R EPUBLIC OF THE P HILIPPINES

State Universities and Colleges

GUIMARAS STATE COLLEGE
Buenavista, Guimaras

Instr. Keince Kristle Ronco SSC1

LESSON 1: THE GOAL OF SOCIAL STUDIES

Social Studies incorporates history, geography, government and civics, economics, anthropology (social and
cultural), as well as fields of study drawn from the humanities (religion, literature, and the arts). In this, it becomes the
ideal discipline for a combination of those fields and uses them in a manner to de
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson, students are expected to:
1. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of content, concepts, literacy practices, and principles of teaching and
learning Social Studies;
2. State the aims and objectives of teaching Social Studies / Araling Panlipunan;
3. Examine the alignment of goals/ objectives, standards, sequence, and content in the teaching of AP.

ACTIVATE
Video Presentation
1. Make a 1 min. video presentation.
2. Elaborate the implications of teaching social studies in elementary grades.
3. Discuss the importance of Social Studies/ Araling Panlipunan in grade level.
4. In submission, students can send thru goggle classroom or messenger (pm).

ACQUIRE
Social studies. We all have to take it, and teachers have to teach it. But why? What aspects of social studies make
it so important that it is always included? Social studies is a discipline that includes humanities such as geography,
history, and political science. Why is social studies important? Let’s explore why.
“The primary purpose of social studies is to help young people make informed and reasoned decisions for the
public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.”
– National Council for Social Studies
What Is Social Studies?

 Social studies can also be referred to as social sciences. It’s a field which deals with human behavior,
relationships, resources, and institutions.
 Specific topics within social studies that are studied in school coursework include geography, anthropology,
economics, history, sociology, political science, and civics.

1|Page Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade (Culture and Geography)

 R EPUBLIC OF THE P HILIPPINES
State Universities and Colleges
GUIMARAS STATE COLLEGE
Buenavista, Guimaras

Instr. Keince Kristle Ronco SSC1

Aim and Purpose of Social Studies

The main goal of teaching social studies is to teach students to
become good citizens. We are living in a diverse society — one
that requires knowledge of social studies to succeed. With a
social studies background, children become adults that can
participate civilly in our democratic society.

Social Studies in the 21st Century

Social studies connect students with the real world. In today’s
interconnected world, students must be prepared to interact with
people of all cultures and communities, and social studies
prepares them for this.
The Importance of Social Studies in the School Curriculum
All children who go through the school curriculum become
something when they graduate. And no matter what that something is, they will need to interact with others from different
cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Students must study how society works, and how people work in a society in
order for it all to work once they enter society after graduation.

8 Reasons: Why Is Social Studies Important For Students?

Students learn skills through social studies that help them succeed in further education as well as life. Here are all the
amazing ways learning social studies benefits kids and society together:

1. Better Reading And Learning

Social studies is one area in education where content integration is
key. Students are given reading material that corresponds with the
current learning topics. Giving reading materials in context helps
students become better readers. They also become better learners
because they are asked to use analysis, critical thinking, and writing
to show understanding.
2. Citizen Responsibilities And Values
How can we expect young people to contribute positively to society,
engage in discourse, and thrive in a democratic society if they are not
exposed to the topics and aspects of history and life that made
society the way it is? Students need an understanding of history,
political science, culture, and all humanities to be able to understand
why it is important to be a good citizen.

2|Page Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade (Culture and Geography)

 R EPUBLIC OF THE P HILIPPINES
State Universities and Colleges
GUIMARAS STATE COLLEGE
Buenavista, Guimaras

Instr. Keince Kristle Ronco SSC1

3. Cultural Understanding
Students should be exposed to cultures far beyond what they experience personally every day. Not every student has the
opportunity to interact with other cultures on a daily basis. We need students to learn about, understand, and appreciate
cultural differences if we expect them to have meaningful interactions with people of all backgrounds in the future.
4. Economic Education
Economics is a crucial part of social studies, whether studied on its own,
or as a part of history, anthropology, or political science. By learning
economics, young people understand how their financial decisions have
an impact on their future, as well as the future of society.
5. Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is a part of social studies — students are taught to
evaluate others’ decisions and make connections between influences and
circumstances. Young people get the opportunity to learn from others’
mistakes through social sciences.
6. Real-World Understanding
Studying social sciences gives students an understanding of the real
world around them. Students learn about places, cultures, and events
around the world, what conspired to make them the way they are, and
can make inferences about how the rest of the world works.
7. Political Skills
From social studies classes, students learn about government, political ideas, country economy and resources, and more.
Students gain political skills by analyzing and evaluating existing systems and imaging the future of the place in which
they live.
8. Respect History
History is what made the world the way it is, and it is essential that people study it in order to have an appreciation for and
understanding of the way the world works. Learning about history is what makes it possible to learn from the past and
plan for the future.
Making Sense of the World: Social Studies for Young Students
One of the reasons for teaching young people social studies is for them to be able to participate civilly in a democratic
society. Children start as early as kindergarten to understand the world around them, and schools should follow suit and
start teaching social studies concepts such as communication, critical thinking, and culture as early as possible.
Qualities of Purposeful Social Studies
1. Meaningful
Social studies should be meaningful to students. Teachers should embrace the natural interests of students and plan topics
around those interests.

3|Page Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade (Culture and Geography)

 R EPUBLIC OF THE P HILIPPINES
State Universities and Colleges
GUIMARAS STATE COLLEGE
Buenavista, Guimaras

Instr. Keince Kristle Ronco SSC1

2. Integrative
Integrating all aspects of life is key to a successful social studies curriculum. Not only should current events and other
classes be integrated, but also aspects of daily life as well. Every moment is a teachable moment.
3. Value-Based
Key values of democracy are opportunity, equality, justice, and freedom of speech. These values should be echoed
throughout all parts of social studies.
4. Challenging
Teachers can challenge children in social studies classes in ways they aren’t or can’t be challenged in other classes. In-
depth critical analysis should be implemented — getting students to think and reflect will help them engage and challenge
them to care about what’s going on around them.
5. Active
Get students active and engaged with debates, discussions, role playing, projects, and simulations. This is one area of
school where kids should really get into it!

