The Social Studies Helper: Creative Assignments for Exam Success

In this review of The Social Studies Helper the bottom line is clear: this book is for high school social studies teachers who need ready-to-use, high-level assignments that engage varied learners and support exam preparation. The resource emphasizes activities drawn from the highest levels of Bloom's taxonomy and integrates simple technology, making it the single most useful classroom resource for teachers who want projects, rubrics and handouts they can reuse all year. It reads as a practical teacher companion rather than a theoretical text.

Key Features

• High-level cognitive focus: Assignments target the highest levels of Bloom's taxonomy to encourage analysis, evaluation and creation rather than rote recall, helping students prepare for essay and performance-based exams.
• Multi-modal learning: Activities appeal to visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners by combining research, role-playing and art so more students stay engaged and show learning in different ways.
• Technology integration: Tasks are designed to easily incorporate common classroom technology, allowing teachers to modernize projects without complex setup.
• Ready-to-use materials: The book includes rubrics and handouts so teachers can implement assignments quickly and assess consistently across classes.
• Cross-course applicability: Exercises work across core high school social studies courses and two electives, so the same resource supports multiple classes and planning cycles.

Who It's For

The Social Studies Helper is best for secondary school teachers who need practical, high-quality assignment ideas that save planning time and raise cognitive demands. It suits educators who want to diversify assessment methods and reach visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners with projects that can be adapted for different content areas.

It is less suited to instructors seeking a curriculum-length textbook or those who want fully digitized, interactive online modules; this is a teacher resource book of assignments, rubrics and handouts to be adapted to each classroom rather than a replaceable course platform.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Practical, classroom-ready assignments that reduce planning time and can be used repeatedly throughout the school year.
• Activities grounded in the highest levels of Bloom's taxonomy promote deeper thinking and better prepare students for exam-style tasks.
• Designed for multiple learning styles, increasing student engagement and offering varied ways to demonstrate mastery.
• Includes rubrics and handouts to support consistent grading and clear expectations.

Cons

• Not a full curriculum or digital course; teachers must adapt activities to their specific pacing and standards.

Specifications

Product name	The Social Studies Helper: Creative Assignments for Exam Success
Author/Brand	Denise Fawcett Facey
Primary focus	High-level Bloom's taxonomy assignments
Intended users	High school social studies teachers
Includes	Assignments, rubrics and handouts
Course coverage	Core high school social studies courses plus two electives

Our Verdict

The Social Studies Helper is a practical, cost-effective resource for teachers who need reproducible, cognitively demanding assignments and assessment materials. Its focus on multiple learning styles and ready-to-use rubrics makes it a valuable classroom companion that saves planning time and supports exam preparation, though it requires teacher adaptation rather than functioning as a turnkey curriculum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book include rubrics for grading?
Yes; the resource explicitly includes rubrics and handouts designed to be used with the assignments.

Can these assignments be used across different social studies courses?
Yes; activities are written to integrate into core high school social studies courses and two electives, allowing reuse across classes.

Is this a digital course or curriculum?
No; it is a teacher resource book of assignments and materials that teachers adapt for their own pacing and classroom technology.