Elementary Social Studies

Culture:
 
“Exploring Japanese Culture through Sailor Moon Cartoons.”
Sailor Moon info
There are many sites for Japan but one suggestion is

 
Individual Development & Identity:
 
“My Family” – construct family tree using the television show Full House to demonstrate it’s okay to have a
“different” kind of family
 
Individuals, Groups, & Institutions:
 
“Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” – have students establish how nominations occur, select person or group
already inducted and research their history (and also research the time period of their peak popularity), and
predict potential nominee from contemporary music scene
 
People, Places, & Environments:
 
1. “Pokemon Geography” – the premise is that Pokemon Island is getting overcrowded and the students
must help some of the Pokemon decide where to move
 
2. “World Wide Wrestling” – compare wrestling traditions in the U.S., Mexico, Japan, and India.
For online resources:
U.S.
Mexico
Japan    (link to Sumo Championship page)
India
Other pages
 
Global Connections:
 
“Pizza, Pizza” - compare and contrast Pizza Hut menus from around the world.  This is a great idea for
integrating disciplines.  Online menus are available for:
Singapore
El Salvador
Hong Kong
Philippines
Canada
 
Civic Ideals and Practice:
 
“Good Citizenship” – students identify characteristics of good citizenship using Rugrats (either the movie or
episodes from the television series)  - note that Pokemon (movie or television cartoons) would also be good for this topic
 

 
Secondary Social Studies

For secondary students you can discuss the influence of these icons of pop culture among younger students - begin by
asking what the Pokemon of their generation was - discussion can easily be directed into any of the NCSS 10 thematic
strands

3 plans for Pleasantville: The 1998 film from New Line Cinema is about two modern American teenagers who are sucked into their television set and end up living in a black-and-white fifties sitcom. Bewildered by their new world's naivete and innocence, they slowly start to add color and spice to the town's life. Then the problems begin.  This film can be used in the classroom in a number of ways.  For example, it can be used to demonstrate several historical events: Kristallnacht, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s, Dayton Tennessee in the 1920s  (Scopes Trial), and many other possibilities.