Aim and Goals of the Social Studies Curriculum

The main aim of the Social Studies curriculum is to help students acquire and develop skills, attitudes, insights, and
become competent in processes that lead to thinking, feeling and acting as knowledgeable, purposeful and responsible
citizens in a rapidly changing society. A responsible citizen understands his/her rights and duties in a democratic society
and in the global community, participates constructively in the democratic process by making rational decisions, and
respects the dignity and worth of self and others. The specific goals of Social Studies contribute to the realization of the
aim of producing knowledgeable, purposeful and responsible citizens. These goals are:

 to empower students to better understand themselves, their cultural heritage and the cultural heritage of others;
 to empower students to better understand the nature of social and ecological interdependence; to empower
students to become aware of, and to analyze critically and constructively, the values of their society;
 to empower students with cooperation and conflict-resolution skills;
 to empower students to interact positively and productively with their physical and social environments;
 to empower students to cope critically and creatively with current social and political phenomena and problems;
 to empower students to make rational decisions so they can take effective action.

These goals should be considered as interrelated components forming an integrated whole, as can be visualized in the
chart on the following page. As in a solar system, the goals gravitate around the aim of Social Studies, sometimes more
closely or remotely than others, but always there. Their influence is present at all times and none of them can be separated
or taken away from the whole system. They all complement and support each other.

4|Page Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade (Culture and Geography)

 R EPUBLIC OF THE P HILIPPINES
State Universities and Colleges
GUIMARAS STATE COLLEGE
Buenavista, Guimaras

Instr. Keince Kristle Ronco SSC1

The Learning Objectives are presented as Knowledge Objectives, Skill Objectives and Attitude Objectives.
Knowledge Objectives
The knowledge objectives are concerned with the development of understanding of values (identification, definitions, and
descriptions). To be a responsible citizen, one needs to be informed about the past, as well as the present, and to be
prepared for the future by drawing on the disciplines encompassed in social studies. The knowledge objectives should
take into account the history (oral and/or written) of our community, the growth of democratic society, an understanding
of the nature of humans, and an understanding of our changing social, political, technological, physical, and economic
environment. Knowledge objectives for the social studies strands are organized through major understandings, concepts
and essential knowledge.

Skill Objectives

Skills are taught/acquired best in the context of use rather than in isolation. While the skill objectives are grouped into
categories for organizational purposes, some of the skills may fit into more than one category. There are a wide variety of
thinking skills essential to social studies. These skills are not intended to be developed separately or sequentially but are
intertwined with the knowledge and attitude components.

Skill objectives for social studies are grouped into the following categories:

 Process Skills: skills that help one acquire, evaluate and use information and ideas
 Communication Skills: skills that help one express and present information and ideas
 Participation Skills: skills that help one interact with others

Attitude Objectives
The attitude objectives describe ways of thinking, feeling or acting and are developed through a variety of learning
experiences that encompass knowledge and skill objectives. These experiences include participation in specific activities,
the development of positive attitudes towards one's self and one another, learning in an atmosphere of free and open
inquiry, and the development of a feeling of joy and excitement in learning. The development of the positive attitudes
needed for responsible citizenship is a gradual and ongoing process. The attitude objectives for social studies, which
students will be encouraged to develop, include:

 attitudes of respect, tolerance, and understanding towards individuals, groups and cultures in one's community and
in other communities (local, regional, territorial, national, global)
 positive and realistic attitudes about one's self
 positive attitudes about learning
 positive attitudes about democracy, including an appreciation of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of
citizenship
 an attitude of responsibility towards the environment and community (local, regional, territorial, national, global

5|Page Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade (Culture and Geography)

 R EPUBLIC OF THE P HILIPPINES
State Universities and Colleges
GUIMARAS STATE COLLEGE
Buenavista, Guimaras

Instr. Keince Kristle Ronco SSC1

APPLY

Briefly discuss the following questions:

1. The specific goals of Social Studies contribute to the realization of the aim of producing knowledgeable,
purposeful and responsible citizens. This statement refers to what goals?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

2. The main goal of teaching social studies is to teach students to become good citizens. As a future educator, how
could you achieve this main goal?Explain.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

ASSESS
Instruction: Answer what is being asked in each item.
1. By learning _________, young people understand how their financial decisions have an impact on their future, as
well as the future of society.
a. Social Studies b. Economics c. History d. Geography

2. Skills that help one express and present information and ideas. Which categories of skill objectives for social
studies this statement is referring to?
a. Communication Skill b. Process Skill c. Participation Skill

3. All children who go through the school curriculum become something when they graduate.
a. True b. False

4. _________ is what made the world the way it is, and it is essential that people study it in order to have an
appreciation for and understanding of the way the world works. Learning about it is what makes it possible to
learn from the past and plan for the future.
a. Culture b. Politics c. Geography d. History

5. Children start as early as kindergarten to understand the world around them, and schools shouldn’t follow suit and
start teaching social studies concepts such as communication, critical thinking, and culture as early as possible.
a. True b. false

6-15. Enumerate why is Social Studies important for students? (10 points)

6|Page Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade (Culture and Geography)

 R EPUBLIC OF THE P HILIPPINES
State Universities and Colleges
GUIMARAS STATE COLLEGE
Buenavista, Guimaras

Instr. Keince Kristle Ronco SSC1

7|Page Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade (Culture and Geography)