Differentiated lessons are a must-have in today’s classroom. Students have a variety of abilities and learning styles, and using differentiated lessons can help to meet those needs.
When teaching a topic such as social studies, the material is diverse and broad, ranging from global trade to community relationships to environmental issues and more. Students working below grade level, or who may have specific learning needs, can find differentiating social studies instruction helpful.
Differentiating social studies instruction using modified resources is also great to use with students who have a modified IEP or ELL students.
What is Differentiated Instruction?
Differentiated instruction is a way of teaching material to students that changes how the content is taught and assessed, based on individual student needs. Not all students learn the same way – some may absorb information better through text-based learning, while others learn better using visuals, such as graphics and charts.
With so many diverse needs in the classroom, teachers must be responsive and willing to work with students to meet their needs.
For example, differentiating social studies instruction lessons may allow a student to watch a video instead of read a text, or simplify the requirements and assessment for a research project, which can help students absorb the material while not being overwhelmed or frustrated by tasks that are difficult or that they may not understand.
Check out this blog post, Useful Differentiation Strategies for Middle School ELA Lessons, for more information about differentiated instruction.
Five Benefits of Differentiating Social Studies Instruction
There are numerous benefits to using differentiated social studies instruction in the classroom, for both student and teacher.
Students may have an easier time learning the material
If a student is struggling or not working to grade level, a modified resource with differentiated instruction can be a great tool to help them comprehend a topic. Modified resources are created with simplified text and activities, allowing students to grasp the basics of a concept before moving on to something more comprehensive.
More visuals can benefit learners
Many students learn better through visuals than by using text-based or verbal instruction methods. Differentiating social studies instruction can include an increased use of visuals, including anchor charts for easy reference, videos, and graphics that introduce and explain concepts. These visuals can also be great tools for the entire class, not just those who are using modified lessons.
Teachers can look for ways to overlap material
When differentiating social studies instruction in the classroom, teachers can still look for ways to overlap material and instruction. All 2 Peas and Dog modified units are based on the regular lessons for that grade and subject, keeping the two levels as parallel as possible, making it easier to identify areas of overlap for activities such as demonstrations, videos, and class discussion.
Differentiating social studies instruction can help build student confidence
When students understand the material you teach, it can encourage them to seek out more information about a topic or concept and boost their confidence. If a teacher is differentiating social studies instruction and a student is successful with the material, that can go a long way in encouraging educational development moving forward.
Teachers can build their reserve of differentiated tools and techniques
Differentiating social studies instruction can also allow teachers to build their toolbox of resources. Although a modified resource might be for one specific topic, being successful with students will help teachers understand techniques that could work across other topics and with other students in the future.
Strategies For Differentiating Social Studies Instruction
Differentiating social studies instruction in the classroom is an essential tool for teachers and students. There are several ways to create differentiated instruction.
Mix it up with lesson variety
It can sometimes be easy to fall back on the tried-and-true or historical method to teach a topic. Mixing up the variety of lessons with activities such as hands-on labs, picture books, audio files, and research projects can help create a beneficial learning environment for all students. Check out 18 Effective Teaching Strategies for more ideas on providing lesson variety.
Provide students with choices
Student choice in lessons and activities helps promote independence and growth, and generates excitement about a topic or concept. Teachers have to decide what works for their classroom. Still, some ways students can have choices include: selecting a research topic for an assignment, choosing a visual or text-based project, and choosing to work individually or in a group.
Bring all levels of learners together
Students of all levels should be able to work together in some fashion, which could be through a group discussion, a hands-on lab, or a visual project. Differentiating social studies instruction should provide options for varying levels of learners. It should not create isolation between those students and the rest of the class.
Providing some information ahead of time
An excellent strategy for working with modified social studies lessons includes providing some information to students working below grade level ahead of time. Rather than having them do all the research for a project, lab, or presentation, provide them with the basic information they will need to complete the task.
By reducing the amount of research necessary for a project, it feels less overwhelming for the student and adds to their success.
