This document outlines the need for and components of an effective social science laboratory. It discusses how a laboratory can create a stimulating learning environment where various teaching aids and resources are safely stored and readily available. The laboratory allows different teaching methods to be utilized and saves the teacher time and energy. A list of recommended furniture, aids, equipment and reference materials is provided, including maps, charts, timelines, models, slides, flags, agricultural products, meteorological and survey instruments, graphs, projected aids and a bulletin board. The social science laboratory should be a hub for social science teaching and learning activities.

1. NISHA .P
REG NO :
SOCIAL SCIENCE(2013-14)
KTCTCTE,KADUVAYI
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2. CONTENTS
SL.NO TITLE PAGE NO
1 INTRODUCTION 3
2 NEED AND
SIGNIFICANCE
4
3 NECESSARY
REQUEREMENTS
FOR A SOCIAL
SCIENCE
LABOTORY
6
4 CONCLUSION 8
5 SUGGESTION 8
6 REFERENCES 9
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3. INTRODUCTION
The social studies laboratory is a place pupil can go to learn social science. It
should serve the purpose of a class room, library, workshop, an amateur
theatre, a student club, a stock room, all combined in to one. A social science
laboratory full equipped with modern aids will provide a pleasant social and
cooperative environment where the teachers and student feel homely.
Social science teacher has to make use of various teaching aid while transacting
the curriculum. It may be a globe, a model, a picture ,a chart, maps, projector,
film, strip, samples of pass books, balance sheets etc. to keep them in safe
custodian to ensure easy-availability. It is necessary to have a separate room
for social science.
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4. NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE LABORATORY
Most of the social science teachers adopt text book method for teaching social
science. There for they do not feel the need for having a special room for
social science instruction. They considered a black board, some pieces of chalk,
a few map and chart as the only accessories needed for social science. Since
these could be easily made available in the ordinary classroom. Such teachers
do not appreciate the need for social science laboratory. The effectiveness of
the social science will be very much increased if all these aids together with
other supporting materials and facilities are made available for use in a separate
laboratory.
The laboratory can be used for serving following functions.
1. CREATE A SPECIAL ENVIRONMENT
A special environment conductive for effective curriculum transaction. It
would be create interest among learners. A special room creates a
proper social climate, which helps in developing a stimulating learning
environment.
2. ENSURE PROPER AND SAFE STORING OF AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS
The audio-visual aids not only to be procured but also to be kept under
safe custody. This is the responsibility of the teacher for which he can
seek the co-operation of the students. It develops a feeling of belonging
among students.
3. MAKES ALL AIDS READILY AVAILABLE AT ONE PLACE.
If the different audio-visual aids-some of which may be hard ware are
store in different places, the social science teacher have to get these
collected from the various places while teaching. Their safe custody also
will be quite difficult. But if all these are stored and arranged
systematically in a social science laboratory, the pupil can be
demonstrated as and when required in the course of the class.
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5. 4. SAVE TIME AND ENERGY
It will save valuable time and energy of the teacher.
5. CREATE AND MAINTAINS ANEFFECTIVE ATMOSPHERE
It will help in creating and maintaining a much needed conductive
atmosphere for social science learning.
6. FACILITATE THE USE OF VARIOUS TEACHING METHODS
All methods in teaching social science like problem solving, play way
method, project, discussion etc. require special articles or special seating
arrangement, which is possible only in special room.
There is no fixed specification for the area of a social science laboratory.
It should be spacious enough to contain all the instructional aids and to
accommodate the students of a class. It will have to larger than an
ordinary classroom with a few basic essentials such as good lighting and
ventilation, adequate number of convenient book, cause and other
storage facilities, proper arrangement of these are essential, the wall-space
could be utilized for display of the chalk board, bulletin board,
models, maps and book shelves. The arrangement as to provide an
inviting and stimulating atmosphere. The arrangement gives an
impression that something interesting is happening in the room.
