LESSON 2 SOCIAL STUDIES AS INTEGRATED CURRICULUM

The integrative capacity of this program offers various opportunities both to the teachers and learners as
they make sense on its content and process relative to other disciplines and their experiences.

If there’s one feature that would make social studies stand out among other learning areas in the basic
education curriculum, it is its integrative nature.

Integrated vs. Interdisciplinary Curriculum

Four core tenets to an integrated curriculum:

 Integrated experiences
 Social integration
 Integration of knowledge
 Integration as a curriculum

Interdisciplinary Curriculum - is a curricular model that uses multiple disciplines or learning areas in examining
a giving theme, problem, topic, or issue. As linter clarified, “ it is purposely subject-centered and usually
structured around a single objective (lesson plan) and developed and delivered by a single teacher in his/her
classroom.

Social Studies As An Integrated Curriculum

Social studies programs help students construct a knowledge base and attitudes drawn from academic
disciplines as specialized ways of viewing reality.

History, for instance, uses the perspective of time to explore the causes and effects of event in the past.
Political science on other hand, uses the perspective of political institutions to explore structures and processes
of governing.

The seven themes of Araling Panlipunan include:

 People, Environment and Society

These recur from grades 1-10. These are examined using the concepts, theories, and studies culled from the
social science disciplines like history, sociology, anthropology, economics, and political science. These are
employed in order for learners to see and appreciate the holistic nature of a human being. Let’s take identity as
example.
Grade 1 – identity Grade 6 – National identity
Grade 2 – identity Grade 7 – Asian identity
Grade 3 – cultural identity Grade 8 – multiple history and cultural identities
Grade 4 – National identity Grade 9 – Phil. Economic identity
Grade 5 – National identity Grade 10 – identity issues
LESSON 3 Elementary Social Studies Curriculum

Seven Themes Explained

The previous lesson already enumerated the Seven Themes of the Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies)
Curriculum as one of its essential features. For purposes of clarity and precision, however, each theme should
be explained so as not to cause any confusion and misperception.

People, Environment and Society

-Human interaction with his environment is one of the fundamental concepts in social studies. This theme puts
premium on how human interacts not only with his environment but also to a bigger society thus providing
learners the opportunities to locate him/herself in his immediate environment, understand the impact of
human decisions to the environment and vice versa, examine the dynamism of human mobility, and realize
her/his roles and responsibilities as a member of the society and stewards of the natural resources among
others.

Time, Continuity and Change

-Essential in the understanding of cultural and national identity is the evolution and development of a given
society. Central in this study is the concept of time that serves as the contextual basis and foundation in the
analysis of social dynamics. Chronological thinking allows learners to distinguish past from present, examine the
changing belief systems, social structures and institutions, and understand the concept of historical significance.

Culture, Responsibility and Nationhood

-Identity is anchored on culture which pertains to the complex whole that includes belief system, values,
tradition, language, and arts of a group of in a given society. This theme provides learners the opportunities to
develop their identity as individual, as youth and as a Filipino.

Rights, Responsibilities and Citizenship

Civic competence is grounded on how citizen understand and value their role and responsibilities as citizens.
This is vital as they fully and meaningfully engage in their respective community, country and even in the
community of nations.

Power, Authority and Governance

Central in citizenship education is understanding the concept of the use of power in advocating the common
good and the importance of democratic process in realizing good governance. This theme includes the
examination of the Philippine Constitution, highlighting the serious responsibilities of the governance of leaders
in the various levels of governance.
 Production, Distribution, and Consumption

This theme provides learning experiences that allow students understand economic concept such as
choice, opportunity costs, expenditure, inflation, deficit, sound economic decision, savings, investments, and
financial literacy among others.

Regional and global connections

The Philippines is a member of a bigger community called global village. This theme affords learners to
appreciate how the country influences the rest of the world and how it was influenced in return in terms of
the mobility of ideas, people, and products.

The Elementary Social Studies Curriculum in the Philippines Basic Education is divided into two key stages:

KEY STAGE 1 (Araling Panlipunan 1 – Araling Panlipunan 3)

It is clearly stipulated that Pilipino learners in Key Stage 1 are expected to demonstrate basic
understanding and values of self, family, school, and community including fundamental
concepts on continuity, change, distance, and direction, employing significant and related
skills toward the attainment of an in-depth understanding of one’s self in the context of
her/his physical and socio cultural environment while being a member of a community and a
bigger society.

KEY STAGE 2 (Araling Panlipunan 4 – Araling Panlipunan 6)

The Key Stage 2 standard highlights learners’ productivity in being a member of Philippine
society.
Each key stage has a corresponding standard addressing vital competencies needed to be
achieved.