What is Social Studies? | Social Studies Guide for Parents and Teachers | Twinkl USA

Summary

The video discusses the importance of social studies education, highlighting its role in helping students understand the world around them and prepare for civic participation in a diverse, democratic society. It outlines the five key components of social studies—geography, history, culture and society, civics and government, and economics. For younger students, the focus is on fostering civic competence, while older students explore complex human behaviors and institutions. The video also introduces various engaging resources from Twinkl, including holiday maps, business literacy activities, and history posters, to enhance social studies learning.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Social studies explores the world and society, focusing on both historical and contemporary perspectives.
• 📚 The National Council for Social Studies established curriculum standards for K-12 education, first published in 1994 and revised in 2010.
• 🗳️ The primary goal of social studies is to equip young people to make informed decisions for the public good in a diverse and democratic society.
• 🧩 Social studies encompasses five key components: geography, history, culture and society, civics and government, and economics.
• 👦 For younger students, lessons emphasize a basic understanding of the world to foster civic competence as they mature.
• 🗣️ Teaching social studies encourages children to express their opinions positively and constructively.
• 📥 Twinkl offers numerous resources for social studies, easily accessible by grade level on their website.
• 🌎 One resource includes a map of holidays around the world, promoting global awareness of winter celebrations.
• 🍋 Another resource focuses on business and financial literacy through a lemonade stand activity pack to inspire creativity.
• 🏞️ Activities for older students include exploring landforms and bodies of water with comprehensive informational packs.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of social studies according to the National Council for Social Studies?

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.

What are the five components of social studies?

The five components of social studies are geography, history, culture and society, civics and government, and economics.

How does social studies education differ for older versus younger students?

For older students, social studies deals with human behavior, resources, relationships, and institutions, covering areas like history, geography, sociology, politics, economics, and anthropology. In contrast, younger students focus on a general understanding of the world and civic competence.

What is the significance of civic competence in social studies education?

Civic competence is significant as it prepares students to participate in democratic public life and helps them understand and appreciate diversity as they grow.

What type of resources does Twinkl offer for teaching social studies?

Twinkl offers a variety of social studies resources, including holiday around the world maps, business and financial literacy activity packs, and informational displays about historical topics.

Can you provide an example of a fun activity for social studies from Twinkl?

An example of a fun activity is the holiday around the world map, which allows students to explore winter celebrations globally.

What educational level does the National Council for Social Studies framework apply to?

The framework provided by the National Council for Social Studies applies to K-12 education.

What resources can teachers find related to landforms and bodies of water on Twinkl?

Teachers can find an activity pack that includes an informational PowerPoint, flashcards with photographs, worksheets, quizzes, and more related to landforms and bodies of water.

What is included in Twinkl's lemonade stand resource pack?

The lemonade stand resource pack includes a collection of worksheets aimed at encouraging creativity in students through a lesson on business and financial literacy.

Where can teachers access Twinkl's social studies resources?

Teachers can access Twinkl's social studies resources by visiting twinkl.com, choosing their grade level, and clicking download.