Social Studies Does More Than We Think

When someone hears the term "social studies" they automatically think of the American Revolution, George Washington or a class they sit through in school. Social Studies is so much more than that. It is a vital component to the education of a well rounded student and a well rounded individual in today's ever changing society. 

Social Studies by definition is " an integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence."

Some of these social sciences and humanities are:

• Anthropology
• Archeology
• Economics
• Geography
• History
• Law
• Philosophy
• Political Science 
• Psychology 
• Religion
• Sociology
• Humanities*
• Mathematics*
• Natural Sciences*

*These are sometimes recognized as part of social studies.

Like anything else, Social Studies has a main purpose. The main purpose of social studies is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society; in an independent world.

In schools there are no specific standards for Social Studies like there are for math and literacy set forward in the Common Core. The National Council for The Social Studies does however, set forth 10 Themes that should be covered in a student's Social Studies learnings. These themes are:

1. Culture
2. Time, Community, Change 
3. People, Place, Environment
4. Individual Development and Identity 
5. Individuals, Groups and Institutions
6. Power, Authority and Governance 
7. Production, Distribution and Consumption 
8. Science, Technology and Society 
9. Global Connections
10. Civic Ideals and Practices 

Though these are vague themes, many teachers use them as standards. As an undergrad student we are taught to align these with grade level Literacy, Reading, and Writing standards to create appropriately targeted lessons for our students. 

Knowledge is a huge part of social studies. Different kinds of knowledge can be seen in social studies and well as any other subject. They are all part of Fragile Knowledge. There is also Inert knowledge, naive knowledge, and ritual knowledge. These highly effect a student's deeper understanding and their understanding performance. 

Fragile knowledge is knowledge that is learned in school but is not remembered or understood. 

Inert knowledge is knowledge that allows students to remember information when they are tested, but they do not make any sort of outside, real world connection with the knowledge. 

Naive knowledge is when students rely on simple examples of a topic to provide an answer. 

Ritual knowledge is when a student goes through the motions of school every day but does not apply the knowledge they learn and they make no outside, real world connections with the knowledge. 

Deeper understanding is knowledge that a student can think about, explain and apply to situations beyond the classroom. 

That deeper knowledge leads to understanding performances. These understanding performances are things students do to show that they understand what they have learned. When they understand what they have learned, they will be able to do the following: 

• explain the information 
• give clear examples of the information 
• apply the information to situations beyond the classroom 
• justify the information 
• compare and contrast the information 
• use the knowledge in context 
• make generalizations of the information

Lastly, the principles of teaching and learning social studies. 

1. Social Studies teaching and learning is powerful when meaningful
2. Social studies teaching and learning is powerful when integrative 
3. Social studies teaching and learning is powerful when value based 
4. Social studies teaching and learning is powerful when challenging 
5. Social studies teaching and learning is powerful when active

I firmly believe that Social Studies can be every students favorite subject in school. Social studies is so much more than the memorization game that teachers these days make it into. In my future teaching, I plan to make social studies meaningful, integrative, value based, challenging, active, and most importantly fun! I want all of my future students to have the same positive Social Studies experience that I was lucky enough to have.