Social Studies
Of or relating to human society
and the welfare of humans as
members of society.
Created by Karen Rouse
West Sylvan Middle School, Portland Public Schools
September 2003
History
Sociology
Geography
Social Studies
Of or relating to human society and the
welfare of humans as members of society.
Political Science
Anthropology
Psychology
Economics
History
www.lib.ohio-state.edu/bslweb/ BookofDays2.html
• Studies the past (at least
20 years ago!).
• Looks at the causes and
effects of events.
• Tracks what changes and
what stays the same
(change and continuity).
• History locates events in
time.
• Historians work with
records – primary and
secondary documents.
Geography
5 themes of geography
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Location – where is it?
Place, regions, landscapes – what
is it like there?
Human systems - how do people,
goods and ideas move from place
to place?
Environment and society – how do
people interact with the physical
environment?
Uses of geography – how does
geography help us interpret the
past, understand the present and
predict the future?
Political Science
Political scientists strive to
understand political /
government systems. They
study the past, bring it into
present and predict the future.
Political systems include:
Anarchy
Theocracy
Monarchy
Democracy
Dictatorship
Representative
democracy
oligarchy
http://www.costumes.org/history/renaissance/norris/Plate%20XXXVIII%20-%20Queen%20Elizabeth%20-%201588%20-.JPG
Political Science
What is the best form of government? Why?
officialanarchy.iwarp.com/
www.ganesha.org/hall/ gallery.html
www.senate.gov/.../art/artifact/ GraphicArt_38_00027.htm
www.learn.co.uk/yvote/glearning/ cynicism.htm
www.englishhistory.net/tudor/ monarchs/boleyn.html
www.time.com/time/poy2001/ photo/hitler.html
Economics
How do individuals and
societies choose to use
the scarce resources
available?
Scarcity
Choice
Supply & demand
Opportunity cost
Economics
United States
http://www.stanfordhospital.com/directions/publicTransport/
China
http://www.dellavita.com/china/bicycles.htm
How do these images reflect
Choice
Scarcity
Supply and demand
Opportunity cost
Psychology
 The study of
individual behavior
 Individual identity:
• Who am I?
• Where do I fit?
• What do I want?
Anthropology
www.paulweinberg.co.za/ features/masai.htm
The Masai are a famous warrior tribe in
Kenya whose lives center around herding
cattle. The Masai believe the blood makes
them very strong.
Asks: what is
culture?
Anthropologists role
is to describe what
she or he observes
without judgement.
Emic – insider’s
perspective
Sociology
www.bu.edu/sociology/
 What are the relationships between,
among and within groups within one
society?
 How do people acquire social status
in groups?
 Groups operate through NORMS,
and NORMS are kept steady
through SANCTIONS.
 Social Institutions in all societies:
Family, education, religion,
government, economy
 Sociologist’s role is to analyze the
relationships and make
recommendations.
 Etic – outsider’s perspective
Sociology
 In your table groups, brainstorm the social groups
at this school.
 Choose one group to focus on.
 What are the norms for this group?
 What are the sanctions used to keep members “in
line”?