Teaching for Excellence in Secondary Gifted Social Studies

Social studies as a discipline is often overlooked, but offers potential to help prepare students for an evolving modern world. Walker and Kettler (2022) found that exemplary social studies teaching included applied skills in developmentally appropriate teaching, relevant and engaging conceptual curriculum, and pedagogical content knowledge. Russell (2015) found that quality gifted education included critical thinking, independent learning, effective research practice, meaningful collaboration, and production of quality, advanced-level products. Based on these components, we provide in this chapter suggestions for professional development, curriculum, and instruction for secondary social studies teachers who teach gifted students. In addition to these suggestions for curriculum and instruction considerations, we provide practical examples of what those suggestions would look like for a planning a lesson plan unit.