Chapter 17: Conclusion

The purpose of social studies, unlike other subject areas such as language arts or mathematics, may seem abstract. The roles and responsibilities of citizens, a keystone of social studies education, begin in elementary classrooms but may not be fully realized until much later. Perhaps this is because some of the individual moments of social studies learning don’t have immediate, practical applications. However, keeping the purpose of social studies education, in general, in mind can help guide instructional decisions and highlight why this focus on big concepts and skills is so important. The primary purpose of social studies education is to “help young people make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world… [and to promote] civic competence—the knowledge, intellectual processes, and democratic dispositions required of students to be active and engaged participants in public life” (NCSS, 2010, p. 3).