Fractured, Stealthy, and Healthy Approaches to Integrating Social Studies

Integrating social studies across the curriculum is not a new idea or trend. In fact, for years scholars around the world have shown that in order for students to understand the world around them, curricular experiences should help them access a wide range of knowledge and information, especially that which is found in social studies. In classrooms around the world, educators attempt to integrate social studies across the curriculum with the idea that integration will enable students to learn the main tenets and values that are found in social studies and are necessary for a healthy society, while not sacrificing time in other areas of the curriculum. However, attempts at integrating social studies across the curriculum do not necessarily lead to effective and meaningful learning. Integration is a highly effective method that leads to strong student outcomes, but it has to be done well – in a healthy way.