What is Social What is Social Studies?Studies?

The study of how people over time have interacted with each other and their environment in order to

live.

It includes five different It includes five different areas (strands):areas (strands):

1.Geography2.Culture3.History4.Government5.Economics

GeographyGeography

Geography is the study of people, places, and

the environment.

There two types of There two types of geography:geography:

• Physical Geography – the study of land forms• Cultural Geography - the

study of people

We use different types of We use different types of maps to study geography, maps to study geography, including:including:

• Physical Maps – show land features like mountains and rivers.

We use different types of We use different types of maps to study geography, maps to study geography, including:including:• Political

Maps – show human borders such as countries and states.

We use different types of We use different types of maps to study geography, maps to study geography, including:including:

• Population Distribution Maps – show where large groups of people live.

We use different types of We use different types of maps to study geography, maps to study geography, including:including: • Resource Maps – show

which raw materials can be found in a particular area.

Your TurnYour Turn

• What kind of map would show the border between the United States and Canada?

Political MapPolitical Map

CultureCultureCulture is the beliefs,

customs, laws, art, and ways of living that a

group of people share.

Culture deals with the Culture deals with the everyday lives of people.everyday lives of people.

• What kind of food do you eat?• What language do you

speak?• What religion do you

follow?

Your TurnYour Turn

List four more examples of culture:

HistoryHistory

History is a record of the past.

History includes the study History includes the study of:of:

• Events that have changed the way people live• People who have changed

society

We learn about history by We learn about history by studying two different studying two different kinds of sources:kinds of sources:• Primary Sources– documents

or objects from the actual time period• Secondary Sources –

documents or objects that interpret or analyze primary sources

Your TurnYour TurnMark each of these examples with a P or an S to

indicate the type of source.1.____ biography2.____ photograph3.____ interview4.____ textbook5.____ movie6.____ autobiography7.____ diary entry8.____ TV show

SSPPPPSSSSPPPPSS

GovernmentGovernmentGovernment refers to the

people in society who make laws, enforce the

laws, and settle disagreements about

them.

We focus on two different We focus on two different government models in 7government models in 7thth gradegrade• Citizen participation – describes

how much control people have over their own government and what kind freedoms they have.

• Power Distribution - describes how the government is organized. Does it concentrates power in one place or share it?

The main types of citizen The main types of citizen participation are:participation are:

• Autocratic – one person rules • Democratic – the people

rule

Your TurnYour Turn

• What type of citizen participation does the United States use?

DemocraticDemocratic

EconomicsEconomicsEconomics is how people manage their resources

by producing, exchanging, and using

goods and services.

All societies benefit from All societies benefit from tradetrade, the voluntary , the voluntary exchange of goods and exchange of goods and services. services.

Goods and services are Goods and services are produced using the three produced using the three basic types of resources:basic types of resources:

• Natural Resources – raw material from nature• Human Capital – labor done

by people• Capital Goods – tools,

factories, technology and land

Your TurnYour Turn

List one example of each type of productive resource.• Natural Resources:• Human Capital:• Capital Goods: