Social Studies Assignment

St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College
Bachelors’ of Education in
Early Childhood Education
Humanities Department

Foundation of Social Studies
Foundation of Social Studies

Name: Marlon McCallum
Date Given: September 3rd, 2013
Due-Date: September 17th, 2013
Tutor: Mrs. Gordon

Social Studies should be introduced in the teaching curriculum Social Studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence. This subject is often taught in elementary (Primary) or Secondary Schools. The primary purpose of Social Studies is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens. The Social Studies programme is neither to advance the frontiers of knowledge nor to produce Social Scientist. To do so, young people must draw on the content and methods of the Social Science disciplines as well as their own beliefs and considered values and, whenever and wherever appropriate, on such field as the humanities and the natural sciences. This area of the curriculum helps the child understand his/her social and physical environment. This particular subject is primarily concerned with the study of people, their activities and 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. Also its’ task is to engage students in analyzing and attempting to resolve the social issues confronting them. The Social Studies programmes provide experiences, through which students are expected to gain knowledge and insights, develop and practise a variety of skills and attitudes as well as human understanding and social responsibility. It includes the past but gives emphasis to the present and the foreseeable future. At the same time it has the responsibility of furthering his/her social development and growth toward good citizenship. The inclusion of Social Studies as a part of the general education in a specialized “Early Childhood Institution”, the curriculum would derive from the assumption that adequate provision should be made for enabling students to gain the knowledge and skills of being effective social participants. It also contributes to effective development of the learner by increasing personal and social awareness, and by placing emphasis on values as well as on social and interpersonal relationships. In addition, it offers young people the opportunity to recognize the significance of their experiences as they seek to understand more about themselves and to become more aware of the complex social relationships of which they are a part. Social Studies places a heavy emphasis on the teaching of skills for understanding the world around us (intellectual skills) and skills for coping effectively with it (Social Skills). Through the use of a variety of resource material, students soon learn where different kinds of information are likely to be found and develop the skills of collecting and recording the data. Before the students start looking for information they must decide what information they will need in order to come to any conclusion. At first they may find it difficult and the teacher will have to guide their thoughts by questions.