Date on Honors Thesis

Fall 11-28-2022

Major

Elementary Education

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Kimberly Vigil, Advisor

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Susana Bloomdahl, Committee Member

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Miguel Gomez, Committee Member

Abstract/Description

The content areas of science and social studies are areas that students in today's elementary education classrooms do not interact with daily. In many general education classrooms, literacy and mathematics take up a majority of the instructional time leaving students missing out on important skills that help them grow and flourish in society. The importance of science and social studies within the classrooms goes beyond simple means of expanding their knowledge. For example, these "forgotten subjects" allow students to connect with the world around them and incorporate the higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. The content areas are used to deepen students' skills and boost their impact left on society. Articles, journals, and webpages from the Murray State University library database and other outlets were collected and analyzed. The purpose of this literature review is to examine both the presence and the impact of science and social studies within the classroom. This review has the potential to contribute to the field of education by giving teachers the opportunity to see the detrimental impacts due of the lack of science and social studies, providing benefits to support the inclusion of science and social studies, as well as suggesting recommendations that can be implemented to boost science and social studies content time. Within the literature, I will compare and contrast themes that emerge and potentially determine patterns between schools with or without these subjects to support the recommendation of science and social studies being implemented into everyday curricula.

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