Denise Fawcett Facey

It’s that time again. Classes are about to begin, and like teachers everywhere, you’re setting up your classroom and preparing for the upcoming year. You really want to make this the best school year possible. But, by the time you get the bulletin boards done, the posters and banners hung, and the first week’s lesson plans written—in between attending meetings—the students will have arrived. Then you’ll be teaching lessons and trying to find enough time in the day to correct homework, read essays, grade tests and do all of those other things that go with teaching.

Whether you are a novice teacher or a veteran, on a traditional schedule of forty-five or fifty-five minutes per class period or a block schedule with ninety minutes, there’s little time left to come up with innovative activities and projects. Yet, they make such an important difference in the classroom. Creative assignments can enhance your lessons, spark student interest, and serve as an assessment of genuine learning that tests do not always measure. That’s where this book can help.

Busy teachers and those just seeking new ideas can use The Social Studies Helper as a resource throughout the school year. Now you’ll have activities and projects instantly available and ready for use, without having to set aside the time to develop them. Creating projects and activities need no longer be on your “to do” list!