The question has arisen many times in formalized education, "why do we study history?" Perhaps it would be more enjoyable to cut through the "boring" stuff and get on to those subjects we find more "exciting." The truth about history is that it cannot be ignored. If we ignore history, we ignore ourselves. As can be seen in those parts of the world where formal education is very low, an identity crisis appears.
When asked what they most desire or think about, many third world citizens answer very similarly. Many say, they'd like a job that would provide for their family. A home, or food also tops the list. In western civilization, when asked what we most want, the reply is usually more esoteric, or a want, rather than need. What then causes this difference between peoples of different regions of the world? The answer is self identity.
History is the study of who we are. As has been said on other occasions, we study where we came from, so we know where we are going. History then is a flashlight that illumines the path we take forward into the future, already charged by batteries of understanding the past. What are some common ways we can think about our past identities? Ideas are the concepts by which cultures are formed, laws that allow people to live together are made, and the betterment of a whole society occurs. Traditions are another key to understanding who we are, and from where we have come. The type of work done by a society is of import to their way of life. Work affects leisure. Leisure is noted by some philosophers to be the basis for culture itself. Finally, the place a society exists in, determines many factors with regard to their way of life. For example, arctic cultures dress differently than tropic cultures.
History is not merely the study of human interaction. It is also the study of all things that have preceded the present. To understand the times and places in which calculus, astronomy, rhetoric, and even philosophy grew and expanded is to better understand those branches of knowledge as well. This is the work of history, to understand.
 | Social studies lesson plans need to make the sometimes stuffy topic of government relevant to the lives of kids to spark their interest. |
 | There are many ways that social studies help kids understand their future roles in the local and global communities. |
 | Social studies projects can take many forms, and they allow a child's creative and artistic talents to shine. |
When you're teaching elementary social studies, it's easy to illustrate class work with local, real-world examples by going on field trips. |
Social studies for kids can be a dull exercise in memorizing names and dates. Adding a few educational social studies games to the curriculum breaks up that routine and gets kids excited about what they're learning. |
