Trends
When we talk about trends, we look at many different learning fields, including
social studies, mathematics, economics, and science. Primarily, when looking at
trends, we read non-fiction sources such as journals, news articles, graphs, and
charts to determine trends. Related to changes over time, as well as the current
moment, trends can pop up in many areas under study. Key vocabulary terms
associated with trends include: prioritize, determine cause and effect, predict,
relate, formulate questions, and hypothesize. Questions one might ask to
understand trends include, “What ongoing factors have influenced this trend?” or
“What factors have contributed to this study?” Trends can be seen in arenas as
diverse as fashion design, science experiments, political thought, and social
demographics. As a parent, you can ask children, “What is popular now compared
to the last holiday season?” For example, in the 1980’s, Cabbage Patch dolls were
a huge trend, and in the 1990’s, Beanie Babies were a popular trend. What toys
are trending now? What toys would children predict might be popular in the
spring? Could anyone have guessed that the movie Frozen would still be so popular
a year later? Why/why not? At the older level, parents can discuss political trends
such voting patterns in various areas of the country, or thoughts on climate change
and immigration or health care issues as shown through news articles and
headlines. Economic forecasts are another area in which we can look at trends.
Sports fans might be interested in looking at recruitment patterns by teams over
the decades. Trends can be fascinating to examine, as they reflect both our current
thinking and historical patterns.