This document discusses the topical approach to teaching social studies. It introduces the topical approach as organizing content around a series of interconnected topics that are suitable for students' ages, abilities, and interests. Examples provided of topics include discrete events, historical eras, and specific subjects. The merits of the topical approach are that it can be adapted for different students and imparts a sense of purpose, while the demerit is that it can destroy continuity and appropriate materials may not be readily available.