NCSS V: Individuals, Groups, and Insitutions

 

     It is important for social studies teachers to be able to address the importance of Individuals, Groups, and Institutions. Groups and institutions like political parties, cultural groups, or religious groups have a major influence on individuals. Personally, I know the groups and institutions I am a part of influence who I am as a person. It is important for social studies teachers to help students understand that groups and institutions influence the actions of individuals back then, as well as today. It is also important for students to understand that groups and institutions can change over time, which will impact individuals as well.

     During my midterm lesson presentation in the Fall, Michael Smith and I were able to have our classmates take a more in-depth look at the impacts of those three religious groups on individuals (See Evidence 1). Then during my student teaching in the Spring, I was also able to address the impacts of Individuals, Groups, and Institutions. My lessons on the abolitionist movement and women’s suffrage movement were able to address the impacts of these two movements on improving the quality of life for minorities in America (See Evidence 2). Individuals, Groups, and Institutions were also addressed during my lesson on the Civil War Unit Intro Continued and Prelude to War (See Evidence 3). In the Prelude to War lesson we looked at the impact the newly formed Republican Party had on stopping the spread of slavery west and how that increased tensions with the South leading to civil war.

     Individuals, Groups, and Institutions is an important aspect of social studies that I will have to continue to address during my teaching career. There are several ways that I can integrate the study of Individuals, Groups and Institutions into a Social Studies classroom. For example in a World History class students can study the role of the Catholic Church and monarchy in promoting exploration that had major impacts on Native American groups in the Americas. In a government class students could study the impacts political parties have today, as well as in history impacting individual decision making. It is also important for me to emphasize that groups and institutions will continue to change in the future, resulting in more impacts on individuals.

 

Evidence