SLA No. 1.

The Nature of Social Studies

Course Code/Number: Social Studies Major 1
Course Title: Foundations of Social Studies
Professor: Dr. Reynaldo B. Inocian

I. Lesson Overview
Hello everyone! What is the socio-political condition right now in your community?
Does your community provide you the support you need? How many good citizens can you
count in your community right now? These questions will lead you to find answers as you
read SLA-1 and perform the required activities and worksheets.

II. Intended Learning Outcomes

Within two weeks, you are expected to perform each of the following intended learning
outcomes below:
1. Analyze the nature social studies in basic education in the Philippines;
2. Unmask the nature of social studies education in the Philippines through
various activities;
3. Participate discussions (online or offline) of the goals and aims of social
studies on how these impact to a Filipino; and
4. Evaluate a sample curriculum guide or textbook in social studies based on
its identified themes.

III. Learning Content and Activities

What do I need to know? To answer this, you have to read the given text completely
with joy, as you explore how to be a good citizen in the country. In this reading text, you
need to know also that the social studies subject is a course for humanity that integrates the
fields of social sciences, the humanities, and other related fields.

The Nature of Social Studies

Anderson (1993) defined “Social Studies as the integrated study of the social sciences
and humanities to promote civic competence.” Social Studies is a program of study of the
Social Sciences. As a program of the Social Sciences, it utilizes content and skills in the
Social Sciences. The Social Sciences as a branch of science focuses on the study of humanity
with key elements such as places, events, interaction, and culture surrounding the Social
Science disciplines.

The Components of Social Studies

The social studies program offerings comprise the 7 major fields of the social sciences
in the given list below.
1. History is derived from the Latin word “historia” which means to research. This is the
oldest of the social sciences that intertwined the development of civics for a democratic
citizenship.
2. Geography is derived from the Greek words “geo” which means earth and “graphein”
which means description. This field studies the descriptions of the earth surface that includes
the physical, cultural, and social.

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3. Economics is taken from the two Greek words “oikos” which means house and “nomos”
which means management. When combined “oikonomomia” is produced which means
household management.
4. Sociology is taken from the two Greek words “socius” which means group and “logos”
which means study. Thus, sociology refers to the study of human groups in a specific society.
5. Anthropology is derived from the two Greek words “anthropos” which means man and
“logos” which means study. Anthropology refers to the study of human beings’ origin,
evolution, and existence.
6. Psychology is derived from the two Greek words “psyche” which means soul and “logos”
which means study. Thus, psychology means the study of the human soul and behavior.
7. Political Science is originally taken from the study of civics that branched out into a
separate distinct discipline that deals with the study of the political structure of government as
well as its governance and the distribution of power in the society.

Aside from these seven major fields, Social Sciences cover also the Humanities as its
seven minor fields namely:
1. Philosophy is derived from the Greek words “philos” or “philein” which means love and
“sophia” which means wisdom. Thus, philosophy means the love of wisdom.
2. Art is derived from the Latin word “ars” which means skill. This means the study of the
visual arts that includes architecture, painting, sculpture, as well as the creative arts of floral
arrangement and the art of folding paper, and other crafts.
3. Music is the study of the blending of sounds and the blending of elements that are pleasing
to the ears. This also includes the study of different musical instruments.
4. Dance is a locomotive art of sway and balance of the body that creates expressions of
emotions and meanings.
5. Sports include the individual, and team events ranging from boxing, wrestling, taekwondo,
the ballgames, and the recreational activities of swimming, hiking, diving, mountain
climbing, rowing, etc.
6. Literature is the study of the myths, folktales, stories, drama, and other printed media that
depict cultural implications in the life of people in the society.
7. Education is the study of life’s essence and meaning to improve its quality. This includes
informal, formal and non-formal education.

