Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Early Childhood Practice Exam

A teacher wants to integrate social studies across the curriculum for four-year-olds. What is the most effective approach?

1. Engaging children in large-group projects based on social studies

2. Creating a single learning center with social studies content

3. Choosing an overall theme focusing on social studies content

4. Using primarily social studies to develop problem-solving skills

The correct answer is: Choosing an overall theme focusing on social studies content

Choosing an overall theme that focuses on social studies content is the most effective approach for integrating social studies across the curriculum for four-year-olds. This method allows for the incorporation of various subjects such as language arts, mathematics, and science through a cohesive framework that revolves around a central theme. For young learners, thematic units create a meaningful context that enhances engagement and retention of information. By centering the curriculum around a specific social studies theme, teachers can seamlessly connect concepts across different areas, making learning more relevant and cohesive for children. This approach encourages exploration and inquiry, fostering critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the social world around them. In contrast, engaging children in large-group projects, while valuable, may limit individual participation and personal connection to the material. Creating a single learning center, although it introduces social studies content, does not effectively integrate it across all areas of learning. Relying primarily on social studies to develop problem-solving skills may also neglect the multifaceted nature of early childhood education, which benefits from a more balanced and interdisciplinary approach. Thus, focusing on an overall theme provides a well-rounded strategy for integrating social studies throughout the curriculum effectively.