Smart Skills are daily practice tasks consisting of Maps, Charts and Graphs, Art and Artifact Analysis, Timelines, and Political Cartoons. See "Smart Skills Teacher Overview" PowerPoint for details.
The focus of the skills will most likely NOT align to your current social studies topic. However, the skills activities will serve as a review of content already taught, or a preview of upcoming content.
Instructional Tips
- Each file is a PowerPoint presention for one week.
- Project one slide per day for students to view as they enter the classroom or the period begins.
- Answers to questions and teacher notes are written in the Notes section of each slide.
- Show a different slide each day on the schedule provided in the Overview. As the week progresses, the cognitive challenge of the daily questions increases.
- The questions should promote class discussion and inquiry. There are often no single correct answers, and this provides students an opportunity to explain and defend their thinking.
- Limit daily Smart Skills to 4 - 6 minutes.
Week # Skill Topic Week 1 Maps West Virginia Counties and County Seats Week 2 Charts & Graphs Climograph Week 3 Art & Artifacts Native American Artifact Week 4 Timelines Colonial Timeline 1625-1750 Week 5 Political Cartoons Pizza Delivery Week 6 Maps Week 7 Charts & Graphs Week 8 Art & Artifacts Week 9 Timelines Week 10 Political Cartoons Week 11 Maps Week 12 Charts & Graphs Week 13 Art & Artifacts Week 14 Timelines Week 15 Political Cartoons Week 16 Maps Week 17 Charts & Graphs Week 18 Art & Artifacts Week 19 Timelines Week 20 Political Cartoons Week 21 Maps Week 22 Charts & Graphs Week 23 Art & Artifacts Week 24 Timelines Week 25 Political Cartoons Week 26 Maps Week 27 Charts & Graphs Week 28 Art & Artifacts Week 29 Timelines Week 30 Political Cartoons Week 31 Maps Week 32 Charts & Graphs Week 33 Art & Artifacts Week 34 Timelines Week 35 Political Cartoons