Social Sciences also make use of the following tool subjects that shape its major and
minor areas. These are:
1. Mathematics refers to the study of numbers and figures that establish connections in the
field of anthropology, economics, history, and psychology to quantify verifiable data.
2. Ecology refers to the study of the environment that correlates the field of geography and
anthropology.
3. Chemistry refers to the study of chemical elements and compounds that have linkage on
the ingredients used in the manufacturing of certain products in the factories. In a way
related to economics.
4. Physics refers to the study of motion, frequency, velocity, etc. that establish a link in the
field of anthropology and geography.
5. Geology refers to the study of the earth’s structures that have connections in the field of
physical anthropology and geography.
6. Biology is the study of life. This is obviously related to the study of anthropology and
psychology like the concepts of variability, the nervous system, and genetics.
7. Earth Science is the study of the physical earth that has a close connection to the study of
geography.

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Elements of Social Studies
1. People refer to the various human species in terms of gender, race, and ethnicity.
2. Places refer to the territories people established permanent settlements and residences and
work.
3. Interaction refers to the linguistic capacity of people in order to be understood in their
regular day-to-day work.
4. Events refer to man-made catastrophes, developments, and invention like war, intrusion,
globalization, peace initiatives, scientific breakthroughs in technology and genetic
engineering
5. Culture refers to the effects of people’s interaction like lifestyles, creative works, honing
skills, and popularizing talents.
6. Environment is the wide milieu of nature where humanity establishes a web of life
connections to plants and animals as well as the physical earth where the same humanity
is entrusted as the Lord’s caretaker.
7. Natural phenomena are the Earth’s natural cycle like rain, drought, floods, and other
nature’s furies that bring to tragedies, and life’s catastrophes.

Goals of Social Studies

Social Studies as a study of people and their interactions with one another has these goals:
1. Social Studies should help learners to come to a greater awareness of themselves, to clarify
and to examine their values and to establish a sense of self-identity.
2. Social Studies should provide learners with understanding of past events and persons and
of their roles in shaping present-day lives.
3. Social Studies should promote learners' concern for the development of an understanding
and acceptance of other people with different values and lifestyles.
4. Social Studies should provide learners with knowledge of human systems in the areas of
economics, government and culture.
5. Social Studies should provide learners with the skills necessary to carry out the
independent investigation of problems and to react critically to the solutions posed by others.
6. Social Studies should provide learners with awareness of possible futures and the roles
they might play in shaping those futures.
7. Social Studies should provide learners with an appreciation of people’s efforts to improve
the human condition through creative expressions and problem-solving.
8. Social Studies should provide learners with an understanding of the decision-making
process involved in human interaction and with the skills necessary to become effective
decision-makers.
9. Social Studies should provide learners with the ability to use both cooperative and
competitive circumstances for achieving goals.
10. Social Studies should provide learners with sensitivity toward their own potentials and
their fellow human beings.

Aims of Social Studies

De Leon & Ross (2010) asserted that the aim of social education should be: (1) cultural
transmission; (2) understanding history and social sciences disciplines; (3) reflective inquiry
on social issues; (4) personal development; and (5) informed social criticism among others,
which gives the field an appearance of pedagogical and curricular diversity. Wayne Au
(2010) argues that social education has the potential to build critical consciousness with
students to critically reflect on reality and its potential for social actions.

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The Seven Major Themes in Social Studies in the Philippines

1. Human Person, Environment and Society (Tao, Kapaligiran at Lipunan)

2. Time, Continuity and Change (Panahon, Pagpapatuloy at Pagbabago)
3. Culture, Identity and Nationhood (Kultura, Pagkakilanlan at Pagkabansa)
4. Right, Responsibility and Citizenship (Karapatan, Pananagutan at Pagkamamamayan)
5. Power, Authority and Governance (Kapangyarihan, Awtoridad at Pamamahala)
6. Productions, Distribution and Consumption (Produskisyon, Distribusyon at Pagkonsumo)
7. Regional and Global Relations (Ugnayan Pangrehiyon at Pangmundo).

