This qualitative case study sought to analyze and describe both the quantity and quality of African American history curriculum integration into Virginia's U.S. History curriculum standards at three points in time (2008 standards, 2015 standards, and revised 2020 standards) in the three U.S. history courses (USI, 5th; USII, 6th; VUS; 11th).…

This dissertation measured the impact of the integration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and historical inquiry on 10 and 11 year old 5th grade charter school students. By using Q methodology, a mixed methodology research tool, this study examined three hypotheses. These include the outcomes of holistic learning, the effect of…

The purpose of this intrinsic, collective case study was to learn what skilled practitioners do to engage elementary students in the disciplinary literacy of reading like historians. Four high-implementation cases were selected to learn what is "possible" rather than what is "typical" behavior when teaching elementary students…

The purpose of this adapted grounded theory study was to identify and analyze how 23 fifth grade elementary teachers' beliefs about the U.S. and U.S. history, about the children they teach, and about the context in which they teach affected both what and how they taught. The study found that teachers' beliefs about the U.S. itself affected their…

Elementary school students' knowledge of history appears to be at an all-time low as evidenced by the 2010 NAEP scores that indicated only 20% of fourth-grade students scored at the "at least proficient" level in a test of historic knowledge. Many culprits are being blamed for this dismal performance of U. S. students, such as No Child…

This study attempted to determine whether students participating in a summer camp learn more about a fifth grade history concept of social studies, the Reconstruction Era, via a theater arts production. Data collected for this qualitative study included pre- and post-test drawings, scripted comments, student interviews, teacher interviews, daily…

This is a quasi-experimental mixed methods study of a curriculum intervention focused on the interdisciplinary teaching of history, literacy, and the visual arts. In this study I address three questions: (1) How does students' learning in history change following their participation in an interdisciplinary history-literacy-visual arts…

Over the last decade there has been an increased focus on high-stakes standardized tests in reading and math. Social studies has been devalued in the classroom as many teachers and administrators focus their attention on reading and math instruction to avoid the punitive consequences of the No Child Left Behind Act. (2001). Based on this…

This multiple case study examined the efforts of six elementary school teachers in their implementation of new instructional strategies in their fifth grade social studies classrooms following their participation in a weeklong Summer Institute focusing on American history. The study was guided by one grand tour question and one sub-tour question.…