TEACHING HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES IN FINLAND Maarit Mattila Taina Sipiläinen-Veikkanen

Aims in History -To create an individual, national and European identity -To appreciate human rights and democracy -The key concepts of history include time, change, continuity and causality

Aims in Social studies -To give skills to evaluate critically documents, statistics and pictures -Training will provide students with capabilities for active and critical examination of current phenomena -To teach how to be an active citizen

Primary School (age 7 – 12) - History begins in 5th class; pupils are years old - From the prehistory to the French Revolution - All subjects are tought by class teacher - Once or twice a week; lesson lasts 45 min -Studying is free of charge; pencils, rubbers,notebooks are given to students, textbooks are reused -Methods: activities,drawings,films,stories…

History in Secondary School (age 13-16) -From the French Revolution to modern times -Specialized history teachers -2 courses a year (1 course = 30 hours / lessons 75 min) -argumentation and discussions are common teaching methods -Copies from maps, internet, - learning how to write essays -To understand which is reason, which is result

Social studies in Secondary School -Last year (= 9th class) in compalsory school -3 courses a year -”How the modern Finnish society works?” -The responsibilities & rights of citizens; taxation, student allowance… -Finances and economics; expensies of family, how to found the company? -Law and order; a visit to district court… -Social security; child benefit… -Media; familiarize to local printing office, influence of advertising…

History courses in Upper Secondary School (age ) Thematic courses; 1 course = 30 hours (the total number is 75 courses) 4 compulsary courses –Man, the environment and culture (=economical history) –European man (=cultural history) –International relations (=political history 1815 – 2011) –Turning-points in Finnish history (= 1809 – 2011) 2 – x voluntary specialisation courses –Finnish history before 1809 –Meeting of cultures: Non-European Cultures –Extras e.g. ancient history, world politics, training for the finals etc.

Social studies courses in Upper Secondary School (age 16 – 19) 2 compulsary courses –Political science –Economics 2 – x voluntary specialisation courses –Law –European Union –Extras e.g. entrepreneurship, training for the finals, etc.

The Final Exams Final exams in history and social studies are voluntary but popular The popularity of social studies is rising in the final exams In each subject’s exam 10 questions to choose from: write 6 essays, 6 hours time

Teacher’s perspective You have to advertise your courses and Motivate the students About 30 % of my courses are voluntary for the students: if you teach more courses, you’ll get higher pay You have lots of freedom to choose your methods: films, debates, cartoons, news portfolios etc. If you are active you can make projects and organize visits outside school Sometimes competition between the subjects and between the teachers

Students’ opinions (18 year olds) ”History and social studies give you general knowledge” ”You need to know some basic things from the past to understand the present” ”Finnish and international history are equally important” ”There should be more compulsary courses in social studies because they are so useful” ”The most interesting subjects at school!”

Thank you for your attention!