The Spiral Curriculum of Social Studies in Basic Education in the Philippines

Senior High HUMSS Courses

Grade X Kontemporaryong Isyu at Hamon sa Pilipinas

Grade IX Ekonomiks

Grade VIII Araling Pandaigdig

Grade VII Araling Asyano

Grade VI Mga Hamon at Tugon sa Pagkabansa

Grade V Pagbuo ng Pilipino bilang Nasyon

Grade IV Pinagmulan at Pag-unlad ng mga

Lalawigan at Rehiyon sa Pilipinas

Grade III Ang Aking Kapaligiran at

mga Komidad sa Pilipinas

Grade II Ang Aking

Komunidad, Ngayon at Noon

Grade I Ako, Ang Aking

Pamilya at Paaralan

Kindergarten Ako
at ang Aking
Kapwa

Figure 1 (The Spiral Scope and Sequence of Social Studies in Basic Education – the
K to 12 Model)

Don’t get excited yet, you need to know how to use the self-learning activities.
Following the constructivist approach, active learning takes place based on selective
choices. Considering that you don’t have the same level of knowledge and experience
about the learning context, you have the option to choose which level of KMUP

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(Knowledge, Mastery, Understanding and Reflections, and Productions and Performances)
activities you need to perform provided that you need to completely do it with joy.

1. Pick for knowledge if you do not have any amount of information about the
learning content.
2. If you have knowledge, then you need to explore your skills to enhance it, in order
to reach for mastery.
3. Once you have mastery, then, you need to pick understanding and reflections based
on what you know and master.
4. Some of you don’t need knowledge, process, and understanding; but you need these
cognitive tools already to produce an outcome that contributes to the greater good,
then pick for activities related for the development of products and performances.

Knowledge Activity. Information Association

1. What song or poem that you can associate with the definition of social studies?

2. Post the lyrics of the song or the poem in your social media about its relationship to the
definition of social studies. Those who do not have access to social media, then write it on
the piece paper.

Skills Activity. Concept Webbing

1. Read the major, minor and other fields in social studies.

2. Make a concept web of these pieces of information.

3. Post your output in your social media or just simply sketch it on paper.

Understanding and Reflections Activity. Online Discussion (Synchronous)/Family

Discussion (Asynchronous)

1. What is wrong about the teaching of social studies that resulted in the increase of
undesirable citizens of the country?

2. What should be done by the Department of Education to better enforce the

implementation of the social studies program in the K to 12 curricular offering?

Product and Performance Activity. Evaluation of a Curriculum Guide in Social

Studies or a Textbook in Social Studies

1. Download a curriculum guide in social studies in the DepEd website or secure a specific
text in social studies in any grade level.

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 2. Evaluate it based on the seven major themes, by creating a checklist to find out the
degree of integration from the highest to the lowest.

3. Make a proposed recommendation for the revision of the curriculum or the selected
textbook.

Activity 5. A Negotiated Activity

1. This is an option for the learners based on their own context, location, and time.

2. The teacher will consider the terms and conditions for agreement.

3. The teacher and the learner will have to meet half-way regarding the agreement of this
task.

IV. Learning Enhancement

After the completion of the selected SLA, you need to know what KMUP you retained by
answering one of the worksheets provided below.

Worksheet 1
1. What is an integration?
2. What are the two sets of unique disciplines included in social studies integration?
3. What is the primary purpose of social studies?
4. What are the key elements of social studies?

Worksheet 2
1. How is the integration of these various fields of social sciences in social studies done?
Kindly show your answer in a sample graphic organizer.
2. How do the elements of social studies blend? Kindly show your answer in a sample
graphic organizer.

Worksheet 3
1. Dissect each of the ten goals of social studies and think about which branches of the social
sciences each one is associated with.
2. Why did De Leon & Ross (2010) assert the aim of social studies into four? Please explain
each of the four aims?
3. Why do Filipinos citizens fail to be good despite the noble goals and aims of social
studies? Please explain.

Worksheet 4
1. Examine the scope and sequence of social studies in Figure 1, does it follow the real spiral
progression curriculum?
2. Research what is the meaning of a spiral progression curriculum in order to evaluate the
figure given above.

