Topic:

Objectives Of Teaching Social Studies

Subject:

Social Study

Submitted to:

Dr. Asif Shehzad

Submitted by:

Iqra Saif

Roll No

Bsf2105407

Program:

B.ED Hons 2nd semester

Date:

16 June 2022
Outline:

 Introduction
 What is social study?
 Meaning of social study?
 Objectives of social study?
 Conclusion
 References
 Objectives of teaching Social Study
Introduction

For proper teaching of a subject it is essential to have a knowledge of aims and objectives of the
subject. This is also true for the teaching of social studies. Various method of teaching are then
evolved according to these aim and objectives. For determining the aims to teaching any subject
we have to take into consideration the utility and usefulness of that subject. We have material as
well as spiritual life it is essential that we have a well founded material life

Social studies education develops right from kindergarten and into high school to help students
understand their place in the world. Social Studies teaches children their roles and
responsibilities particularly in relation to social and civic affairs. It helps students develop critical
thinking abilities, prepares them to participate competently and productively as concerned
citizens and teaches them to address societal and global concerns using literature, technology and
other identifiable community resources. Social studies include history, geography, political
science, sociology, economics and civics and it is an integral part in ensuring well-rounded
education in the K-12 curriculum.

What is social studies:

A part of a school or college curriculum concerned with the study of social relationships and the
functioning of society and usually made up of courses in history, government, economics, civics,
sociology, geography, and anthropology.

Objectives of Social Studies:

1. Civic Competence
2. Critical Thinking
3. Social Understanding
4. Integrating Ideas
5. Disconnecting from Materialism
6. Exchanging Thoughts and Ideas
7. Valuing Education
8. Perks of Popular Idealism
9. Affirming Contributions from All
10. Basic Science

1. Civic Competence
The National Council for the Social Studies defines the subject as the integrated study of
the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence.
 Social studies educates students on citizenship, providing them with the knowledge, skills
and attitudes that will help them to become competent and responsible citizens who are
informed, thoughtful, participate in their community and exhibit moral and civic virtues.
For example, students learn about voting as a form of political participation, and how
they can exercise their right to vote in elections to choose the leaders that they want.
2. Critical Thinking
Social studies education teaches students about history and enables them to understand
how society has evolved. It places a strong emphasis on important and enduring ideas,
events and personalities that affect peoples’ lives. From these lessons, students are able to
learn about their place in the living history of the United States and to establish a
foundation for their future ideas. The subject not only offers students a strong knowledge
content base, but it also helps them develop an ability to think critically about societal
issues and learn how to address them based on their understanding of social values.

3. Social Understanding
The subject also includes the study of the interrelationship among people, as well as the
relationship between them and their environment. This allows students to develop an
understanding of society and the human condition. Social studies education creates
awareness in students of the diversity and interdependence of the world and helps them to
recognize the challenges and benefits of living in a world with multiple cultures and
ideologies. For example, learning about the multi-cultural American society helps
students understand democracy, rights and freedoms and the need to balance the various
values, cultures and ideologies to have a balanced and peaceful co-existence.

4. Integrating Ideas
Social studies involves a number of subjects including history, geography and economics.
Students learn how to integrate ideas from different disciplines to come up with reasoned
decisions, and to make the connections between related concepts and ideas so that they
are better able to identify problems affecting society. For example, investigating poverty
in society requires knowledge in history, economics and politics. Students have to make
the connection between ideas such as discrimination, resource allocation and political
priorities to make sense of how poverty affects certain populations in the country.

5. Disconnecting from Materialism

By placing value on ideas and the pursuit of truth, idealism de-emphasizes the importance
of materialism.
Plato, for example, argued that people should spend their time learning about the world
and seeking truth, rather than accumulating material or worldly goods. In this way,
idealism discourages thoughtless consumption in favor of a more reflective way of living.
6. Exchanging Thoughts and Ideas
Because idealism urges individuals to discover the truth about the world through
discussion and debate, another advantage related to idealism includes open-mindedness.
True idealists remain interested in learning new information, discarding old thoughts and
beliefs as evidence proves them inadequate. Encouraging individuals to discuss their
views leads to better and more frequent communication, as people seek to affirm or
discard their current beliefs about the world in favor of greater truths.

7. Valuing Education
Another positive aspect of idealism relates to its emphasis on education. Many American
idealists, including Bronson Alcott, urged quality education practices for children that
incorporated robust intellectual discussion and open examination of moral or societal
problems. Idealism encourages children to seek education over material goods, and to
value personal goodness in themselves and other people. Using literature as a lens to
consider moral problems, for example, could help children draw applicable conclusions
about morality or problem-solving in their own lives and the world around them.

8. Perks of Popular Idealism

The term “idealism” is popularly used to describe the worldview of thinking that the
world and its people are “good,” and that there is much to be gained from establishing
ideals and then adhering to them. This, too, has its advantages. Committing to a positive
outlook helps people overcome struggles, worries or suspicions, when they adopt the
belief that strong ideals will overcome temporary setbacks. Idealists, for example, would
uphold that people are capable of cooperation and learn from their mistakes, rather than
that people are naturally competitive and seek to take advantage of one another.

9. Affirming Contributions from All

In the United States, Thomas Jefferson contributed to idealism’s philosophical
underpinnings by arguing that social and economic contributions from the rural
population held great value. Jefferson felt that the rural poor had a “purity and goodness”
not available in large, overpopulated cities because they often worked together for the
common good, and valued honesty and hard work. An advantage to this form of idealism
is that it led to greater political participation; the country’s early farmers banded together
to ensure that their voices and interests were represented in the national arena.

10. Basic Science

Teaching agriculture in primary school classrooms introduces young students to basic
scientific procedures and shows them how to apply these lessons to daily life. For
example, an agriculture instructor can teach students about how bees make honey, how
 trees grow and make fruit or nuts, and how corn can be made into oil, for example.
Agriculture puts chemistry, biology and physics into everyday-life application.

Conclusion
The aims and objectives of teaching various subjects are normally very similar and they are
generally guided by economic and social consideration. The aims and objectives of teaching
social studies include all the aims and objectives of education. Different writers have listed these
aims and objectives in different ways. In case of social studies, it is said that “the outstanding
purpose of instructions in social studies is to produce citizens and to aid pupils in the formation
of a higher type of social studies character”.