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Dr. Huddleston                                                                                                                                                         W 101

Social studies for elementary school teachers is a bit more complex than some of the other course requirements for certification at the elementary level because of the many different subtopics covered. The student must develop a working knowledge of history, geography, economics, government, and psychology as well as sociological and cultural factors affecting human behavior. It goes without saying that only a small part of each of these domains can be covered in a classroom. Therefore, it is essential that the student spend a great deal of time and study outside the scope of a normal class period.

A significant aspect of the course will be the use of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies to formulate unit lessons at the various grade levels.

History is an orderly and systematic study of human activities in the past. It presents a broad field of study. In fact, you may be surprised just how wide-ranged it is. Like the social sciences (economics, political science, sociology, and anthropology), history systematically examines the behavior and organization of human beings. While sharing many qualities with the social sciences, history also possesses aspects of the humanities (art, music, philosophy, and literature). Like the humanities, history is concerned with human intellectual and artistic activities. Historians, therefore, are concerned with every aspect of the human past –its art, its government, its literature, its sports, and so on. Moreover, this past can be ten thousand years ago or one second ago.

Geography – is the study of the physical environment and human beings’ relationship to it. This includes the study of mountains, rivers, deserts, latitudinal and longitudinal positions, plant and animal life, agriculture and industrial development and so on. Social studies teachers must have a fundamental knowledge of many different fields. Geography is one of the most important fields. This is because it is not only important to know where everything is but is necessary for us to be able to orient ourselves to our surroundings so that we may better understand our place in time and space.

Economics – is the study of the ways a society satisfies its material needs. Historians studying a particular society must be able to answer such questions as, what goods and services does this society produce or gather, how does it produce them, how does it decide what goods and services to produce, and how are the goods and services distributed? Involved in teaching economics to a young child is the ability to convey complex ideas in simple terms. The use of illustrations and other visual aids is essential. The teacher must be able to devise methods to keep the children interested but at the same time show how societies trade for goods and services, how production of goods involves natural resources, capital goods, managerial skills, and technology, etc.

Government is another very common feature of human culture. Government is the institution or institutions that regulated the interaction between individuals and groups. The political structures of nations differ from one another based on the ideology possessed by the population of the area. There are a number of classifications of government as well as theories as to what the functions of these governments are. The term politics is often used in discussions of government. Politics is the actual way a particular governmental system functions while the term government emphasizes the organizational aspect. The connection between the two is illustrated by the word political, which means "having to do with government or politics."

Beliefs and values are probably the most important of all aspects of a culture since all societies possess both, and which vary considerably from one society to another. They influence a society’s entire culture and explain the history, economic structure, and political institutions of that society.

To understand this one must study the religions and ethical systems of a society. Therefore, it is essential that the student of social sciences become familiar with these aspects of societies. Religion – is the belief in a supernatural reality. There are many different forms of religions including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism Buddhism, Judaism, and many others. Religions often influence behavior by establishing codes of conduct commonly referred to as ethics. Ethics – is a code of proper personal conduct. It is a branch philosophy that tries to give answers to questions of proper conduct. Philosophy – is the rational search for knowledge and understanding of the universe, mankind, and the relationship between the two. All of us possess some form of philosophy that we commonly refer to as beliefs and values.

The object of this course is to help prepare those who are about to embark on a life's journey in elementary education. As such, I challenge each student to make the most of this course and to engage the professor and your fellow students in a useful dialogue about the social studies and teaching profession. Please feel free to come visit with me in my office in A.C. Schreiner 201R, call me either in my office (792-7286, voice mail) or at home (367-2207, answering machine), or email me at jhuddles@schreiner.edu. I have office hours scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after lunch for this class. Schreiner University is compliant with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 with respect to providing academic adjustment/auxiliary aids to qualified students. Students requiring such accommodations should contact the 504 Coordinator, Dr. Jude Gallik.