Skip to content
Browse Subjects
ELA / Literacy Content Knowledge Foundational Skills Literature Reading Comprehension Readers Vocabulary Writing
At-Home Learning Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching Early Childhood Education ELL/ESL/ELD Gifted & Special Education Intervention
Mathematics Professional Resources Science/STEAM Social Studies Spanish Resources Summer School Test Prep
Social-Emotional Learning Behavior & Self Regulation Bullying Prevention & Conflict Resolution Life Skills Social Skills Emotions & Feelings Tough Topics Series Listing by Brand Search by Author or Illustrator
Shop Series
Trade
Professional Learning
Resources Services Overview Our Presenters Webinars
Resources
Free Resources TCM Blog Free Spirit Publishing Blog PLC Guides Leader's Guides
About
About Us Our Trademarks Manuscript Submissions & Writing Contests Careers Community Involvement TCM News & Events
Contact
Contact Us Customer Service Distributors/International View/Request Catalogs FAQs
Your Cart

Total: $

Social Studies

Transform your social studies instruction with engaging and interactive strategies that bring history, geography, economics, and civics to life. Our professional development sessions provide educators with innovative tools to foster critical thinking and global awareness, helping students connect with their world and understand diverse perspectives. Enhance your teaching and inspire a passion for social studies in every learner.

Request More Info
social-studies-hero_560x430

Most Popular Sessions

  • Bringing History to Life

    Bringing History to Life: Using Primary Sources in the Classroom

    Studying primary sources breathes life into the pages of history and engages students in the inquiry process. With primary sources, history changes from a textbook study of events to a more intimate focus on the humans who participated in that history. Primary sources add a real-life element to history as history becomes a series of stories about real people who had families, jobs, and dreams.

    In this session, learners will:

    • Explore how to use primary sources in a way that gives students a fuller understanding of individual lives and events throughout history while allowing them the opportunity to understand their own ties to the past
    • Discover strategies for helping students research both primary and secondary sources to answer questions and form educated conclusions
    • Explore activities to engage with primary sources through listening, speaking, reading and writing
    social-studies-mp1_640x490

  • Inquiry-Based Learning

    Inspire Student Curiosity & Engagement: Using Inquiry-Based Learning in Social Studies

    Inquiry is the shift from “studying” to “doing” social studies. Engage students in inquiry practices, triggering their curiosity and boosting creative thinking skills.

    In this session, learners will:

    • Understand the concept of inquiry-based learning in social studies and its significance in shifting from passive studying to active student-driven exploration
    • Learn effective strategies to foster students' knowledge and curiosity, enabling them to ask their own questions and make inferences about the past in social studies
    • Acquire practical techniques for facilitating inquiry-based learning experiences that empower students to design solutions for building a better world, fostering creativity and critical thinking skills
    social-studies-mp2_640x490

  • Civic Education

    Why Civics? Why Now? Re-Imagining Civic Education for the Next Generation

    Engage students in critical thinking, thoughtful discussions, and engaging activities that will guide them to becoming active, civic-minded members of society while also building key literacy skills.

    In this session, learners will:

    • Discover how literacy and civics education integrate seamlessly to help students gain civic knowledge, practice civic skills, and develop civic dispositions
    • Learn strategies to prepare students for both civic engagement and citizenship responsibilities
    • Explore ways to help students make sense of social issues, understand our political systems, make logic-based arguments, and consider ideas different from their own
    • Discover ways to build content area literacy and support students in making concrete connections to key topics through paired fiction and non-fiction texts
    social-studies-mp3_640x490

Bringing History to Life: Using Primary Sources in the Classroom

Studying primary sources breathes life into the pages of history and engages students in the inquiry process. With primary sources, history changes from a textbook study of events to a more intimate focus on the humans who participated in that history. Primary sources add a real-life element to history as history becomes a series of stories about real people who had families, jobs, and dreams.

In this session, learners will:

  • Explore how to use primary sources in a way that gives students a fuller understanding of individual lives and events throughout history while allowing them the opportunity to understand their own ties to the past
  • Discover strategies for helping students research both primary and secondary sources to answer questions and form educated conclusions
  • Explore activities to engage with primary sources through listening, speaking, reading and writing
social-studies-mp1_640x490

Inspire Student Curiosity & Engagement: Using Inquiry-Based Learning in Social Studies

Inquiry is the shift from “studying” to “doing” social studies. Engage students in inquiry practices, triggering their curiosity and boosting creative thinking skills.

In this session, learners will:

  • Understand the concept of inquiry-based learning in social studies and its significance in shifting from passive studying to active student-driven exploration
  • Learn effective strategies to foster students' knowledge and curiosity, enabling them to ask their own questions and make inferences about the past in social studies
  • Acquire practical techniques for facilitating inquiry-based learning experiences that empower students to design solutions for building a better world, fostering creativity and critical thinking skills
social-studies-mp2_640x490

Why Civics? Why Now? Re-Imagining Civic Education for the Next Generation

Engage students in critical thinking, thoughtful discussions, and engaging activities that will guide them to becoming active, civic-minded members of society while also building key literacy skills.

In this session, learners will:

  • Discover how literacy and civics education integrate seamlessly to help students gain civic knowledge, practice civic skills, and develop civic dispositions
  • Learn strategies to prepare students for both civic engagement and citizenship responsibilities
  • Explore ways to help students make sense of social issues, understand our political systems, make logic-based arguments, and consider ideas different from their own
  • Discover ways to build content area literacy and support students in making concrete connections to key topics through paired fiction and non-fiction texts
social-studies-mp3_640x490

Related Free Spirit Publishing Books

Grades K–6
Paperback Book

Building Everyday Leadership in All Kids

By Mariam G. MacGregor

Building Everyday Leadership in All Kids emphasizes that anyone can be a leader—and it’s never too early to start learning what leadership means and how to lead. This resource engages all emerging leaders, at all emotional and academic levels, by taking a full, practical approach to building personal and group leadership attitudes. 
Buy Now
Grades 7+
Book Set

Teens & the Law Series

By Thomas A. Jacobs

A series of critically acclaimed books for teens about the legal system and how it affects their daily lives The Teens & the Law series familiarizes young readers with our legal system, dispels myths and mysteries, and shows that the law is by and for the people—including teens.
Buy Now
Grades 4+
Book Set

Real Kids, Real Stories

By Multiple Authors

Inspire kids and teens to personal, community, and social action with the Real Kids, Real Stories series. The books include true stories featuring young people overcoming adversity to achieve great things, making a difference around the world, and showing extraordinary character.
Shop Now
Grades 5+
Paperback Book

The Kid's Guide to Service Projects

By Barbara A. Lewis

This new edition of Free Spirit’s best-selling youth service guide includes a refreshed “Ten Steps to Successful Service Projects” plus hundreds of up-to-date ideas for projects—from simple to large-scale. 
Shop Now
Grades 1–5
Book Set

Together in our World Series

By Multiple Authors

Address news-cycle issues in a straightforward and kid-friendly way. These picture books explain tough topics and offer young readers ideas for what they can do to help make the world a better, fairer place. Each book has a glossary and additional resources.
Buy Now