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Social Studies in the New Zealand Curriculum Social Studies Homepage
 

The Essential Skills


The essential skills are developed and practised through the social studies processes. The following table provides examples of the relationship between the essential skills and the three social studies processes. These examples from The New Zealand Curriculum Framework are illustrative only. Many of the essential skills can be related to more than one process.

Examples Showing the Relationship between the Essential Skills and the Social Studies Processes

 

  Inquiry Values Exploration Social Decision Making
Communication Skills communicate confidently and competently by listening, speaking, reading, and writing develop skills of discrimination and analysis in relation to the media, and to aural and visual messages from other sources argue a case clearly, logically, and convincingly
Numeracy Skills analyse and respond to information in graphs, tables, charts, or percentages understand information which is presented in mathematical ways organise information to support logic and reasoning
Information Skills gather and process information from a range of sources identify, describe, and interpret different points of view, and distinguish fact from opinion present information clearly, logically, concisely, and accurately
Problem-solving Skills inquire and research, and explore, generate, and develop ideas analyse problems from a variety of different perspectives identify, describe, and redefine a problem
Self-management and Competitive Skills manage time effectively develop the skills of self-appraisal and self-advocacy develop constructive approaches to challenge and change, stress and conflict, competition, and success and failure
Social and Cooperative Skills develop good relationships with others and work in cooperative ways to achieve common goals learn to recognise, analyse, and respond appropriately to dis-criminatory practices and behaviours take responsibility as a member of a group for jointly deciding actions and decisions
Physical Skills learn to use materials effectively and safely   develop specialised skills related to cultural activities
Work and Study Skills work effectively, both independently and in groups take increasing responsibility for their own learning and work make career choices on the basis of realistic information and self-appraisal



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Contents

Foreword

Introduction

The Aim of Social Studies Curriculum

The Structure of the Social Studies Curriculum

Planning Programmes for Social Studies

The Strands: Achievement Objectives and Indicators

The Processes: Achievement Objectives and Indicators

Selected Glossary

Chart of Achievement Aims and Objectives