What Social Studies Is

CHAPTER    ONE

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL STUDIES

Outline

Introduction

1.1           The Meaning of Social Studies

1.2         The Scope of Social Studies

1.3         The Nature of Social Studies

1.4         The Objectives of Social Studies

1.5         The Importance of Social Studies

1.6         Suggested Tasks

1.1           Introduction

Man is a social being. He lives in society. It is necessary for man to learn how to live in society. He needs to learn how a society works, how he can play a role in it and how he can play that role positively. Man’s need to learn how to live successfully in society and his need to be equipped with the tools necessary for living create the need for Social Studies.

1.2         The Meaning of Social Studies

Social Studies is the study of people in society. It is the study of man in his various environments. Social studies is concerned with practicing problem solving and decision making for developing citizenship skills on important social issues.

Social Studies deals with the study of people, their activities and their relationships, as they interact with one another and with their physical and socio-cultural environment in an effort to meet their needs (to live and to make a living).  It is essentially the study of human group experiences.

Social Studies is difficult to define because it is made up of many subjects. Two main characteristics, however, distinguish it:

a.     It is designed to promote competence in the society; and

b.    It includes many other fields of study.

1.3   The Scope of Social Studies

Social Studies is an integrated and systematic subject drawing upon such subjects as:

·       Archaeology;

·       Economics;

·       Geography;

·       History;

·       Law;

·       Religion;  and

·       Sociology.

Its scope also covers appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences.

1.4   The Nature of Social Studies

Social Studies is an integrated subject in nature and draws its subject matter from a variety of disciplines. Social Studies deals with how societies work and how people can participate as critical, active, informed, and responsible citizens.

Apart from dealing with societal ideals and practices, it treats, in detail, aspects of life like:

·       Culture;

·       Change;

·       Races;

·       Environment;

·       Development;

·       Identity;

·       Institutions;

·       Power;

·       Governance;

·       Production;

·       Consumption;

·       Global connections;

·       Science;

·       Technology.

1.5        The Objectives of Social Studies

The major aim of Social Studies is to promote knowledge, mental ability, and democratic behaviour required of students to be active participants in public life. Social Studies also seeks to achieve a number of objectives. They include:

·       To prepare young people to be humane, rational, good in decision making;

·       To develop the right values and attitudes necessary to the conduct of affairs in different societies;

·       To prepare young people to be participating and responsible citizens in a world that is becoming increasingly complex and interdependent;

·       To provide knowledge on man’s behaviour; and

·       To develop an understanding of man’s ability to relate with other people.

1.6   The Importance of Social Studies

The National Policy on Education spells out some aims and objectives of education that may help the individual to develop physically and socially, and be able to contribute to national development. These objectives include:

1. The inculcation of the right type of values and attitudes for the survival of the individual and the Nigerian society.

2. The acquisition of appropriate skills, abilities and competence both mental and physical as equipment for the individual to live and contribute to the development of his society.

These characteristics of the national objectives are fully reflected in the Social Studies objectives. Social Studies, apart from imparting knowledge and providing valuable information necessary in life, also aims at helping students to inculcate desirable social habits, attitudes and values needed for the survival of the individual in the society.

Social Studies helps us:

·       understand our relationship with the environment;

·       understand and appreciate cultural diversity and possible differences of opinion;

·       find out what people in the past did to build their nations;

·       provide materials for developing our listening, observation, writing, analysing and speech skills;

·       develop a strong patriotic spirit;

·       increase our sense of moral and social responsibility towards each other; and

·       Train the mind to analyse.

Social Studies should helps students acquire knowledge and master the processes of learning to become active citizens.

1.7          Suggested Tasks

A.  Find the meaning of Social Studies in a dictionary.

B.  Visit the market to observe the activities of people.

What Social Studies Is

 CHAPTER  ONE

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL STUDIES

Outline

Introduction

1.1           The Meaning of Social Studies

1.2         The Scope of Social Studies

1.3         The Nature of Social Studies

1.4         The Objectives of Social Studies

1.5         The Importance of Social Studies

1.6         Suggested Tasks

1.1           Introduction

Man is a social being. He lives in society. It is necessary for man to learn how to live in society. He needs to learn how a society works, how he can play a role in it and how he can play that role positively. Man’s need to learn how to live successfully in society and his need to be equipped with the tools necessary for living create the need for Social Studies.

1.2         The Meaning of Social Studies

Social Studies is the study of people in society. It is the study of man in his various environments. Social studies is concerned with practicing problem solving and decision making for developing citizenship skills on important social issues.

Social Studies deals with the study of people, their activities and their relationships, as they interact with one another and with their physical and socio-cultural environment in an effort to meet their needs (to live and to make a living).  It is essentially the study of human group experiences.

Social Studies is difficult to define because it is made up of many subjects. Two main characteristics, however, distinguish it:

a.     It is designed to promote competence in the society; and

b.    It includes many other fields of study.

1.3   The Scope of Social Studies

Social Studies is an integrated and systematic subject drawing upon such subjects as:

·       Archaeology;

·       Economics;

·       Geography;

·       History;

·       Law;

·       Religion;  and

·       Sociology.

Its scope also covers appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences.

1.4   The Nature of Social Studies

Social Studies is an integrated subject in nature and draws its subject matter from a variety of disciplines. Social Studies deals with how societies work and how people can participate as critical, active, informed, and responsible citizens.

Apart from dealing with societal ideals and practices, it treats, in detail, aspects of life like:

·       Culture;

·       Change;

·       Races;

·       Environment;

·       Development;

·       Identity;

·       Institutions;

·       Power;

·       Governance;

·       Production;

·       Consumption;

·       Global connections;

·       Science;

·       Technology.

1.5        The Objectives of Social Studies

The major aim of Social Studies is to promote knowledge, mental ability, and democratic behaviour required of students to be active participants in public life. Social Studies also seeks to achieve a number of objectives. They include:

·       To prepare young people to be humane, rational, good in decision making;

·       To develop the right values and attitudes necessary to the conduct of affairs in different societies;

·       To prepare young people to be participating and responsible citizens in a world that is becoming increasingly complex and interdependent;

·       To provide knowledge on man’s behaviour; and

·       To develop an understanding of man’s ability to relate with other people.

1.6   The Importance of Social Studies

The National Policy on Education spells out some aims and objectives of education that may help the individual to develop physically and socially, and be able to contribute to national development. These objectives include:

1. The inculcation of the right type of values and attitudes for the survival of the individual and the Nigerian society.

2. The acquisition of appropriate skills, abilities and competence both mental and physical as equipment for the individual to live and contribute to the development of his society.

These characteristics of the national objectives are fully reflected in the Social Studies objectives. Social Studies, apart from imparting knowledge and providing valuable information necessary in life, also aims at helping students to inculcate desirable social habits, attitudes and values needed for the survival of the individual in the society.

Social Studies helps us:

·       understand our relationship with the environment;

·       understand and appreciate cultural diversity and possible differences of opinion;

·       find out what people in the past did to build their nations;

·       provide materials for developing our listening, observation, writing, analysing and speech skills;

·       develop a strong patriotic spirit;

·       increase our sense of moral and social responsibility towards each other; and

·       Train the mind to analyse.

Social Studies should helps students acquire knowledge and master the processes of learning to become active citizens.

1.7          Suggested Tasks

A.  Find the meaning of Social Studies in a dictionary.

B.  Visit the market to observe the activities of people.

What Social Studies Is

 CHAPTER  ONE

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL STUDIES

Outline

Introduction

1.1           The Meaning of Social Studies

1.2         The Scope of Social Studies

1.3         The Nature of Social Studies

1.4         The Objectives of Social Studies

1.5         The Importance of Social Studies

1.6         Suggested Tasks

1.1           Introduction

Man is a social being. He lives in society. It is necessary for man to learn how to live in society. He needs to learn how a society works, how he can play a role in it and how he can play that role positively. Man’s need to learn how to live successfully in society and his need to be equipped with the tools necessary for living create the need for Social Studies.

1.2         The Meaning of Social Studies

Social Studies is the study of people in society. It is the study of man in his various environments. Social studies is concerned with practicing problem solving and decision making for developing citizenship skills on important social issues.

Social Studies deals with the study of people, their activities and their relationships, as they interact with one another and with their physical and socio-cultural environment in an effort to meet their needs (to live and to make a living).  It is essentially the study of human group experiences.

Social Studies is difficult to define because it is made up of many subjects. Two main characteristics, however, distinguish it:

a.     It is designed to promote competence in the society; and

b.    It includes many other fields of study.

1.3   The Scope of Social Studies

Social Studies is an integrated and systematic subject drawing upon such subjects as:

·       Archaeology;

·       Economics;

·       Geography;

·       History;

·       Law;

·       Religion;  and

·       Sociology.

Its scope also covers appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences.

1.4   The Nature of Social Studies

Social Studies is an integrated subject in nature and draws its subject matter from a variety of disciplines. Social Studies deals with how societies work and how people can participate as critical, active, informed, and responsible citizens.

Apart from dealing with societal ideals and practices, it treats, in detail, aspects of life like:

·       Culture;

·       Change;

·       Races;

·       Environment;

·       Development;

·       Identity;

·       Institutions;

·       Power;

·       Governance;

·       Production;

·       Consumption;

·       Global connections;

·       Science;

·       Technology.

1.5        The Objectives of Social Studies

The major aim of Social Studies is to promote knowledge, mental ability, and democratic behaviour required of students to be active participants in public life. Social Studies also seeks to achieve a number of objectives. They include:

·       To prepare young people to be humane, rational, good in decision making;

·       To develop the right values and attitudes necessary to the conduct of affairs in different societies;

·       To prepare young people to be participating and responsible citizens in a world that is becoming increasingly complex and interdependent;

·       To provide knowledge on man’s behaviour; and

·       To develop an understanding of man’s ability to relate with other people.

1.6   The Importance of Social Studies

The National Policy on Education spells out some aims and objectives of education that may help the individual to develop physically and socially, and be able to contribute to national development. These objectives include:

1. The inculcation of the right type of values and attitudes for the survival of the individual and the Nigerian society.

2. The acquisition of appropriate skills, abilities and competence both mental and physical as equipment for the individual to live and contribute to the development of his society.

These characteristics of the national objectives are fully reflected in the Social Studies objectives. Social Studies, apart from imparting knowledge and providing valuable information necessary in life, also aims at helping students to inculcate desirable social habits, attitudes and values needed for the survival of the individual in the society.

Social Studies helps us:

·       understand our relationship with the environment;

·       understand and appreciate cultural diversity and possible differences of opinion;

·       find out what people in the past did to build their nations;

·       provide materials for developing our listening, observation, writing, analysing and speech skills;

·       develop a strong patriotic spirit;

·       increase our sense of moral and social responsibility towards each other; and

·       Train the mind to analyse.

Social Studies should helps students acquire knowledge and master the processes of learning to become active citizens.

1.7          Suggested Tasks

A.  Find the meaning of Social Studies in a dictionary.

B.  Visit the market to observe the activities of people.