SOCIAL SCIENCE CLASSROOM

Any discipline of science that deals with human behaviour in its social and cultural aspects. The social sciences include cultural (or social) anthropology, sociology, social psychology, political science, and economics. Also frequently included are social and economic geography and those areas of education that deal with the social contexts of learning and the relation of the school to the social order. History is regarded by many as a social science, and certain areas of historical study are almost indistinguishable from work done in the social sciences. Most historians, however, consider history as one of the humanities. It is generally best, in any case, to consider history as marginal to the humanities and social sciences, since its insights and techniques pervade both. The study of comparative law may also be regarded as a part of the social sciences, although it is ordinarily pursued in schools of law rather than in departments or schools containing most of the other social sciences.

For every subject a separate room is essential. For teaching literary subjects ordinary rooms may serve the purpose but for teaching of subjects like Political Science/ political science a separate room is essential. Because of financial difficulties it is not feasible for every school to have a separate Social Science room but it is desirable to have it and equip it with suitable material (equipment). In the absence of a Social Science room it would be difficult to collect all the material, required for Social Science teaching, at a place and it is practically impossible to take these things from one place to another.

Besides in the absence of a separate room teacher will not get congenial atmosphere which is very inevitable for effective teaching. It has been observed by M.P. Moffatt, “Classroom furnishings and their arrangements have direct bearing upon the quality of results obtained. Satisfactory outcomes can be expected from any classroom situation only when adequate facilities are provided. It should be furnished to give a suitable environment for receiving and practicing social studies skills.”

A provision of a special room for social science and Social Science is desirable because of the following considerations:

• Providing a fast and ready functional environment by making available work room for the students.

• Introducing variety in teaching methods and facilitating the use of teaching aids readily and easily.

• Giving ‘home of their own’ to teachers for developing inevitable for the subject and faith in themselves and students.

• Creating and maintaining an effective teaching – learning environment.

• Saving energy and time in carrying round equipment like charts, models, maps, pictures and projectors etc.

Significance of Social Science Room

Social Science of education proves that Social Science as a subject was taught in a general classroom. No separate room was provided for the teaching of this subject. Teachers who had no idea of the technique of teaching Social Science were teaching this subject. The only teaching procedure followed by such teachers was the textbook reading method. Students read the textbook in the class and the teacher explained the difficult words and phrases, if any. The students therefore got confused knowledge. Modern teaching technique of Social Science, however, has come a long way from those days. It needs a separate classroom for the teaching of Social Science for the following reasons.

• Like Science, Social Science needs practical work with apparatus and materials. The Social Science teacher today is becoming more and more concerned with the facilities required for doing good work. Different types of teaching aids, textbooks, reference books, pamphlets, magazines, maps, globes, charts, projectors etc, are necessary for the teaching of history. Therefore, for the teaching of history a separate classroom with home like atmosphere is now necessary.

• Teaching of Social Science needs student activity and student participation. This is possible, only when the students of social science are provided with a separate classroom with pleasant educational climate. The students in such a classroom can get proper incentive to learn social science

• Social Science room saves time. While teaching Social Science, the teacher gets all the materials like maps, charts, models etc. To exhibit them before the students. If there is no special room for social science the teacher will carry these materials to the general classroom, which is a time taking affair.

• The Social Science room can be utilized as a workshop, where the students of social science can do some practical work.

• Satisfactory outcomes can be expected from the separate classroom situation. The teacher can provide adequate and comfortable working facilities.

• Social Science teacher allows many progressive methods like source method, project method, and play -way method for the effective teaching of history. For utilizing such modern methods a separate social science room is essential.

Essential Equipment’s of Social Science room

The Social Science room should be a spacious room wherein the students carry out both theory and practical work. The suggested size of the room is 45’X25’ and it meant for a class of 40 students which is subdivided into two groups of 20 each for practical work. For constructing such a room, walls are to be of 1’6’’ thick keeping Indian conditions in view. There must be three large windows of 6’X8’ size for proper light and ventilation. There must be two doors, one for entrance and the other for exit. There must be proper arrangements for screening films or projecting pictures. The essential equipment of a social science rooms are:

• The Chalkboard:-

The blackboard, now called the chalkboard, because it comes in a variety of colours is still the most important teaching aid for the teaching of social science. But the teacher should learn its correct use and practice constantly. Since the chalkboard lies in front of the students, it stands as a visual testimony to the teacher’s work.

• Wall Sheets:-

The wall sheets include charts, diagrams and posters on which selected information about the teaching of social science is presented in a large format suitable for use with large or small groups of students.

• Charts and Pictures:-

Charts and Pictures should be kept in the social science room as they serve different purposes. In teaching social science pictures help to illustrate and bring a sense of reality to what is taught and charts contain the lesson material itself.

• Maps:-

Maps combine the features of both pictures and charts. They are symbolised summaries of the real earth. Therefore, historical, political and social maps should be kept in the social science room.

• Models:-

Models appear just like the real thing. By the help of models the teacher can simplify real things they represent while teaching a particular topic in social science. It becomes easier for the children to learn.

• The Tape Recorder:-

The tape recorder is a piece of précised electronic equipment, which is used in the teaching of social science. /in the social science classroom the tape recorder can be used in two ways, either actively or passively.

• Bulletin Board:-

The social science teacher can exhibit some important cuttings and pictures collected either by him or by his students from newspapers or magazines on the bulletin board.

Conclusion

            The social science room provides access to a wealth of information and resources to help in our research. Social Science   include the study of sociology, social policy and welfare, legal studies , business and management studies, sports, media, gender and women’s studies, human geography, anthropology, sociolinguistics, education, politics, government and development studies.

Reference

• Techniques of Teaching Social Science “MallelaPitchi Reddy, DigumartiBhaskaraRao”

• www.wikipedia.com