What is Social Studies?

Social studies is one of the main curriculum that is required for students from the beginning all the way through their advanced school years. 

Social studies is a broad subject and includes topics such as: 

• History
• Culture 
• Geography 
• Government 
• Social relationships 
• Human behavior
• Society
• Influential people

The purpose of social studies is to help develop minds to make educated decisions and be a contributing member of society. This education allows people to make informed decisions and have informed conversations. Studying human behavior is an important part of understanding why people do what they do. It allows us to be empathetic and more tolerant of others who think, act and believe differently from us. 

The world needs a lot more of that right now. Social media has given us a false confidence in learning about society and human behavior, but we are not being properly educated through the internet. Social studies is needed now more than ever. 

Why is Social Studies Important?

We need more good citizens in the world and in our society. Because of the ease of travel in the world today and an increase in immigration all over the world, societies are becoming more and more diverse as time goes on. Students need the opportunity to learn about people, civilizations, cultures, traditions, religions, governments, etc from all over the world. 

Learning about some of these different scenarios will help them to be more accepting and understanding of people around them who come from different backgrounds. Hate crime has been steadily increasing and we are aware of the racism that still exists in the world. Social studies is just one way that we can try to extinguish the problem at its core. 

How to Teach Social Studies to Kids

Kids, and adults believe it or not, learn better if there is an activity involved. Making learning fun makes learning stick in our brains. If the activities involve movement, it is a proven fact that our brains will retain it better and longer. 

Social studies can seem difficult to incorporate fun activities, but it is not impossible.If you need a few great ideas for social studies activities, look no further than this link that is provided by a retired teacher who knows just what content is most important and how to keep kids engaged. Most of these social studies activities are for younger ages, but the same concepts can be applied and adapted to different age groups.  

Social studies can cover a few sensitive topics, but it is important not to shield children from these entirely. Knowing the truth about history in our own country as well as other parts of the world will help them to grow and be empathetic. 

Making the World a Better Place

Teaching children to be more understanding will happen slowly but surely. These social studies activities will teach the fundamentals of why societies work the way that they do. The moral of the story is that social studies is an important part of the school curriculum. Don’t skip over it! The world needs more compassionate, knowledgeable, well rounded thinkers and doers. If you have a favorite social studies activity let us know in the comments below!