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Teaching High School Sociology
Teaching High School Sociology
February 23, 2023

This collection contains resources that are useful for teaching sociology on the high school level. It includes resources that were submitted by high school instructors, as well as 100-level college material that is easily adaptable for high school students. In 2022, ASA assembled a workshop with high school sociology teachers and sociology professors to develop resources specifically for a new “High School Sociology Toolkit.” These lessons and acitvities coincide with the four learning domains found in the National Standards for High School Sociology.  The resources created from that workshop are also included in this collection and are titled with the prefix, "High School Workshop Toolkit."

Magnifying Glass
Judith Linneman
The Claim Game: Promoting Critical Thinking about Research, Advertising, and Other Claims
February 28, 2022
Subject Area(s):
Research Methods, Statistics
Resource Type(s):
Lecture, PowerPoint
Class Level(s):
College 100, College 200, College 300
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

Use this lecture/slide show to develop student critical thinking skills and a more skeptical view of causal and other claims in research, advertising, and popular media in general. Although particularly relevant for research methods and statistics courses, the...

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Red toy houses in a line.
Adelle Monteblanco
Pick Your Path: Teaching Sociology with a Creative Writing Assignment
January 14, 2022
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Medium, Small
Abstract:

Fostering students’ creative thinking is a frequent goal of higher education instructors. When instructors aim to develop this skill in their students’ sociological writing, it encourages instructors to create alternatives to the commonly used research paper. This...

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jack-o-lantern
Alexandra (Ali) Hendley
Gender Socialization and Children's Halloween Costumes
October 25, 2021
Subject Area(s):
Sex and Gender
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

This content analysis activity allows students to examine the role that mass media and consumer culture play in children’s gender socialization. More specifically, students analyze the gendered meanings within marketing materials for children’s Halloween costumes....

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May Takeuchi, Alex Takeuchi
“If the World Were 100 People” - Revised
June 21, 2021
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 200
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
“If the world were 100 people” has been around in K-12 education as a popular exercise that introduces students to issues in global society. This resource upgraded the exercise for college students in introductory-level sociology course. Specifically, this resource...
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Zachary R. Simoni
Using Google Maps to Study Health Disparities in US.
October 21, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Medical Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Health disparities continue to be a pressing problem in American society. Although this topic is often a fundamental concept for an introduction to sociology course or upper-level medical sociology course, there are few exercises available to show students real-world...
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A camera with the world reflected on its lens. The background is of a photographic collage of people.
Carol A Jenkins
Developing a Photographic Essay - Making a Public Statement About a Social Problem or Issue
October 21, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assessment
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Each student will develop a photographic essay of a social problem important to the student (a personal, reflective, integrative public statement about a social problem). Essay development enables students to demonstrate the intersection of personal problems and...
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Robert Biggert
Merit Goes to College: Teaching Inequality with an Admissions Game
July 24, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Stratification/Mobility
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Small
Abstract:
Trails/Abstract Inequality is perhaps the most pressing social problem facing the United States. The severity of the problem is not in doubt. The theoretical work of (Piketty 2014) and empirical analysis of (Piketty and Saez 2014) underscores this urgency. Despite...
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A close-up photograph of mini marshmallows in pastel colors
Anne Groggel, Elizabeth Rodriguez
Educational Inequality through Marshmallow Towers
July 13, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Education
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This ungraded in-class activity is designed to illustrate inequalities in the school system. The class will break into small groups of 3-4 students and will compete to make the tallest tower out of marshmallows and toothpicks. Each group received a bag of resources...
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Julia Waity, Samantha Durham
Using Virtual Reality to Learn about Place
May 14, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Visual Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Small
Abstract:
While being able to read data correctly is a vital skill, many sociology classes rely heavily on charts, graphs and tables that can be overwhelming and disengaging for students. One way to overcome this is for students to see firsthand the concept that they are...
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Jonathan R. Wynn
The Alien Exercise: A Basic Introduction to Sociology Fieldnote Exercise
April 8, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
Getting a class on the same page early in the semester is often a challenge. A quick activity that sparks a lot of conversation without presuming too much knowledge about sociology, and that can bring everyone in regardless of their preparedness for college and the...
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