Abstract Summary/Description
Social Science education as a vehicle for social justice/abolitionist teaching can be accomplished by infusing aspects of STEM disciplines with a focus on technology, mathematics, and scientific themes of cross-cutting concepts in middle grades and beyond to increase student mastery of social studies concepts, build learner efficacy, and broadens routes to STEM careers. Building in cross-curricular opportunities in the social science classroom makes history more equitable for young learners by engaging their desire for relevancy and social justice. By using a STEM protocol in lesson planning, teachers improve critical thinking opportunities for learners, while empowering them to connect their future career paths by problem solving through community based characteristics that increase access for girls, diverse learners, and those previously disengaged in STEM fields. This presentation focuses on exposing educators to a path for abolitionist teaching methods in the social sciences through a systematic approach to infusing STEM concepts in each learning activity which increases access to STEM understandings as well as historical learning.