Worksheet 5. A Negotiated Worksheet

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1. This is an option for the learners based on their own context, location, and time.
2. The teacher will consider the terms and conditions for agreement.
3. The teacher and the learner will have to meet half-way regarding the agreement of this
task.

A. For Students with Internet Connection

1. Download the given links below and watch it.

2. Write a manifesto on how to become a better citizen in your barangay.
3. Post it in your blog or wiki.

1. What is a Global Citizen?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqTqCbeEt7M

2. Good Citizens in the Classroom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2TYP5qoN3c

B. For Students without Internet Connection

1. Ask members of your family what their concept of good citizenship is.
2. Write an essay on how important is good citizenship for the community and the nation.
3. Submit this completed essay after one week.

V. Outcomes-based Assessment

Direction: Answer the multiple-choice item test by choosing the letter representing the
correct answer using the Answer Sheet Provided at the last page of this module. There is no
need to return this module back to us. ONLY THE DETACHED AND FILLED OUT
ANSWER SHEET WILL BE RETRIEVED BACK. Attach this together with the selected
output you made in of the selected activities and worksheets.

1. What is TRUE about the nature of Social Studies?

A. The discipline is a pure science. C. It is a narrow discipline.

B. The discipline has a wide scope. D. It has a limited scope.

2. Which of these covers the study of history as a study of human character?

A. rise and fall of dynasties C. inventions and contributions

B. people’s traits D. government systems

3. Approaching to teach Social Studies necessitates one to integrate concepts

__________.

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A. within two disciplines only C. from the seven major disciplines

B. across several disciplines D. within limited disciplines

4. The teaching of history is more meaningful when the children:

A. make their conclusions in their own words

B. select the grounds of an opinion

C. apply the lessons in history to current events

D. all of these

5. What is the goal of social studies when the person’s plan to kill himself is
prevented?

A. It helps learners to come to a greater awareness of their lives, to clarify, and to examine
their values and to establish a sense of self-identity.

B. It provides learners with an appreciation of people’s efforts to improve the human

conditions through creative expressions and problems solving

C. It provides learners with an understanding of the past events and persons and of their
roles in shaping present-day lives.

D. It provides learners with knowledge of human systems in the areas of economics,

government and culture.

6. Which of these social sciences have strong dominance in Social Studies?

A. anthropology, sociology, psychology C. psychology, history, economics

B. history, geography, economics D. geography, history, civics

7. People learn the value of savings in order to prepare the future. What field of social
science can this be attributed to?

A. anthropology B. geography C. economics D. sociology

8. Respect for human rights is a basic concept in the study of ____________.

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A. anthropology B. geography C. history D. political science

9. Awareness of the important events in the past is studied in ___________.

A. anthropology B. geography C. history D. political science

10. When someone interacts with his or her neighbors regarding a solution to a
certain problem, then to what field of social science can this be attributed?

A. anthropology B. history C. sociology D. political science

11. What is considered the “heart” of social studies?

A. past record B. citizenship C. historical leaders D. government system

12. Jake and his girlfriend appreciated the painting exhibits at the gallery. This is a
manifestation of their interest towards the __________.

A. anthropology B. humanities C. sociology D. political science

13. In the new social studies, the students behave like a:

A. historian B. economist C. philosopher D. social scientist

14. With the use of the map, Mario’s travels to other countries were made easy
because of his knowledge in ___________.

A. anthropology B. geography C. history D. political science

15. Teacher X understands the behavior of his students because of his knowledge in
____.

A. anthropology B. geography C. history D. psychology

16. Remnants of the past are valued and stored in museums. This is responded to by

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the study of ____.

A. anthropology B. geography C. history D. psychology

17. Proper crossing on the streets is learned in the study of ________.

A. anthropology B. civics C. history D. psychology

18. Learning to dance the Sinulog and appreciating its traditions is manifested
through ________.

A. cultural transmission B. informed social criticisms

C. personal development D. reflective inquiry on social issues

19. People are telling badly against you; you ignore them and do what is right. What
is the aim of social studies?

A. cultural transmission B. informed social criticisms

C. personal development D. reflective inquiry on social issues

20. Jake hit the mark of his dream when he studied very well and was highly paid in
his job. What is the aim of social studies?

