Basic 8 · Social Studies · Term Preparation
Preparing for the Term in Social Studies
In this topic you will prepare for the term by recalling what Social Studies is about, practising the skills of investigation and discussion, and exploring how young people can take civic action.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain what Social Studies is and why it matters
- Practise skills of investigation and discussion
- Explain what civic action means
What you already know
- Environment and community life (Basic 7)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Environment
- Sub-strand
- Term Preparation
Introduction
Why do some communities have clean water while others do not? Who decides what happens in your town? Social Studies helps you to ask and answer questions like these.
1. What Is Social Studies?
Social Studies is the study of people and how they live together. It draws on geography, history, economics, government and sociology to explain life in the community, the country and the world. It is a practical subject, because it prepares you to be a responsible citizen. A citizen is a person who belongs to a country, enjoys its rights and carries out its duties. Your understanding of society will help you to make wise decisions, both now and when you become a voter, a worker or a parent.
2. Term Topics
| Theme | Topics |
|---|---|
| environment | water pollution, conserving energy |
| family life | family systems, inheritance |
| sense of purpose | the individual and the community, decision-making, volunteerism, human rights |
3. Skills You Will Use
| Skill | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| investigating | finding information | visiting a stream |
| interviewing | asking people questions | speaking with an assemblyperson |
| analysing | looking for causes and effects | why rubbish blocks gutters |
| discussing | sharing and testing ideas | a class debate |
| decision-making | choosing the best option | where to put a dustbin |
| presenting | sharing findings | a poster or a talk |
4. Using Good Sources
Information can come from primary sources, such as interviews, photographs and your own observations, or from secondary sources, such as textbooks, newspapers and websites. Good learners check whether information is reliable. Ask who wrote it, when it was written and why. A rumour on social media is not the same as a report from a trusted source such as the Ghana Statistical Service or the Ministry of Health. You should compare at least two sources before you accept something as true.
5. Discussing Respectfully
People may disagree when discussing society. That is normal in a democracy. Listen to the speaker without interrupting, then respond to the idea and not to the person. Give reasons and evidence for your views, and be prepared to change your mind if you hear a better argument.
New words
- citizen
- A person who belongs to a country.
- primary source
- First-hand information.
- secondary source
- Information reported by someone else.
- reliable
- Able to be trusted.
Summary
- Social Studies is about people and how they live together.
- Learners use skills of investigating, discussing and presenting.
- Good citizens check sources and discuss respectfully.
Class activity: Source Check
- Bring a news story or message.
- Ask who wrote it, when and why.
- Decide whether it is reliable.
You need: Map of Ghana, Local newspaper, Printed photographs of a Ghanaian community
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. A person who belongs to a country is a…
- A. citizen
- B. tourist
- C. visitor
- D. stranger
Show answer
Answer: citizenMembership.2. Which is a primary source?
- A. an interview you carried out
- B. a textbook
- C. an encyclopaedia
- D. a magazine summary
Show answer
Answer: an interview you carried outFirst-hand.3. Social Studies helps prepare us to be responsible citizens.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TruePurpose.4. Information you can trust is ______.
Show answer
Answer: reliableSources.5. State three skills used in Social Studies.
Show answer
Answer: Investigating, interviewing and discussing.Any three.6. Why should you compare sources?
Show answer
Answer: A single source may be wrong or biased, so comparing shows what can be trusted.Evaluation.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Environment
- Sub-strand
- Term Preparation
Introduction
You do not have to be an adult to help your community. Young people across Ghana are already cleaning beaches, planting trees and speaking up about problems.
1. What Is Civic Action?
Civic action: Things that citizens do to help solve problems in their community.
Civic action can be simple. A class that organises a clean-up, a learner who writes to the assemblyperson about a broken borehole, and a youth group that teaches about malaria are all taking civic action. Civic action differs from complaining. It starts with understanding a problem and then doing something practical and legal about it.
2. Steps in a Community Project
- Identify a problem that people care about.
- Investigate its causes and effects.
- Talk to those affected and to leaders.
- Choose a realistic action.
- Plan the tasks, resources and timing.
- Carry out the action.
- Report your results and reflect.
3. Examples of Civic Action
| Problem | Possible action |
|---|---|
| blocked gutters | organise a clean-up day |
| littering in school | set up labelled bins and a rota |
| broken classroom furniture | write to the PTA or SMC |
| poor road safety | make posters and speak at assembly |
| teenage pregnancy | invite a nurse to give a talk |
4. Working with Leaders
Change often requires working with people who have authority. In a school, these people could be the head teacher, the School Management Committee or the Parent-Teacher Association. In a community, they may be the assemblyperson, the unit committee or the chief. Speak politely and bring evidence, such as photos and figures, and offer solutions as well. Writing a letter is a good way to place your concern on record.
5. Why Young People Matter
A large share of Ghana's population is young, so decisions made today will affect you for many years. Article 41 of the 1992 Constitution lists duties of every citizen, including protecting the environment and working to develop the country. You can start to fulfil those duties now. Small actions can inspire others and build your skills in leadership, cooperation and problem-solving, which will be valuable throughout your life.
New words
- civic action
- Citizens acting to solve community problems.
- community
- People living together in an area.
- authority
- The right to make decisions.
- constitution
- The highest law of a country.
Summary
- Civic action means doing something practical to solve community problems.
- A project moves from identifying a problem to reflecting on action.
- Young people have duties and can work with leaders for change.
Class activity: Problem Tree
- Choose a community problem.
- Write its causes as roots and its effects as branches.
- Suggest one action to take.
You need: Map of Ghana, Local newspaper, Printed photographs of a Ghanaian community
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. The highest law of Ghana is the…
- A. Constitution
- B. Bible
- C. bye-law
- D. school rule
Show answer
Answer: Constitution1992.2. The first step in a community project is to…
- A. identify a problem
- B. report results
- C. buy materials
- D. reflect
Show answer
Answer: identify a problemStart.3. Young people can take civic action.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueExamples.4. Citizens acting to solve problems is ______ action.
Show answer
Answer: civicCommunity.5. Give two examples of civic action.
Show answer
Answer: A clean-up exercise and a tree-planting campaign.Any two.6. How is civic action different from complaining?
Show answer
Answer: It starts with understanding the problem and leads to practical, lawful action.Difference.
Homework
- Identify one problem in your community and write three possible causes.