“WOW Them and Show Them How Exciting Social Studies Can Be”: Exploring a Self-Sustaining Social Studies Summer Camp for Young Learners Led by Teacher Candidates

Abstract

The Junior Knight Camp is an annual summer program that specifically supports elementary school students in an effort to increase knowledge of social studies using an interdisciplinary thematic approach. This interdisciplinary approach includes STEM, the arts, literacy, and physical education. The camp operates on multiple campuses of the university led by teacher candidates under the guidance of education faculty. In addition to meeting the needs of young children in the Middle Georgia region, this annual camp also serves as an experiential learning opportunity for rising seniors in the dual elementary education and special education degree program. The authors believe that this self-sustaining model can be replicated by many education preparatory programs.

Keywords:

• Summer camp
• social studies
• elementary education
• teacher candidates

Acknowledgements

We thank Nancy Greene, the Camp Director, for her contribution to the Checklist (see Exhibit 1), which is used by teacher candidates in the Social Studies: Designing Interdisciplinary Curriculum course. We also thank Dr. Sumitra Himangshu for useful discussions.