A. cultural transmission B. informed social criticisms

C. personal development D. reflective inquiry on social issues

21. Jack reacted to the killing of innocent citizens in the countryside. What is the aim
of social studies?

A. cultural transmission B. informed social criticisms

C. personal development D. reflective inquiry on social issues

22. Luz learns to be more patient, especially in trying times brought by calamities and
wars. What is the aim of social studies?

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A. cultural transmission B. informed social criticisms

C. personal development D. understanding history and social science disciplines

23. The theme of human person, environment and society can be best understood in
the study of ______.

A. anthropology, geography, sociology C. history, psychology, political science

B. sociology, humanities, civics D. economics, history, geography

24. The theme of time, continuity and change can be best understood in the study of
_______.

A. anthropology, geography, sociology C. history, psychology, political science

B. sociology, humanities, civics D. history, economics, political science

25. The theme on culture, identity, and nationhood can be best understood in the
study of _______.

A. anthropology, geography, sociology C. history, anthropology, political science

B. sociology, humanities, civics D. history, economics, political science

26. The theme on right, responsibility and citizenship can be best studied in _____.

A. anthropology and economics B. economics and sociology

C. sociology and history C. economics and political science

27. The theme on power, authority and governance can be best studied in ______.

A. anthropology B. economics C. sociology D. political science

28. The theme on production, distribution and consumption can be best studied in
_____.

A. anthropology B. economics C. sociology D. political science

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29. The theme on regional and global relations can be best studied in ________.

A. anthropology B. economics C. sociology D. political science

30. When social studies discipline is characterized to be value-laden, then it is highly

_________.

A. essentialist B. progressivist C. pragmatist D. humanist

31. Teacher X lesson in Social Studies was all about the different regions in the
country. He asked the students to discuss the location, the cultural festival, the brief
history, and the known products in each of these regions. What major fields of social
studies are used in the given context?

A. anthropology, economics, geography, history C. economics, geography, sociology,

civics

B. anthropology, economics, history, civics D. political science, history, economics

32. The ultimate purpose of social studies is ____________.

A. competence in civic promotion C. promotion of competence civics

B. promotion of civic competence D. in competence civic promotion

33. Which of these social science disciplines is less likely known to be a science
because of its cultural orientation?

A. anthropology B. economics C. sociology D. psychology

34. Which of these social science disciplines is considered the oldest?

A. anthropology B. history C. sociology D. psychology

35. Which of these social science disciplines is considered the youngest?

A. anthropology B. economics C. sociology D. psychology

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36. Which of these social science disciplines is derived from the basic system of the
house?

A. anthropology B. economics C. sociology D. psychology

37. Which of these social science disciplines is focused on the nitty-gritties of

humanity?

A. anthropology B. economics C. sociology D. psychology

38. Which of these social science disciplines evolves from civics?

A. anthropology B. economics C. sociology D. political science

39. Democracy is in crisis because of plutocracy that means ____________.

A. the domination of the rich majority B. the domination of the masses

C. the domination of the few elite D. the domination of the most popular

40. What discipline without it, economics cannot stand alone?

A. biology B. ecology C. mathematics D. music

41. What discipline/s that provides the lighter side of life in the Social Sciences?

A. art B. dance C. music D. all of these

42. What discipline provides life’s physical energy in the study of the Social Sciences?

A. art B. literature C. music D. sports

43. What is the meaning of “new history” in social studies?

A. selective history that relates the present C. selective history that relates to
the future

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 B. exclusive discussion of history D. none of these

44. Citizenship demands the following EXCEPT:

A. commitment B. political clarity C. coordination D. decision

45. Dangerous citizenship is good because it resists the following EXCEPT:

A. conformity B. oppression C. democracy D. peace

VI. Learners’ Feedback

Are you satisfied with the results of the formative assessment and the results of the
activities and worksheets? Then, what plan do you initiate to improve it? What extra tasks do
you need to exert in order to learn more and prepare for the summative assessment which will
be one of the bases in the computation of your grades?

