Social Studies Generation:
Disciplinary Literacy Strategies in Action

Social Studies Generation (SoGen) is comprised of three six-week sequences around topics commonly included in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade social studies content standards. These curricular materials can be used in place of the standard curriculum materials, or as a supplement. They provide opportunities to read, write, discuss, and build arguments about central concepts in social studies.

Each week-long unit is comprised of 40-50 minute social studies lessons each day and highlights 5–10 academic words. There are also supplementary activities for other content areas to continue the cross-disciplinary benefits of Word Generation. Students integrate information from multiple texts, often from differing perspectives. All activities relate to the central question or topic of the week, build relevant knowledge, and provide opportunities to encounter the new academic vocabulary in multiple semantic contexts. By bringing the conflict closer to students' lives, and providing them with tools to identify the claims, reasons, and evidence associated with the perspective, students are equipped with both the background and the tools to engage in argumentation.

New!

ADAPTATIONS FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS

Four Ancient Civiliations SoGen units have been adapted by Sharon Vaughn and her colleagues as part of the work of the Center for the Success of English Learners (CSEL). ELL adaptations for the American Democracy units are in development as well!


Social Studies Generation

18 units available (original version) plus new adaptations for English learners.

Cover Images: Units 7.1 through 7.6
Cover Images: Units 6.1 through 6.6
Cover Images: Units 6.1 through 6.6

Units for 6th or 7th Grade:

Ancient Civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome

Original Version

EL Adaptation

  • The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt: Oppressors or Great Leaders? 

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  • Egyptian Pharaohs: Wise Investors or Wasteful Spenders?

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  • Was it better to be an Athenian or a Spartan?

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  • Alexander the Great: Great Leader or Power-Hungry Tyrant?

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  • Ancient Roman Government: Whose Voice Counts? 

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  • Pompeii: An Irresponsible Decision or Unexpected Disaster?

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Experiences of Two Children in War-torn Sudan
  • What happens to your life when you’re uprooted?

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  • Who do you trust when your life is at stake?

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  • Where is home? 

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  • Who will we become?

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  • How do I fit in?

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  • Should we stay or should we return?

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Units for 8th Grade or High School:

Complex Questions Related to American Democracy

Original Version

EL Adaptation

  • What are governments good for?

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  • What is the value of your citizenship?

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  • When is a crime not a crime?

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  • Where is the justice in our justice system?

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  • How do we right the wrongs of the past?

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  • Freedom of Speech: Whose Freedom Needs Protection?

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  • Who Gets to Say What I Need to Know?

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More eigth grade/high school coming soon:
  • What should be the foundation of a government?

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  • What is the Constitution for?

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The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk, University of Texas at Austin and Center for the Success of English Learners adapted World Generation (EL Adaptation) from Social Studies Generation, a product of the SERP Institute.


This adaptation was developed with funding from the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through Grant R305C200016 to University of Houston. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the Institute or the U.S. Department of Education.


Support for Social Studies Generation was provided by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education through grant number R305F100026.


The information provided does not represent views of the funder.

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