Description

Book Synopsis
Brainball:Teaching Inquiry and Social Studies as a Team Sport is an attempt to clarify that not only is social studies a game, but that it is one of the most useful and powerful games that teachers and students will ever play. Games are the doing of theory, and maybe it would be a good idea to start doing social studies in every social studies classroom.

Trade Review
Brainball (Social Studies edition) lays out an inquiry-driven approach of teaching Social Studies in the 21st century. Not only do the authors provide sound reasoning and research on meaningful learning, they also provide lesson plans that educators can use in their classrooms on Day 1. I had countless "Of course! That makes total sense!" moments throughout reading this. Brainball is an excellent resource for Social Studies teachers, curriculum coordinators, and administrators who are serious about making teaching more relevant. -- Sam Van Hefty, Social Studies teacher, Deer Creek Middle School, Colorado
Relevant, purposeful, and engaging. Each of these words came to mind while reading, Brainball (Social Studies Edition). New and veteran educators will find inspiration in the pages of this book. Practical examples abound with the wealth of materials created by veteran Social Studies educator, Jessica Hobelsberger Flanagan. I would highly recommend this text to both my student teachers and colleagues. -- Ryan Elizabeth Ruegnitz, Social studies educator, Adjunct university instructor, and Virtual teacher supervisor

Table of Contents
Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction Section 1: Brainball (Social Studies Edition) - Why Social Studies Matter Chapter 1: Brainball (Social Studies Edition) – The Point of the Game is Learning Chapter 2: The Big Ideas: Product, Process, and Community aligned with Purpose Chapter 3: Brainball (SSE) Beliefs (Dispositions) Chapter 4: Brainball (SSE) Key Knowledge Categories Chapter 5: Brainball (SSE) Skills Section 2: Preparing to Coach the Game Chapter 6: Tip 1: Keep the End-in-Mind Chapter 7: Tip 2: Play the Game Chapter 8: Tip 3: Competitions as Evaluations Chapter 9: Tip 4: Sequences matter Chapter 10: Tip 5: Explicit Communications Section 3: Day-to-Day Lesson Plans: Brainball Illuminated Unit Plan Overview Lesson 1: Observations Lesson 2: Observations Lesson 3: Observations/Curiosity Lesson 4: Identify Pre-Existing Knowledge/Conceptions Lesson 5: Curiosity Lesson 6: Develop Collaboration Norms Lesson 7: Identify Issue/Problem Lesson 8: Project & Time Management Lesson 9: Research- Bias and Triangulation of Sources Lesson 10: Communication Skills – Interview, Letter and Email Skills Lesson 11: Communication skills – Public Speaking Lesson 12: Create – Research: Gather Information Lesson 13: Create – Research: Sort Information Lesson 14: Create – Project Prep & Implementation Lesson 15: Design Presentation Lesson 16: Project Presentations Lesson 17: Synthesis – “I Learned” Lesson 18: Reflection & Self-Assessment Lesson 19: Summative Conference Conclusion Appendices Appendix A: Inquiry Based Learning Project Examples Appendix B: Global Issues Project Appendix C: Global Citizenship Rubrics Appendix D: 3, 2, & 1’s Appendix E: IBLP Global Citizenship Tracker Appendix F: Burning Questions Appendix G: Collaboration Norms Contract Appendix: H: Preliminary IBLP Plan Appendix I: IBLP Implementation Plan Appendix J: Which of these Things is not like the others? Appendix K: Exit Slip Appendix L: Peer Feedback Protocol Appendix M: Shapes Appendix N: Global Citizenship IBLP Project Reflection Appendix O: List of Resources

Brainball

    Product form

    £47.70

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £53.00 – you save £5.30 (10%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Wed 17 Jun 2026.

    A Hardback by Benjamin H. Kolis, Benjamin H. Kolis, Jessica DeSautel

    Out of stock


      View other formats and editions of Brainball by Benjamin H. Kolis

      Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
      Publication Date: 1/17/2018 12:01:00 AM
      ISBN13: 9781475834840, 978-1475834840
      ISBN10: 1475834845

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Brainball:Teaching Inquiry and Social Studies as a Team Sport is an attempt to clarify that not only is social studies a game, but that it is one of the most useful and powerful games that teachers and students will ever play. Games are the doing of theory, and maybe it would be a good idea to start doing social studies in every social studies classroom.

      Trade Review
      Brainball (Social Studies edition) lays out an inquiry-driven approach of teaching Social Studies in the 21st century. Not only do the authors provide sound reasoning and research on meaningful learning, they also provide lesson plans that educators can use in their classrooms on Day 1. I had countless "Of course! That makes total sense!" moments throughout reading this. Brainball is an excellent resource for Social Studies teachers, curriculum coordinators, and administrators who are serious about making teaching more relevant. -- Sam Van Hefty, Social Studies teacher, Deer Creek Middle School, Colorado
      Relevant, purposeful, and engaging. Each of these words came to mind while reading, Brainball (Social Studies Edition). New and veteran educators will find inspiration in the pages of this book. Practical examples abound with the wealth of materials created by veteran Social Studies educator, Jessica Hobelsberger Flanagan. I would highly recommend this text to both my student teachers and colleagues. -- Ryan Elizabeth Ruegnitz, Social studies educator, Adjunct university instructor, and Virtual teacher supervisor

      Table of Contents
      Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction Section 1: Brainball (Social Studies Edition) - Why Social Studies Matter Chapter 1: Brainball (Social Studies Edition) – The Point of the Game is Learning Chapter 2: The Big Ideas: Product, Process, and Community aligned with Purpose Chapter 3: Brainball (SSE) Beliefs (Dispositions) Chapter 4: Brainball (SSE) Key Knowledge Categories Chapter 5: Brainball (SSE) Skills Section 2: Preparing to Coach the Game Chapter 6: Tip 1: Keep the End-in-Mind Chapter 7: Tip 2: Play the Game Chapter 8: Tip 3: Competitions as Evaluations Chapter 9: Tip 4: Sequences matter Chapter 10: Tip 5: Explicit Communications Section 3: Day-to-Day Lesson Plans: Brainball Illuminated Unit Plan Overview Lesson 1: Observations Lesson 2: Observations Lesson 3: Observations/Curiosity Lesson 4: Identify Pre-Existing Knowledge/Conceptions Lesson 5: Curiosity Lesson 6: Develop Collaboration Norms Lesson 7: Identify Issue/Problem Lesson 8: Project & Time Management Lesson 9: Research- Bias and Triangulation of Sources Lesson 10: Communication Skills – Interview, Letter and Email Skills Lesson 11: Communication skills – Public Speaking Lesson 12: Create – Research: Gather Information Lesson 13: Create – Research: Sort Information Lesson 14: Create – Project Prep & Implementation Lesson 15: Design Presentation Lesson 16: Project Presentations Lesson 17: Synthesis – “I Learned” Lesson 18: Reflection & Self-Assessment Lesson 19: Summative Conference Conclusion Appendices Appendix A: Inquiry Based Learning Project Examples Appendix B: Global Issues Project Appendix C: Global Citizenship Rubrics Appendix D: 3, 2, & 1’s Appendix E: IBLP Global Citizenship Tracker Appendix F: Burning Questions Appendix G: Collaboration Norms Contract Appendix: H: Preliminary IBLP Plan Appendix I: IBLP Implementation Plan Appendix J: Which of these Things is not like the others? Appendix K: Exit Slip Appendix L: Peer Feedback Protocol Appendix M: Shapes Appendix N: Global Citizenship IBLP Project Reflection Appendix O: List of Resources

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account