Lesson 3 (Why Study Social Studies)

Lesson 3: Why Study Social Studies?
Intended Learning Outcome
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

1. Write an explanation on the meaning of Philosophy;
2. Discuss the Philosophy of Social Studies;
3. Show the importance of Social Studies in the present time.
Introduction
Good day! How’s your studies so far? I know what you are going through right now
because of this new mode of learning that we are using which is very far from what we are
used to. I share your feeling; and let’s just pray that things will get better the soonest time
possible so that we can go back to the usual, somehow.
Anyway, let us explore more and get our understanding of Social Studies deeper.
By now, you have learned already, although in a general sense, what is Social Studies and
how it started. This time, we will understand why we study Social Studies? So, in the future
when you are already teachers, you will also ask yourselves why you are teaching the
subject.
Activity
In a sheet of paper, you write down your reflection or

answer to this question: “Why should I study Social
Studies?”
Analysis
How did you answer the question? Did you find it easy or difficult? What did you
observe in the line of questioning? In what manner did you answer the question?
Looking at how the question is being framed, we will see that it requires a specific
way of stating or writing the answer. Can the question be answered with one word? May
be, but such will not capture the whole meaning of the answer. The question may be
answered in one sentence, the least. However, it can be answered best in one paragraph or
more. Why? This is because the questions calls for an explanation; a proposition of a reason
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why we should study Social Studies. So, when we answer a question that starts with “why”,
the answer is an explanation or a reason. The answer will help us understand why; just like
when you ask your friend “Why are you sad?”
A question that starts with “why” is almost always philosophical in nature (Boden et
al., 2016). And when a question is philosophical (Rosenberg, 2018), the answer is a reason,
or explanation of what is the truth.
Abstraction
What is Philosophy? Philosophy is commonly defined as an act of love for wisdom,

an active pursuit of wisdom. But wisdom, in its fundamental sense is the pursuit of truth
(Kauka, 2018). Logically, Philosophy can, therefore, be considered as the pursuance of and
the consequent abiding in truth. Applied to our lives, we can understand deeper ourselves
if we ask philosophical questions. Questions like “Why am I here in this world? What is the
purpose of my existence? Why am I suffering? And a lot more. Answering these kinds of
questions will lead us to a deeper understanding.
So if we look into the reason why Social Studies is offered as one of the subjects to
be taught and studied by the students, then this is philosophical; the philosophical ground
or basis of Social Studies. Why study Social Studies? Social Studies program is defined in
the school curriculum as the study of the human beings and their interaction with the
physical and social environments in the past, present, and emerging future. Human
relationships are studied as students investigate ways of developing their personalities and
of living at home, in communities and in other lands (Introduction to Social Studies, n.d.)
Meanwhile, other authors described social studies as the field of study that focuses
on man in his environment, the relationships and interactions between man and his
environment, and seeks to equip him with skills, values, and attitudes needed to identify
with, and conquer the problems found in his environment to make his social life worth the
bother (Edinyang, 2016). In the Philippines, for example, Makabayan aims to cultivate
Filipino learners to have a healthy personal and national self-concept (Serafico-Reyes, et al.,
2019). Social studies provides curricular opportunities to explore diversity-related topics
relevant to students’ lived experiences, (Busey, 2016).
With all these descriptions, we now come to an understanding that when we study
Social Studies, man is at the center. It is a study of you and me in relation with other
individuals, and the environment; and it aim is to develop ourselves to become better
persons and members of the community. It is envisioned that after we have understood
ourselves, we will actively participate in the affairs of the society.
Social Studies aims that the students will be able to develop

positive qualities that will make them good members of the
society.
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Application
It is important to understand the reasons why things around us are happening. And
in order to understand these things, we should learn to ask questions, the right questions,
so that the truth will be obtained. We do not study Social Studies just for the sake of
studying it or to complete all the required subjects in the curriculum. Studying the subject
will enable us to understand the society where we live in; and we understand ourselves. In
social Studies, we talk about social problems and social phenomena and try to determine
the factors that contributed to their emergence, and how man is being affected or formed
by it. So, when in the future you will be teaching Social Studies, it is always your aim that in
every lesson that you will recite to your pupils or students, they will understand
themselves as well as the community where they live in,
Summary
Social Studies exists for a reason; it is made part of the curriculum in order to help
the students develop themselves to become mature and better persons. It is our
expectation that by learning about the self in relation to the environment or the community
where they live, the students will become actively involved in the community or nation
building.
Self-Learning Activity
 You think of a topic for a lesson in Social Studies about your community. It can be a
problem, or event, or whatever that interests you. You write this down in a A4 size
bond paper.
 You write a brief introduction about the topic that you have chosen.
 You identify three (3) objectives. You explain each of these objectives, what you
expect the students will learn from the lesson.
Follow Through
Well, we are done with lesson 3. Before proceeding, you answer the following
questions:
1. What is your understanding of Philosophy?
2. Based on your answer in No. 1, what now is the philosophy of Social Studies?
3. You show or illustrate the importance of studying Social Studies even in the present
time.
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Resources
Boden, M. A., Feldman, F., Fischer, J. M., Hare, R., Hume, D., Joske, W. D., ... & Luper, S.
(2016). Life, death, and meaning: Key philosophical readings on the big questions.
Rowman & Littlefield.
Busey, C. L., & Russell III, W. B. (2016). “We want to learn”: Middle school Latino/a students
discuss social studies curriculum and pedagogy. RMLE Online, 39(4), 1-20.
Duplass, J. A. (2017). The idea of a social studies education: The role of philosophical
counseling. Routledge.
Edinyang, S. D. (2016). The significance of social learning theories in the teaching of social
studies education. International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology
Research, 2(1), 40-45.
Introduction to Social Studies (A Module on Social Studies), Lawal, et al., National Open
University of Nigeria, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Kauka, E. O., & Mukhungulu, J. M. (2018). A REVIEW OF ‘INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY’.
Rosenberg, A. (2018). Philosophy of social science. Routledge.
Serafico-Reyes, Nikolee Marie & Sjamsuddin, Helius & Wiriaatmadja, Rochiati & Hasan,
Said. (2019). Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies) in the Philippine Makabayan
Learning Area: Problems and prospects in articulating social studies as a
discipline. 10.2991/aes-18.2019.33.
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Lesson 3: Why Study Social Studies?

Intended Learning Outcome

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

In a sheet of paper, you write down your reflection or

What is Philosophy? Philosophy is commonly defined as an act of love for wisdom,

Social Studies aims that the students will be able to develop

Kauka, E. O., & Mukhungulu, J. M. (2018). A REVIEW OF ‘INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY’.

Rosenberg, A. (2018). Philosophy of social science. Routledge.

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