The Study of Social Studies and What It Covers

 We've all seen those pictures that consist of other pictures – that's sort of what social studies is: a collage of subjects. Because there are so many topics that can be covered within a school year, some school districts wrap these topics up under one heading: social studies. This is especially true in the lower grade levels. Some of the topics covered in social studies include history, psychology, social sciences, government, etc. The idea behind social studies is that it will provide a solid foundation for students needing to navigate a diverse world.

Because social studies offers students with a broad view of multiple disciplines, it is quite short-sighted to focus on "history" or "civics" alone. Here's a rundown of the topics that are associated with social studies.

History is the subject most often associated with social studies. History is the development of a civilization through time. Topics that students in elementary and secondary school study in history include American history, history of the Western world and ancient history. History comes from the work of historians who collect first person accounts and try to piece together what happened. At the elementary and secondary level, students rarely worry about whether the person presenting the history in the textbook has a skewed viewpoint, but this has become part of a debate in recent years. The source of the debate involves what sort of history students should learn – cultural history, Western history, history of the world? If one focuses on teaching world history, then how is it fit into a year?

Another essential subject that is taught as part of social studies is government. In the lower grades, students tend to learn only about American government. What does it mean to have a separation of powers? Who is in charge of creating legislation? Just what is an electoral college? All these questions are answered within social studies. In the upper grade levels, this information may also include a comparative study of other countries and their political systems.

Where did humans come from? Where are humans going? What are the different cultures that have existed? Most social studies courses touch on these topics by talking about ancient civilizations and Native Americans. Other topics traditionally covered under the topics of anthropology and archeology will vary depending whether the student is enrolled in a public, private, charter or homeschool. What's important is that students get the sense that there is more than one belief system and that there has been a system of technological development since the early years of humanity.

Another part of social studies curriculum is the study of psychology – especially as it impacts our relationships with one another in the world. While some high schools offer psychology courses or even peer counseling groups, most schools focus on the aspects of psychology that affect a student's performance the most. Some of the topics might include peer pressure, conflict resolution and identifying friends who might be depressed or undergoing troubled times.

Another area social studies covers is economics. Students learn about different systems for trading goods and services among societies. Students learn how to count and add money, that you need to earn money in order to purchase things, and about supply and demand. As students grow more mature, they learn about other economic structures including feudalism, communism, socialism, bartering, etc.

Geography is another part of social studies. Where are the different countries? What are the names of the 50 states and their capitals? Where is the capitol building located? What are the various geographic features of each country? Younger students focus on their locality and their state, older students begin to focus globally on the locations of different states and countries.

What's the difference between living with your nuclear family and living with your extended family? How are you related to your aunt? Why are some areas safe and other areas dangerous? Sociology is an important part of social studies. In this discipline, students learn about their family units, societal units, class systems, crime and issues like racism, sexism and prejudice.

Now that you understand the different topics that fall under social studies within the school system, on the next page, I will discuss different topics that are discussed, typically, at each grade level.