A theoretically-based curriculum incorporating reading to learn and writing to learn in sixth-grade social studies

The purpose of this study was to develop a theoretically-based social studies curriculum that incorporated research related to schema theory, reading to learn theory, and writing to learn theory. Learning principles and instructional principles were derived from each theory to serve as guidelines for selecting instructional strategies from the research to be included in the curriculum.

The content of the Heath Social Studies text (1985) and the instructional strategies together constitute the curriculum for this study. A preparation phase, a guidance phase, and an independence phase was developed for each chapter of the curriculum based on Herber's (1978) instructional framework.