EXPLORING SOCIAL STUDIES
SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS-CRITICAL THINKING IDENTIFYING CAUSE AND EFFECT Cause An action that leads to an event Effect A result of the action Words or phrases to look for: So Because As a result Therefore Produced For the following reasons
SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS-CRITICAL THINKING MAKE PREDICTIONS Using your prior knowledge to guess or predict might happen DRAWING INFERENCES & CONCLUSIONS Inference Making an explanation based on the information or evidence you have Conclusion Similar to an inference but more information and evidence is available to make your explanation.
SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS-CRITICAL THINKING COMPARING & CONTRASTING Comparing Identifying how things are similar or the same Contrasting Identifying how things are different
SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS-CRITICAL THINKING FINDING THE MAIN IDEA Look for the most important information or idea Sometimes clearly stated in the first or last sentence of a paragraph Questions to ask???? What is each sentence about? Is there a sentence that states what the paragraph is about? What idea do the supporting details have in common?
SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS-CRITICAL THINKING SUMMARIZE!!!!! Reducing a large amount of information into a short simple form DOING RESEARCH STAAR 6 Who, What, When, Where, Why(Cause), How (Effect) Use reference books, Textbooks, Notes, Internet
SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS-CRITICAL THINKING DOING RESEARCH NEVER USE WIKIPEDEIA!!!!! Check source reliability Is the author information clearly stated? Who is responsible for the website? How recent is the website? Is the information on the site balanced? Is the information biased?
SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS-CRITICAL THINKING ORAL COMMUNICATION/PRESENTING Know your topic Never read from your PowerPoint or Poster Make notecards to refer to Make eye contact with audience members
SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS-CRITICAL THINKING WRITING ALWAYS WRITE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES Use correct grammar Do not write as you speak Do not use texting language in your writing NEVER PLAGIARIZE!!!! Put information in your own words When restating, give author credit Cite your sources
SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS-CRITICAL THINKING WRITING A GOOD PARAGRAPH State information clearly and arrange in a logical order Write your main idea in a topic sentence Write sentences that support your topic sentence Facts, examples or reasons placed in a logical order Use transition words to link paragraphs Next, Then, Also, Finally, Because, However, As a result
SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS-CRITICAL THINKING GOOD PRESENTATIONS Speak using correct grammar Include: Photographs Videos Maps Graphs Diagrams
STUDYING HISTORY THINKING LIKE A HISTORIAN We study history to learn how the past shaped our world today. Provides knowledge to participate in public life and be an informed, responsible citizen.
STUDYING HISTORY MEASURING TIME Calendars Absolute Chronology Arrange events in order from earliest to latest Jamestown, 1607 Plymouth Colony, 1620 Declaration of Independence, 1776 Relative Chronology Placing approximate dates on events that take place over a long period of time. Age of Exploration Colonization Revolutionary Era
STUDYING HISTORY PRIMARY & SECONDARY SOURCES Primary Source A document or object that was created during the time period being studied. Letters, Diaries, Official Records, Photographs and Paintings, Oral histories and interviews, artifacts. Secondary Source Information from someone not present during an event. Textbooks, Encyclopedias, Magazine Articles, Biographies
STUDYING HISTORY PRIMARY & SECONDARY SOURCES Check Sources Are they reliable? Consider the language used, verify information, research the author of the source. Point of View Creator uses their own judgements to decide which information is important. Bias An unreasoned judgement about people or events.
STUDYING HISTORY PRIMARY & SECONDARY SOURCES Frame of Reference Refers to experiences and beliefs that influences people at that period in history. Evaluate Validity of Sources Are the facts supported with evidence? Is the language of the source unemotional? Can the same information be found in another source? Is the creator of the source reputable? Does the creator of the source offer differing viewpoints?
Review Questions 1. An action that leads to an event is called a, and the result of that action is called an. 2. What would be the best diagram to use to help you organize your thoughts when comparing and contrasting events? 3. When using the STAAR 6 diagram to help organize an event, it contains what information? 4. When conducting research in history, what website should you never use? Why? 5. When presenting information to the class (via any format), you must use what? 6. What is an example of a Primary Source? Secondary Source? 7. How might biasness effect the validity of a source?
STUDYING GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS GEOGRAPHY Geography describes the Earth s land, water and plant and animal life. Study of human activity, the natural environment, and the relationship between the two (human-environment interactions). Geographers look at where things are and why they are there.
