3. What is Social Studies?
The study of how people over time have interacted with each other and their environment.
In social studies, we have “six strands” of social studies. A strand is an area of study.

4. Six Strands of Social Studies

5. Six Strands (or pieces) to the Social Studies Puzzle
They are…
Social
History
Economics
Geography
Political
Religion

6. Geography The study of people, places, and the environment
Physical features: Continents, oceans, and landforms
Longitude & Latitude
Geography
Political features: countries & cities
Climate: weather over a period of time
The study of people, places, and the environment

7. Geography How does where you live affect how you live?
How does the physical geography and climate affect how people live, work, and travel?
What are the physical and political features of a region?
How have humans changed the environment?

8. Religion Languages Culture & Customs Religion & Traditions
as an important element in many areas of literature, art, and music
Languages
The (religious) beliefs, customs, laws, and ways of living of a group of people.

9. Religion
How does cultural diffusion change the region in which you live?
What is the belief system (religion) of the people and how does it affect the region?
How does language affect the region?
How does local culture affect the traditions/religion of the region?

10. History A record of the things that happened in the past
We learn history from 2 sources:
Primary source: document, person, or object from the actual time
Secondary source: document, person, or object that interprets or analyzes primary sources
Events that changed the way people live today
People who changed society
History
A record of the things that happened in the past

11. History How does the past shape the present?
How have people and events changed society?
How have influences of other, more powerful countries, affected countries today?
What factors caused European countries to colonize the world?

12. Economic systems: traditional, market, command, and mixed
Natural, Capital, and Human resources
Economics
Trade barriers, money, exchange rates
Entrepreneurs
The study of how people manage their scarce (limited) resources by producing, exchanging, and using goods and services. (Relating to money)

13. Economics What factors influence a country’s standard of living?
Who decides what, how, and for whom things are made? (gov’t, people, traditions)
What is the role of entrepreneurs in the economy?
How does free and restricted trade affect countries?

14. Personal freedom
Citizen participation
Political
Type of government
Structure of the government
The people and groups within a society that have the authority to make laws, to make sure they are carried out, and to settle disagreements about them.

15. Political How does citizen satisfaction impact the government?
How much can a citizen participate in their government?
Who has the power to make laws and policies for a nation?
How many levels does the government have? (national, regional, and local)

16. The study of how people in a civilization live.
Art & Recreation
the study of reality
Citizens and being civilized
the role of individuals & groups, and their relationship and responsibility to the common good
Social issues, such as poverty, crime, and public health
Social
Food, Dress, & Greetings
The study of how people in a civilization live.

17. Social What makes a person a good citizen?
What does it mean to be civilized?
Does each person in a civilization have a responsibility to “better” humanity?
What kinds of things might change the social climate of a community?
How do societal issues like poor health care, poverty and crime change a community?