Why study Social Studies Learning about the past
Why study Social Studies? • Learning about the past can help us avoid making the same mistakes others before us have made. • Learning about the past can help us identify patterns of behaviors so that we might break those patterns if they will not help us. • Learning about the past can help us understand what might be the best choices to make for our own lives. • Learning about the past can help us understand the concept of cause and effect. • Understanding cause and effect can help guide our lives in a positive direction. • If we apply what we have learned from the past to our lives, it can help us contribute in beneficial ways to our world society. • Learning about people from the past can help us identify what kind of person we want to be. • Learning about leaders from the past can help us choose the leaders we want for today.
Primary vs. Secondary Primary Source - a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study; these sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event
Examples of Primary Sources • ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (excerpts or translations acceptable): Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records • CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art • RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings
Primary vs. Secondary Source - interprets and analyzes primary sources; these sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them
Examples of Secondary Sources • PUBLICATIONS: Textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias • A journal/magazine article which interprets or reviews previous findings • A history textbook • A book about the effects of WWI
Vocabulary • Put word art here
Physical Characteristics • Features of a substance that are primarily sensory and measurable • EXAMPLES: area, hardness/smoothness, color, weight, shape, volume
Human Characteristics • The human-designed features of a place or places that are related to humans • EXAMPLES: cities, parks, roads, canals and farms; also includes the food humans eat, the religions, cultures, and transport and communication networks.
Region • Areas that are alike in uniformity (consistency) – Regions can be categorized by climate, culture, economy, or many other things – We will see this when we talk about the regions of the United States
Perspective • A particular attitude toward someone or something – A point of view
Bias • Unfairness in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
Validity • the quality of being logically or factually reliable
Activity #1 • In groups of 4, you will divide up the United States in to 7 regions. (Don’t forget Alaska & Hawaii) – Look at the map on the board for help. – List the problems you encountered in coming up with your regions. • Discuss how you think that you would divide up the United States by region • Once finished, 1 group member will tell how you decided to divide them, and why.
Regions of the United States • • Southwest Northwest Midwest Southeast Mid-Atlantic Northeast
US Southwest
US Southwest • Characterized by dry, arid deserts
US Northwest
US Northwest • This area tends to have a cool, wet climate.
US Midwest
US Midwest • has a common agricultural economy emphasizing the production of corn, hogs, and soybeans
US South
US South • This region could be categorized by its hot, dry climate
US Southeast
US Southeast • The southeastern region of the US is loosely defined by its culture. In general thought of as a place that has “southern hospitality” and a laid back, slow-paced lifestyle. • The climate is warm and humid.
US Mid-Atlantic
US Mid-Atlantic • This region houses some of the most historic cities in the US: Washington, D. C. , New York City, and Philadelphia. • It is generally a cooler climate than that of the southeast, but experiences all seasons.
US Northeast
US Northeast • Characterized by a colder climate and usual annual snowfall.
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