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6. NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS FOR S SOCIAL SCIENCE
LABORATORY
These should be the following equipments in the social science
laboratory.
1. FURNITURE
Necessary items of furniture are working tables chairs, shelves,
stands, maps-racks, almirahs, black board, white board etc. the table
should be small and flat and these could easily rearranged for group
work. The general activities related to learning process should
effectively arrange in a laboratory. Furniture should be provided with
storage facilities for books, pictures etc. the room also used for the
purpose of demonstration. It should be equipped with atlas a table
dictionary, a memorandum pad and a dek-blotter. A permanent
projection screen may be fixed above the black board. The windows
should be provided with dark curtains to be used in the case a film is
to be screened.
2. AIDS AND EQUIPMENTS
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7. a) MAPS
Historical, economic geographical, political social and pictorial map
of all countries.
b) CHARTS
Different types of generating chart, flow charts, tabulation charts,
time charts, relationship chart etc. need to be provided.
c) TIME LINE
Time line should provide with a run half –way along the wall. It
should be painted or made of either the hard- board or card –
board. The pictures of important persons to familiarize with time
gap between the lives of great persons.
d) TIME GRAPH
To show the gradual incidental rise and fall of dynastic, the
progress of rival powers, ideas and cultures, personalities and
movements time graph provided in laboratory.
e) MODELS
Models depicting dams and projects the solar system, motion of
earth, changes of seasons should placed. Sculptures of great
personalities models of important structure etc also helpful. Many
of these can prepare by the pupil under the guidance of the
teacher. Goods made out of cloth, pottery, wood, mental, stamps,
coins, etc. also will be useful.
f) SLIDE ALBUM
Slides showing architecture, sculpture, painting, dancing, music, etc
should be there.
g) FLAG
Flag of different nations of the world may be provided with
explanatory notes.
h) AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT
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8. Rice, wheat, millets, tea, oil seeds, fiber etc. rocks, stones and
minerals can be collected and arranged after processing for
presentation.
i) METEROLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS
Rain gauge, wind vane, barometer, tube barometer, and centigrade
thermometer, wet and dry bulb, thermometric are a few among
these.
j) SURVEY INSTRUMENTS
Plane tables, spirit level, box compass, tripod, poles, flags, chain
and arrows, prismatic compass, survey field book. Tape, scale or
foot rule compass, driver, protractor etc, will be required for
providing practical exposure to surveying.
k) GRAPHS AND DIAGRAMS DEPICTING STATISTIAL DATA
Wheel diagram, the bar graph
l) PROJECTED AID
The film projector, film strip projector, magic lantern, epidiascope
etc.
m) REFERENCE BOOK
Good books and novels on history, economics, sociology,
geography, anthropology, etc. and autobiographies and
biographies, travel stories and social science encyclopedias should
be always available when the subject being taught.
n) BULLETIN BOARD
Relevant writings and pictures, cartoons, newspaper, reports,
related to the curriculum materials being handled in the classroom
can be displayed on the bulletin board.
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9. It is of utmost importance that the social science laboratory
becomes the hub of social science teaching and related activities in
school. It will enable the teacher to produce dynamic and lively
interactions among physical things and students. The impression
thus gained will sustain for ever and hence will be transferable to
all related walks of life.
The social science laboratory should serve the purpose of a
classroom, a library a work shop, an armature theatre, a student
club, a stock room all round in to one. It should grow steadily and
constantly in the richness of instructional inputs. It becomes a
centre for activity for all students and teachers of social science
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10. REFERENCES
1. Noushad P.P, Sudheesh Kumar’ social studies in the class
room’, trends and method,” Scorpio Publisher, 2009.
2. Sivarajan. K, Thulasidharan T.V and Vijayan N. K,’Social science
Education’, Methodology of teaching and pedagogic analysis.’
Calicut University’, 2008, P,NO- (184-85).
Web sources
www.sgadce.org
www.ssil.uoregon.edu
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