Back to: Jss2 Social Studies (NVE)

Content of Social Studies.

Meaning of Contents of Social Studies

Social studies is a subject that encompasses a range of topics, ideas, and themes. These contents are organised into chapters and units, similar to the way different ingredients are added to a soup to create a desirable flavour. The goal of social studies is to understand and develop a good society by exploring various concepts and propositions. It is important to note that social studies involve studying the behaviours and actions of people within a society, as well as the physical environment. The subject’s content is derived from the activities and actions performed by individuals in society, forming the foundation of the study of social studies.

Social Studies Contents

1. Facts: Refers to something that has occurred or is found to be true, tested through experience and science. It can be a statement that is verifiable and distinguished from opinions or falsehood.
2. Concepts: Refers to an abstraction, general notion, or idea formed by combining all characteristics of something. It means bringing out an idea from thought and giving a thorough meaning to the idea.
3. Generalization: Refers to a statement that may be true in some situations but not in every case. It is the process of formulating general concepts after considering certain factors.
4. Skills: Refers to the ability to carry out a task within a given time frame with predetermined results. It can be natural or acquired and divided into general and specific domains.
5. Values: Refers to important and lasting beliefs shared by a cultural group about what is good or bad, desirable or undesirable. Values have a major influence on a person’s behaviour and attitude
6. Ethics: Refers to the moral principles of a particular tradition, profession, or group of individuals. It is a set of rules designed by people on how they want to be regulated or directed
7. Attitude: Refers to a predisposition or tendency to respond positively or negatively towards an idea, object, person, or situation. Attitude influences an individual’s choice of action and responses to challenges, problems, rewards, and incentives

Components of Social Studies Contents

1. Social studies content is made up of three distinct components, namely cognitive, affective, and psychomotor contents. 

2. Cognitive Contents: In social studies, cognitive contents refer to mental processes that involve the acquisition, organization, and application of knowledge. These processes include attention, memory, judgement, evaluation, reasoning, and decision-making. It involves the use of existing knowledge to generate new ideas and insights and is a critical stage in information processing.
3. Affective Contents: Affective contents are social studies content that relates to emotions, feelings, and motivations towards problems, situations, thoughts, and people. It includes attitudes, values, beliefs, and perceptions that shape individuals’ behaviour and decision-making in social contexts.
4. Psychomotor Contents: In social studies, psychomotor contents refer to content that involves physical movement and skills. These contents help to develop and refine motor skills, as well as enhance physical dexterity, coordination, and strength. Examples of content in this category include skills such as drawing, writing, dancing, and playing musical instruments.