References

De Leon, A.P. & Ross, E.W. (2010). Critical theories, radical pedagogies, and social
education: New perspectives for social studies education. Sense Publishers.
https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=NTJscAAACAAJ&dq=De+Leon+
%26+Ross+(2010)+asserted+that+the+aim+of+social+education&hl=en&sa=X&ved
=0ahUKEwjtzOvonK3pAhXiwosBHcaHAlwQ6AEIODAC
Estrelloso, C., Cuyno, A., Gimoros, J. & Inocian, R.B. (2019). A complementation of the
labada teaching model for a gender sensitized society. International Journal of
Advanced Research, 7(1), 23-34. https://doi: 10.21474/IJAR01/8292
Herrmann, N. (1996). The whole brain business book. McGraw-Hill.
Hughes, M., Hughes, P. & Hodgkinson, I. R. (2016). In pursuit of a ‘whole-brain’ approach
to undergraduate teaching: implications of the Herrmann brain dominance model,
Journal Studies in Higher Education,42(12), 2389-2405.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2016.1152463
Inocian, R.B. (2018). Aesthetic teaching pedagogies: A voice of experience. Cambridge
Scholar’s Publishing.
Inocian, R.B., Dapat, L.C., Pacaña, G.B., & Lasala, G.M. (2019). Indigenizing and
contextualizing the use of cooperative learning strategies. Journal of Research, Policy
& Practice of Teachers and Teacher Education, 9(2), 1-18.
https://doi.org/10.37134/jrpptte.vol9.no2.1.2019
Jonhson, G. (2006). Internet Use and Cognitive Development: a theoretical framework. E–
Learning, 3 (4), 565-573. doi: 10.2304/elea.2006.3.4.565
McCarthy, B. & McCarthy, D. (2006). Teaching around the 4MAT cycle. Corwin Press.
Pacaña, N.M, Ramos, C.D., Catarata M.N. & Inocian, R.B. (2019). Out-of-field social studies
teaching through sustainable culture-based pedagogy: a Filipino perspective.
International Journal of Education and Practice, 7(3), 230-241. https://doi:
10.18488/journal.61.2019.73.230.241

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Inocian, R.B. & Inocian, L.T. (2016). Outcomes-based teaching for brain-based learning vis-
à-vis pedagogical content knowledge. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Arts and
Sciences, 4(2), 65-75.
Inocian, R.B. (2015). Quadrant modelling in teaching (QMT): Responding to RA 10533
salient provisions. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Arts and Sciences, 2 (4).
http://apjeas.apjmr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/APJEAS-2015-2.4.11.pdf
Inocian, R.B. (2015). 21st century skills in teaching economics: K to 12 Spiral
Instructional Modelling (SIM) in the Philippines. Asia Pacific Journal of Education,
Arts and Sciences, 2 (4).
http://apjeas.apjmr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/APJEAS-2015-2.4.1.01.pdf
Parker, W.C. & Jarolimeck, J. (1997). Social studies in elementary education (10th Ed.).
Merrill & Prentice Hall.
Tejada, CJ.B., Juarez, L.S., Molbog, M.M. & Inocian, R.B. (2019). Upland farming practices
basis for a culturally-based Ugmad teaching model. International Journal of
Advanced Research, 6 (12), 1066-1074. https://dx.doi: 10.21474/IJAR01/8236

ANSWER SHEET FOR OUTCOMES-BASED ASSESSMENT

8.

1. 9.

2. 10.

3. 11.

4. 12.

5. 13.

6. 14.

7. 15.

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16. 30.

17. 31.

18. 32.

19. 33.

20. 34.

21. 35.

22. 36.

37.

38.

23. 39.

24. 40.

25. 41.

26. 42.

27. 43.

28. 44.

29. 45.

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