationMaster is a fantastic site for statistics on all topics concerning the nations of the world. The information is nicely arranged by topic and can be viewed as totals, per capita, bar graphs, pie charts, or maps. Best yet, the site allows you to see correlations (both positve and negative) between different statistical topics. This allows users to investigate relationships, causes, and effects. The topics areas include agriculture, crime, currency, democracy, disasters, economy, education, energy, environment, food, geography, government, health, immigration, industry, labor, language, lifestyle, media, military, mortality, people, religion, sports, taxation, transportation, and more. Online, kid friendly, almanac, dictionary and encyclopedia. http://www.factmonster.com/ A very nice web site, complete with streaming videos. http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/atlas/atlas.html
 * NationMaster **
 * Fact Monster**
 * Discovery Atlas**

=Thinking and Organizing= 2. Analyze information from primary and secondary sources in order to summarize, make generalizations and draw conclusions. 3. Organize information using outlines and graphic organizers. http://www.mindomo.com/ Mindomo is a free, web-based, full-featured mind-mapping program. It runs right in your web browser with nothing to install. Just click "Try It Now" to begin. This site lets you create graphic organizers with topics, connections, labels, text notes, images, web links, and many formatting options. You can save your mind maps, print them, or export them as images. You can even let others edit your maps if you wish to collaborate. Note: You only need to sign up for a free account if you wish to save your work. **ReadWriteThink Notetaker ** http://interactives.mped.org/notetaker722.aspx "This hierarchical outlining tool allows students to organize up to five levels of information for reading and writing activities. During or after reading, the Notetaker can be used to compile and organize reading notes, research, and related ideas. During the writing process, students can use the tool to organize their information and plan texts in the prewriting stage and to review and structure their ideas during writing and revision. Students can choose the format that the outline will use (e.g., bullets, Roman numerals, letters) as well as enter up to five levels of information. The Notetaker includes a tutorial, which demonstrates how to use the tool, as well as a Notes area where students can track information that does not fit into the outline. The Notetaker creates an HTML file of students’ outlines, which can be printed or saved and edited later in any HTML editor.  4. Read and interpret pictographs, bar graphs, line graphs, circle graphs, tables and flow chart =Communicating Information= 5. Complete a research project that includes a bibliography. 6. Communicate a position on a topic orally or in writing and support the position with evidence =Problem Solving= 7. Work effectively to achieve group goals: a. Engage in active listening; b. Provide feedback in a constructive manner; c. Help establish group goals; d. Take various roles within the group; e. Recognize contributions of others.
 * Mindomo Interactive Graphic Organizer **