Teaching Social Studies

in-Elementary Grades

CULTURE & GEOGRAPHY

Meaning of Social Studies

Social Studies is the study of man and his environment. It focuses on

making us understand the interrelationship between man and his
environment. It can be described as a subject that studies the way
man lives in his physical and social environment. It is about how man
influences his environment and how this environment, in turn,
influences him
Social studies can be defined as the study of man and his
environment. Social studies can also be defined as the totality of
man’s physical and social environment.
SCOPE OF SOCIAL STUDIES

The word “man” in the definition given above connotes

human beings while man’s environment has a huge
influence on mankind in all spheres of life. Man’s
environment affect their language, dressing, food and every
other thing one can think of in the society.
Scope of Social Studies

Basically, scope of Social Studies entails man, his

environment (physical environment and social
environment) as well as science and technology
which man uses to make his environment suitable or
conducive for him. It also entails the fact that 
Social Studies is an integrated subject
Man: In Social Studies, ‘when we say man’ we simply mean
human beings – you and I. It refers to human beings anywhere
in the world: male or female, black or white.
Man’s Environment: Environment refers to the totality of
things and fellow human beings around man. There are two
types of environment: physical environment and social
environment.
(a) Physical Environment (Natural): Physical environment refers to those
physical things (or non-humans) around man. Examples are land, river, water,
car, building etc. They are natural or man-made objects in our environment
that we can see, feel or touch. Physical environment can be divided
into Natural Environment and Artificial Environment.
(i) Natural physical environments: These are things provided by God or
nature. These include:
Water bodies: lagoons, lakes, rivers, oceans, seas, streams etc.
Relief: plains, lowlands, valleys, highlands, mountains etc.
Climate: temperature, sunshine, wind, rainfall, humidity etc.
Vegetation: forests, grasslands, deserts etc
Natural Features of Man’s Environment
(ii) Man-made/artificial environment: These are things made
by man in the environment which include roads, houses,
factories, hospitals, etc.
(b) Social Environment(Artificial) : Social environment means
the various avenues through which man interacts with other
human beings in his environment. It refers to the culture, group
of individuals and institutions with whom a person interacts
institution. The institutions man interacts with include family
institution, educational institutions political institutions,
religious institutions, marriage institution, legal institutions and
economic institutions.
(c) Science and Technology: Man has been able to influence his
environment through science and technology. Science is a
systematically-organized body of knowledge that has been
deliberately developed by man to tackle man’s problems or improve
his living condition. Technology is the correct application of science
to solve human problems. Through science and technology, man has
devised tools/machines, tarred roads, constructed bridges,
drainages, dams or buildings, etc.
In summary, Social studies as a subject is the integration of many subjects
such as history, geography, sociology, economics and government.

(i) Economics: This area deals with the way of living and managing resources in the
society.
(ii) Religion: This area deals with man’s relationship with God his creator.
(iii) Sociology: This is an aspect that deals with man’s relationship with others in the
society.
(iv) Psychology: This area deals with how man’s mind influences his behaviour in his
society.
(v) Geography: This aspect deals with man’s surrounding environment.
(vi) Political Science: This aspect deals with how man is governed in the society.
 NATURE OF SOCIAL STUDIES
There are subjects that makes-up social studies.  Such subjects includes;
1. Geography
2. History
3. Civics
4. Government
5. Sociology
6. Economics
The combination of all these subjects helps in reflecting how man uses the resources within his environment to
profound solution to his problems and improve his life generally.
More so, social studies as a subject studies how man live together in harmony in the society and how people
interact and make a great influence on one another.
Furthermore, social studies helps to know about conflicts and its causes in the society.
It gives a better understanding of the effects and ways of resolving such conflict in the society.
 Issues examined by Social Studies include:
(i) How to solve problems such as corruption, bad leadership, drug abuse
and crimes.
(ii) How to vote during elections.
(iii) How they can produce enough food for everyone to eat.
(iv) How people can work together without conflict.
(v) Why laws should be obeyed.
 Interaction between Man and the Environment
Social Studies seeks to make us understand the interactions
between man and his environment. Man’s environment influences
him. For example, the physical environment influences the types of
crops he plants, the type of food he eats, the type of clothes he
wears, etc. Social environment also influences his cultural
 practices, his religion, marriage, etc.
Man, especially through science and technology, influences his
environment in many ways. For instance, he cultivates the land for
his food and earns a living; he explores the seas and the rivers for
fishing, and he taps natural resources both for his personal use and
to earn a living.
 Reasons for Teaching/Studying Social Studies
The topic “Reasons for Teaching /Studying Socials Studies” is the same as
“Importance of Social Studies”. Hence, the importance of Social Studies include:
It gives us the knowledge of our environment.
It checks our negative attitudes towards our environment.
It makes us understand our social system and how the negative/positive
attitude of man influences the environment.
It gives us the knowledge of other cultures to have a better relationship.
It makes us to understand that we have contributions to make towards the
sustenance of our society.
It is a subject that teaches us to understand the customs and values of our
society.
Legal Basis
The current version of the Araling Panlipunan (AP) for K to
12 Curriculum was issued in May 2013, following the
enactment of Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhanced
Basic Education Act of 2013 of the last administration.
https://schoolportalng.com/meaning-scope-an-nature-of-social-studies/
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