Offer regular feedback
Students need regular feedback, and building short, regular assessments into your social studies units can benefit students and teachers. Students can see where they may need to improve, and teachers can see what concepts they need to reinforce.
Here are 6 Quick Assessment Strategies to try the next time you are lesson planning.
Modified Social Studies Resources
Using pre-made modified resources can be an easy and time-saving way towards differentiating social studies instruction in the classroom. 2 Peas and a Dog has created several modified middle school social studies resources to help teachers meet the diverse needs of all of their students.
These units align with the regular social studies units, making them a fantastic tool for finding overlap and bringing students of all learning levels together, while still providing modified instruction to those who require it.
You can find all 2 Peas and a Dog modified social studies resources on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
For students working at grade level, check out these regular social studies units for Grade 6 Social Studies and Grade 6/7 Social Studies.
- Grade 6 Social Studies Regular Unit – Find on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD
- Grade 6/7 Social Studies Regular Unit – Find on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD
Key Features of Modified Social Studies Resources For Differentiating Instruction
Each modified social studies bundle provides resources for teachers who are teaching the Ontario Social Studies Curriculum, but have students working significantly below grade level. These modified resources are created with reduced reading and writing expectations and meet the needs of ELL students and/or students on a modified IEP.
Here are some of the key features of the modified science units created by 2 Peas and a Dog that make them an excellent resource for teachers:
- Easy-to-Use Lesson Plans: Experience a seamless and enriching educational journey with easy-to-follow daily lesson plans, saving precious preparation time.
- Lesson Variety: Student activities utilize a variety of formats – cut & match, fill in the blanks, guided inquiry, assignments, and graphic organizers.
- Reduced Text Articles with MP3 Audio Files: Elevate student learning and accessibility with audio recordings of the student readings, which are written at a modified level.
- Print and Digital Formats: Embrace the convenience of accessing materials in both print and digital formats, effortlessly adapting to diverse teaching environments and catering to individual preferences.
Modified Middle School Social Studies Resources
Grade 6 Social Studies Modified Bundle
In this Grade 6 Social Studies Modified Bundle, teachers are equipped with 34 engaging lessons. These lessons will help teachers immerse their modified Grade 6 social studies students in learning about key concepts from each Grade 6 social studies unit.
Each of the 34 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the Ontario Grade 6 Social Studies Curriculum, but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
Resource Includes:
- 34 Detailed Lesson Plans:
- Modified Lesson Content:
- MP3 Audio Files of Articles
- Answer Keys
- Lesson Variety
- Self-Marking Google Forms
- Print and Digital Formats
Teacher Feedback:
“This is such a helpful resource to assist students who are on IEPs. I love that I can easily select tasks that they can complete and they will feel successful. Having the audio files is a huge help I can easily post this to google classroom so they can read and follow along much more smoothly! Highly recommend this product to any teacher who is balancing modified or heavily accomodated IEPs in their grade 6 classroom.” – Ms C.
You can find the Grade 6 Social Studies Modified Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Grade 6/7 Social Studies Modified Bundle
In this Grade 6/7 Social Studies Modified Bundle, teachers are equipped with 104 engaging lessons. These lessons will help teachers to immerse their modified Grade 6/7 students in learning about key concepts in the Grade 6 and 7 Social Studies, History and Geography curriculum.
Each of the 104 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the Ontario Curriculum, but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
Resource Includes:
- 104 Engaging Lessons
- MP3 Audio Files
- Easy-to-Use Lesson Plans
- Graphic Organizers
- Answer Keys
- Print and Digital Formats
You can find the Grade 6/7 Social Science Modified Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Additional Resources for Differentiating Social Studies Instruction
- Check out this post: 21 Ways to Make Social Studies Class Exciting, if you’re looking for strategies to make social studies class exciting, dynamic, and enjoyable.
Find great resources for teaching Grade 6 Ontario Social Studies Resources in this blog post.
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