1. Intro to Social Studies

2. Why?
Social studies is not just made up of history lessons. Social studies contains several different aspects such as geography, economics, civics and government, psychology, archaeology, anthropology, and sociology

3. Lesson 1 - Thinking Geographically
- What is geography? Geo “earth” Graph “write” - To write about and study the people, environments, and resources within a region

4. Five Themes of Geography
Location
Place
Interaction
Movement
Regions

5. Location Exact – specific location of a place
Use latitude – measure distance N and S of Equator
Use longitude – measure distance E and W of Prime Meridian
NY is 41`N/74`W
Relative – location of a place in relation to another place
NYC is located where the Hudson River empties into the Atlantic Ocean

7. Place Physical and human features
Physical – a river
Human – buildings, streets, houses
Natural resources – materials that humans can take from the environment to survive
Impact people’s choice to live, travel, or work

8. Interaction Humans have adapted to environments for centuries
For example, early Native American tribes created irrigation
Bringing water to dry lands

9. Movement
Humans often traveled throughout history to obtain the goods they need to survive
U.S. was a place for liberty; people moved to enjoy their beliefs freely
The West was full of buffalo, a very sustainable and resourceful animal to hunt

10. Regions Regions contain certain unifying characteristics
For example, the Great Plains has:
Level land
Hot summers
Cold winters
Little rainfall

11. Maps and Globes
Help people identify places, observe the sizes of places, locate landforms
Cartographers – mapmakers
Map projections – ways of drawing the Earth on a flat surface

12. Maps and History Thematic maps deal with specific topics
A political map will tell you where certain cities and countries are
A resource map may tell you which natural resources are found in a certain area

13. Lesson 2 - Lands and Climates of The U.S.
There are many specific regions of the U.S.
Pacific Coast, Intermountain Region, Rocky Mountains, Interior Plains, Ozark Highlands, Appalachian Mountains, Canadian Shield, Coastal Plains, Hawaiian Islands

14. American Rivers and Lakes
The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers are very important to the U.S.
The Great Lakes (border between U.S. and Canada)
HOMES (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior)
Rivers and lakes provide trade between regions; also establish boundaries for states

15. Climate and Weather
Climate – average weather of a place over a period of time (20-30 years)
Altitude – height of the land above sea level
Climates of the U.S.
Marine, Mediterranean, Highland, Desert/Steppe, Humid Continental, Tropical/Humid Subtropical, Tundra/Subarctic

16. Lesson 3 - The Tools of History
History only exists with historical evidence
Primary source – firsthand information about people or events
Declaration of Independence; journal of a soldier
Secondary Source – account provided after the fact by people who did not witness or participate in the event
Reading a history book with someone from today telling you about the Declaration of Independence

17. Evaluating Sources Check for authenticity Check for reliability
Is this source actually what it seems to be?
Check for reliability
Is this really what happened?
Watch out for bias representations
Leaning towards or against a certain position on the topic

18. Archaeology Artifacts – objects made by humans
Sculptures from Ancient Greece
Archaeology – the study of evidence left by early people in order to find out how they lived
Archaeologists will study the culture of people that lived in the past

19. Chronology History is easiest learned by dates in correct order
The past is linked to the present
Chronology – sequence of events over time
Absolute:
Abraham Lincoln died at 7:22 AM on April 15, 1865
Relative:
phrases like “later that year” or “within three months”

20. Eras
Era - a long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic

21. Lesson 4 - Social Sciences
Economics
Political Science
Civics
Anthropology, sociology, psychology
Social Sciences – related to human society and social behavior

22. Economics
The study of how people manage their limited resources to satisfy wants and needs
Make products for consumers
Earn profit
Trade with other nations

23. Political Science and Civics
Political Science – the study of government
Civics – the study of the rights and responsibilities of citizens

24. Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology
Anthropology – the study of how people and cultures develop
Sociology – the study of how people behave and interact in groups
Psychology – the study of how people think and behave