ABSTRACT
The social studies can be a difficult subject area to support because quality social studies teaching necessarily draws from numerous disciplines such as history, geography, economics, and civics. Although the field has long engendered debates about what should be taught, the generally accepted purpose of the social studies courses is to educate for democratic citizenship (Evans, 2004). The authors of the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework (National Council for the Social Studies, 2013) aim to combine an inquiry-oriented approach with disciplinary investigations in the teaching of the social studies. The Four Dimensions of the C3 Framework help teachers organize social studies lessons rooted in inquiry:
Dimension 1: Developing Questions and Planning Inquiries
Dimension 2: Applying Disciplinary Tools and Concepts
Dimension 3: Evaluating Sources and Using Evidence
Dimension 4: Communicating Conclusions and Taking Informed Action
