This document discusses the features and criteria of a good social science textbook. It begins by defining textbooks and their importance in education. Some key criteria for a good social science textbook include being child-centered, using clear language suitable for the reading level of students, being well-illustrated, and promoting critical thinking. Textbooks should serve as a supplementary resource rather than the primary source of instruction. While textbooks can help organize course content, they also have disadvantages like being dull or superficial if trying to cover too many topics. Overall, textbooks are an important but not sole resource that must be tailored to students' abilities.

1. 1z
ONLINE
ASSIGNMENT
SUBMITTED TO, SUBMITTED BY,
MRS.SINI .K. S NEETHU B S
LECTURER IN EDUCATION, B.ED,SOCIALSCIENCE
FMTC,PALLIMUKKU FMTC,PALLIMUKKU
submitted on: …………………………

2. 2z
TOPIC:
FEATURES OF A GOOD
SOCIAL SCIENCE TEXT BOOK

3. 3z
INTRODUCTION
By instructional materials we mean the tools of
teaching and learning in and out of the class room.
Any discussion on instructional material will generally
start with the textbooks.a textbook is a specially
writtenbook which contains selective and systematic
knowledge regarding the curriculam material
prescribed.Every care is taken to maintain sequence in
the presentation of information and learning
activities.It is made simple to the degree that suits
the intended learner.It would indicate various teaching
learning devices and a rich dose of pedagogy with all its
implications that is why a textbook is said to be “the
teacher in print”.A text book differs from an ordinary
book mainly on the basis that it is basically student
friendly and also reflects the anticipated instructional
goals ,teaching learning techniques etc.
The textbook constitutes an inseparable part
of any system of education.In a developing country
like ours where even the minimum essential
requirements of class room are hardly provided,the
necessity of quality text book is evident.
As far as social science is concerned, the textbook is
an aid which is considered indispensable in all
methods adopted for its institution for the study of
the subject the role played by textbook is second only
to that of the teacher.It acts as the learner’s chief aid
and support. Generally speaking ,textbook play a more

4. 4z
important role in highschool instruction than in the
elementary grades.
PURPOSE OF TEXT BOOKS.
The following are the major purposes served by
textbooks:
1.To help the teachers:it provides useful guidelines for
day to day teaching.Suggestions for and serve as a
reference book for the teachers time companion.
2.To help the pupil:for pupil ,textbooks are must
accessible guide,reference books and all time companion.
3:To help in self teaching:the efficiency of the textbook
lies in making self teaching a possible proposition
through printed materials.
4:To provide logical and comprehensive materials:a
good textbook provides material in a logical
systematic and comprehensive form.
5.To ensure intellectual approach to the learners:it can co-ordinate
the activities and bring about the intellectual
approach of pupils.
CRITERIA FOR A GOOD SOCIAL SCIENCE
TEXTBOOK.
To be an effective aid,it must contain all the qualities of
an instructional material.A good socialscience textbook
must satisfy the following criteria.
1.Textbook should help in achieving the purpose of
learning socialscience .

5. 5z
2.It should be child-centered.
3.It should contain fluent narration.
4.Text book should have a clear and self explanatory
arrangement.
5.It should open up various avenues of thought and
study.
6.The language of the text book should be suitable for
the “reading age” of the pupils.
7.It should be well- illustrated.
8.It should be simple,interesting and attractive enough to
take the form of a self study material.
9.It should be free from indoctrination.
10.It must be up to date.
11.It should help in developing international
understanding.
12.It should promote group effort.
13.It should cater the needs of backward people.
14.It should contain a subject index at the end.
CAUTIONS IN THE USE OF TEXT BOOKS.
Some cautions are to be taken while using the
textbooks.
1.Text books to be subsidiary and supplementary ,not
primary and fundamental.

6. 6z
2.Reading a unit of the text book in the class is not
desirable.
3.The teacher should not be a mere uncritical mouth
piece for what is contained in the text book.
4.Do not expect pupils to know how to get the most out of
texts with out help.
5.Do not use text book as a means of avoiding hard work.
FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE TEXT
BOOK.
The social science text book serves the following
functions.
1.I n the primary classes, it can be relied up on the
essential information .So organised as to show order and
continuity and so presented as to be lucid, interesting and
attractive.
2.In the secondary classes, it should contain well-arranged
comprehensive knowledge required to enable
them prepare for their successful adult life. The text book
should expand its scope and size to meet the changing
conception of what Is considered educationally sound
and desirable.
ADVANTAGES OF TEXT BOOKS.
1.Text book can be great planning of courses ,units and
lessons.
2.They provide an organization or structure for the
course.

7. 7z
3.They provide selection of content that can be used as a
basis for selecting course content and determining
emphasis
4.They provide a certain number of activities and
suggestions for training strategies and tatics.
DISADVANTAGES.
 They are usually dull.
 They tend to discourage
 They are liable to be superficial,because authors try to include
something about everything and so say too little about too much.
 They do not provide for differences in pupil ability or interest.
CONCLUSION.
Text book serve as the core of instruction in many social science
programme and they are used in several different ways.Some teachers
use the adopted textbooks as the basis of instruction.Employee teaching
procedures similar to those used in the reading programme.all
instructional media including text books are resources of information
that must be geared to the capability of the students and the nature of
topics under study.
REFERENCE

8. 8z
1.”Social studies in the classroom-trends and
methods.”- P.K Sudheesh kumar and P P
Noushad,Scorpio publishers and
distributors,kerala,India

9. 9z

10. 10z