Middle school students have the opportunity to develop
essential social studies skills, including analyzing primary and secondary sources, interpreting maps, charts, and graphs, and writing for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
In these 17 years researchers have begun to explore ways in which technology can support disciplined inquiry in the social studies — particularly in terms of engaging students in historical thinking and providing students with opportunities to demonstrate their understanding of
social studies skills and concepts through the creation of content.
A typical chapter included the narrative description of its topic (e.g., «The Land and People of Southeast Asia») and
a social studies skills feature (e.g., «Reading a Weather Chart»).