What is “social studies” and why is it important?

What is Social Studies? The study of geography, culture, government, economics, and history Why is it important to study each of these? Lets start with geography

Geography To be an educated citizen of a globally interdependent society, one must have an understanding of where countries are! Geography impacts why people live where they do and affects how we live our lives! Ex. Climate, jobs, diet

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Culture When we understand other cultures, we can respect them. By respecting other people’s way of life and beliefs, we are one step closer to living harmoniously with one another.

Government We need to understand how our own government works in order to effectively participate in it. It is important to understand our laws and rights as citizens We need to understand how other governments operate as we are becoming more and more globally interdependent. Current Events

History You have to know where you’ve been to know where you’re going Understanding the mistakes of the past will prevent us from repeating those mistakes in the future.

History is not just a bunch of dead guys, facts and dates. By studying the past we can make better decisions in the present and prepare for the future.

Economics Countries are dependent on one another for trade We must have a knowledge of economics to make good decisions for personal finance We are all connected!

Summary Now, summarize the information we have just discussed on your paper.