ESS HELP!! :O

The Educator

I am a JC and LC Geography teacher and a JC History teacher, among other subjects.

Recently due to the high demeand of new students looking to take geogaphy and history but can't due to other subjects they'd also like to study (French, Woodwork, Art, Business etc.), so the school has decided to introduce Environmental and Social Studies as a compromise.

Because I'm a JC Hisotry and Geography teacher I was asked to teach one of the two ESS classes. Of course I jumped at the idea of teaching a new subject and I accepted!

When I got home I took to the Internet to find out more about this subject, but all I found was a syllabus which gave me the topics and themes etc. but not much info. :mad:

I found that there is no textbook relating to the subject and I'm just not sure how I can give my students any information if I don't know what information they need in the first place.

Usually I teach my class using Powerpoints and they take down information in their notes copies. We then do excersises out of their textbooks and workbooks and do them into their notes copies. Also in my geography class I get my students to have a science experiment copy to record their fieldwork and a copy to record case studies. In my History class my students also have various copies, but it seems that for my new class I won't be able to use any of my usual techniques. :eek:

If anyone has any notes they got off their teachers for ESS or how you guys studied the subject could you please post them.
If you have any information or teachning guides could you post them too.
And if your an ESS teacher Could you please give me some advice and help!!

All would be seriously appriciated!

spurious

Check your PMs.

It's meant to be taught using active learning methodology, hence no textbook, but you're really quite free to use any resources you feel might be useful. I can't see any reason why you couldn't continue working as you do, though it is integrated History and Geography so I'd make the separation of the disciplines a bit less obvious.

implausible

Would this not get more answers in Teaching and Lecturing?

spurious

I'll move it now.

I've PMed the OP details on how to get a school inservice in the subject.

01mirelly

http://www.curriculumonline.ie/en/Post-Primary_Curriculum/Junior_Cycle_Curriculum/Junior_Certificate_Subjects/Environmental_and_Social_Studies/Environmental_and_Social_Studies_Syllabus/

Art Teacher

ESS is a lovely subject. Get them to do project work - you could even link it with Art. For example
The Romans - is a great topic - It has a rich visual source material ( all those eagle standards, the costumes, the architecture and art) and you can cover the geography of Europe along with the Historical aspects.