Part 2:

Social Studies Skills

#1Making Inferences

& Drawing Conclusions

Objectives:1. Identify strategies used to make inferences

2. Analyze different clues that help people understand passages and images

3. Investigate how to form a conclusion based on the clues gathered

Inference= educated guess

Context clues – use the clues given in the sentence or passage to find the meaning

Contrasts – use antonyms (opposites) to find the meaning of the unknown word

#1- Making Inferences & Drawing Conclusions

Implied= suggested or hinted at

Context= words or sentences around a particular word or phrase that help someone understand its meaning

Antonym= A word that has the opposite meaning of another word

Contrasting= Comparing in a way that makes the differences clear

#1- Making Inferences & Drawing Conclusions

#2 Analyzing Data to Understand

ChangeObjectives:

1. Identify key questions to ask when analyzing data2. Analyze how historians use numerical data to

understand changes in society3. Draw conclusions about societal changes based on

data analysis

Pattern= A sequence found in comparable

events

Causal Relationship= A relationship in which the first event causes the second event to happen

Assets= Property owned by a person or group

Trend= The general course or direction that something is taking

#2 – Analyzing Data to Understand Changes

Historians study how society

changes over time To identify trends and patterns To plan for the future To prevent crises & reduce the

impact of harmful events To make inferences about causal

relationships (one event leads to another)

#2 Analyzing Data to Understand Changes

What do historians study?

Population data Fertility rate = average number of children born

to a woman during her childbearing years **needs to be 2.1 for population to stay the same

Mortality rate = the number of deaths relative to the total population

Data about societal structures Economic data (wealth distribution) Education data (literacy rate)

#2 Analyzing Data to Understand Changes

#3 Common Issues Across Places &

Times

Objectives:1. Identify common issues that affect societies across

different locations and times2. Explore how societies choose different approaches to

solving common issues

Common Issues = events that happen

over and over again in the same country (history repeats itself) Environmental Issues: pollution,

tsunamis, earthquakes Economic Issues: poverty, unemployment Social Issues: discrimination, education,

disease, flu epidemics Political Issues: taxes, terrorism, elections

#3 Common Issues Across Places & Times

First, brainstorm different things we

think might affect the issue Next, do some research to gather

facts BEFORE we draw a conclusion Compare & contrast

#3 Common Issues Across Places & Times

Death Toll= The number of deaths resulting from a

particular event

Richter Scale= The scale most commonly used for measuring the strength of an earthquake

Outbreak= The sudden occurrence and rapid spread of a disease

Contaminated= Unclean; polluted, dirty, or diseased

Rehydration= The restoration of bodily fluids that have been lost due to dehydration

#3 Common Issues Across Places & Times

#4 Connecting the Past to Present

IssuesObjectives:

1. Identify contemporary problems and issues2. Explore decisions and events that have contributed to

current issues3. Create policies for dealing with a present issue

Connecting the Past to

Present Issues= establish how something that is happening today is an effect of some events that happened in the past

#4 Connecting the Past to Present Issues

First, identify common problems in

the past and present Next, research those problems to

try to identify cause/effect as well as similarities/differences

Finally, make connections and draw conclusions about the world around us

#4 Connecting the Past to Present Issues

Social dilemmas:

Overpopulation= the number of people living in an area is too much for the environment to sustain them all

Racism= people of one skin color or ethnicity are discriminated against

Gender inequality= men and women are not treated equally in society and women do not have the same economic or educational opportunities as men

#4 Connecting the Past to Present Issues

Political Conflicts:

Revolution= overthrow leaders War= Civil War in Sudan, Iraq-

Iran War, WWI, WWII Terrorism= hijacking aircraft,

Sept. 11 attacks, London train bombings

#4 Connecting the Past to Present Issues

Economic Downturn:

Recession= temporary period of economic decline

Poverty= being extremely poor

Policy= An on-going plan of action

Development: education & literacy, clean water & sanitation

#4 Connecting the Past to Present Issues

Environmental Concerns:

Natural disasters= earthquakes, tsunamis, tremors (minor earthquakes)

Air pollution Climate change

#4 Connecting the Past to Present Issues