STUDYING GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS GLOBES & MAPS There are three main types of maps. Physical Political Thematic
STUDYING GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS PHYSICAL MAPS Show natural features such as landforms and physical borders; lakes, rivers, mountain ranges, and things that were around before humans Physical Borders Borders defined by a physical feature Example - Rio Grande River, between USA and Mexico
STUDYING GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS POLITICAL MAPS Show features on the earth s surface that humans created. Examples of things on a political map Political Borders borders created by governments National and State Borders, City Limits, capitals
STUDYING GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS THEMATIC MAPS Thematic maps can be tricky, there are many different kinds. They all do the same thing they show information. Some common thematic maps: Population maps Weather maps Resource maps Topographic maps
STUDYING GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS PARTS OF A MAP Title explains the subject of the map Compass Rose shows the Cardinal Directions, meaning North, South, East, and West Legend or Key - shows and explains the symbols used on the map Scale shows the true size of the objects shown on the map
STUDYING GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS LATITUDE & LONGITUDE LATITUDE Run parallel to Equator Measures North and South 90 degrees North latitude 90 degrees South latitude Equator
STUDYING GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS LATITUDE & LONGITUDE LONGITUDE Run parallel to Prime Meridian Measures East and West 180 degrees of East longitude 180 degrees of West longitude Total = 360 degree circle All lines meet at North Pole and stretch to South Pole
STUDYING GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS WHAT IS ECONOMICS? How individuals or nations use limited resources to meet their needs. How things are made, bought, sold and used.
STUDYING GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS THE U.S. FREE ENTERPRISE ECONOMY Free Enterprise A type of economy in which people are free to buy, sell, and produce whatever they want. The free enterprise system has five characteristics: private property choice voluntary exchange competition economic incentives.
STUDYING GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS THE BEGINNINGS OF FREE ENTERPRISE Adam Smith 1776, English Philosopher/Economist that defined the characteristics of Free Enterprise in his book The Wealth of Nations. Laissez-Faire Economics French term that means let it alone Idea that government should stick to National Defense and keeping the peace.
STUDYING GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS ETHICS OF FREE ENTERPRISE A free enterprise economy is considered ethical because it promotes economic freedom. Promotes freedom of choice Provides goods and services based on demand Rewards those that produce items in demand Allows people to develop talents and skills
Review Questions 1. Define human-environment interaction. 2. What are the differences between political, physical, and thematic maps? 3. Lines of latitude run parallel to what, and in what direction do lie? What exactly do they measure? 4. Lines a longitude run in what direction? What exactly do they measure? 5. What type of economy does the United States have? 6. Define laissez-faire.
GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP BELIEFS & PRINCIPLES OF A NATION A government makes and carries out laws for a society. Constitution A written plan of document that explains the role of government. Like a rule book The United States is a constitutional republic. The people are the source of power Popular Sovereignty U.S. is the oldest constitutional republic in the world.
GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT The founding documents for the United States are the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Basic Principles In Founding Documents All people are equal All people have certain rights they are born with (unalienable rights) Government s job is to protect people s rights Government gets its power from the people
GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT John Locke English Philosopher All people are created equal and have unalienable/natural rights Life, Liberty and Property Individual Rights Baron De Montesquieu French Philosopher Believed that government power should be divided to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful Separation of Powers Checks and Balances
GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP OUR ENGLISH & COLONIAL HERITAGE Magna Carta Written in 1215 in England that stressed life, liberty, and property. It was written by a group of noblemen. Limited the power of the King. English Bill of Rights Written in England in 1689 guaranteeing certain basic rights. Additional restrictions on King s power Guaranteed free elections of Parliament members Provided for the right to a fair trial and eliminated cruel and unusual punishment.
GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP OUR ENGLISH & COLONIAL HERITAGE Mayflower Compact A document signed by the Pilgrims in 1620 that stated: Their intent to settle in America Pledged their loyalty to England Set up a self government
GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP POLITICAL PARTIES & INTEREST GROUPS Political parties and interest groups work to influence U.S. government policy. They have different views on the government s role. First Two Political Parties Democratic-Republicans were led by Thomas Jefferson Federalists were led by Alexander Hamilton
GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP POLITICAL PARTIES & INTEREST GROUPS Today s Political Parties Democrats Republicans Interest Group A group of people with a common aim that. They try to influence government officials to pass laws in their favor.
GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP CITIZENSHIP A citizen is a person who owes loyalty to and is entitled to the protection of a state or nation. A person becomes a U.S. citizen by birth or by naturalization.
GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP CITIZENSHIP Any immigrant who wants to be a U.S. citizen through naturalization must meet specific requirements 18 Years or older Resident of U.S. for 5+ years Able to read, write and speak English Be of good moral character Pass a test
GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES Declaration of Independence Written by Thomas Jefferson Spells out certain rights Unalienable Rights Rights that can never be taken away Thomas Jefferson borrowed the idea of unalienable rights from John Locke and William Blackstone
GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS & THE BILL OF RIGHTS The Bill of Rights, Lists the first ten amendments to the Constitution Details Americans rights and freedoms.
GOVERNMENT & CITIZENSHIP OUR RESPONSIBILITIES Good citizens are expected to do certain things. Follow rules and laws at home, school and in the community Accept responsibility for our actions Support your family Obey the law Stay informed Vote Serve on juries Pay your taxes
Review Questions 1. In it s most broad definition, the government does what? 2. What rule book does the government have to follow? 3. What are the 3 founding documents of the United States? What principles are found in these documents? 4. What did John Locke believe? 5. What 3 documents influenced our current form of government? 6. What 2 ways can a person become a citizen of the United States? 7. What did Thomas Jefferson borrow from John Locke in writing the Declaration of Independence? 8. Who do you think the Bill of Rights (1 st 10 Amendments) protects? 9. What are 3 things expected of a good citizen?