The Promise and Practice of Teaching Data Literacy in Social Studies: A Companion Site Main Menu A Taxonomy of Data Visualizations Information can be visualized in multiple ways, from bar graphs to scatterplots, choropleth maps to distribution maps, timelines to time series. Designers can choose from an array of graphical elements such as points, lines, or icons used to represent data, and multiple aesthetic attributes such as color, shape, and size. Furthermore, designers can apply multiple combinations of titles, legends, and explanatory text to provide context for a data visualization. Given the almost dizzying array of data visualizations students may encounter in social studies, it is helpful to place them in categories related to the types of questions they will help us answer. Data Visualizations as Primary Sources Humans have been creating different types of data visualizations for centuries. Explore this collection of timelines, maps, graphs and charts to see what they reveal about the historical time and place in which they were produced. How do students learn with data visualizations? Reading data visualizations in print and online social studies texts can improve students' overall comprehension and quality of reasoning. And there is evidence to suggest that reading data visualizations helps students better understand historical and geographic context, multiple causation, and change over time — all important concepts for students to grasp in social studies subject areas.  However, students may face significant challenges in trying to make sense of different kinds of data visualizations. This section provides insight into both benefits and challenges of reading timelines, maps, and graphs and charts. How should students analyze data visualizations in social studies? The challenges that data visualizations present, coupled with their prevalence in social studies texts, standardized assessments, in online social studies resources, and as sources of information in society, suggest that teaching with and about data visualizations in social studies is essential. This module provides guidance for how teachers can support students' data literacy for social studies. How do I help students create and integrate data visualizations for social studies? This page highlights several tools that are useful for data-based projects in social studies.  And accompanying each tool is a "minimal manual" that provides guidance for using the tool in social studies inquiry- and project-based learning. Project-Based Learning Activities for Data Literacy in Social Studies Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, nec constituto comprehensam te. Sea no affert nemore comprehensam, eum te purto soleat accusata. Ea est magna malis. No atqui iudico est. In vel propriae suavitate. Est homero timeam cu, novum persecuti mea an. Index of Lesson Plans This page contains a list of the minimal manuals and lessons found on this website. Minimal manuals are designed to be adapted to different grade levels and do not have a grade designation associated with them. Lesson plans are organized according to the school level for which they are designed. However, many of these lessons can be adapted for different grade levels.

Data Literacy in Social Studies Standards

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The C3 Framework, published in 2013 by the National Council for the Social Studies, provides guidance for the development of state social studies standards and can serve as an excellent reference for classroom curriculum development.  The document also provides guidance for what students should know and be able to do with data visualizations. Sometimes references to data literacy in the C3 Framework are obvious, but other times language in the standards only implies the use of data visualizations. This document will help guide you through analysis of the C3 Framework so that you can consider how the document addresses addresses data literacy.  After you read through this document, carry out a similar type of analysis with your own state social studies standards.  Michigan social studies teachers can find your standards here.