The Georgia Department of Education recently approved the Georgia Standards of Excellence to replace the Georgia Performance Standards. This paper will compare and contrast the elementary social studies section for the Georgia Standards of Excellence and the Georgia Performance Standards. This will be accomplished by noting the similarities and differences for each set of standards and by revealing the significant changes towards a more discipline-centered approach in the social studies curriculum.
First, elementary social studies goes up to 5th grade from kindergarten. It is imperative to note, both the GPS and GSE students at Kindergarten level are introduced to foundation of social studies strands. In this context, they are made to understand geography, history, economics and civics. This is beneficial to the students as it equips them with basic knowledge like; where they are in the world, symbols of the national flag, the national holidays and amongst others. More importantly, the students are taught the importance of being …show more content…
This can be attributed to the fact that GSE is more detailed and sequential as compared to GPS. For instance, in Kindergarten GSE has made it easier for students to process information related to social studies. This has been made possible by introduction of information processing skill where the student can locate and analyze information before synthesizing the information related to social studies. It is should be noted that this skill is not present in GPS. More importantly, GPS has devised a more systematical approach in terms of developing the skills of the students in elementary level as the syllabus gradually prepares the student to the next topic unlike the GPS, which was bit more abrupt. This can be seen in third grade where students are introduced to the colonization in general before being taught how it happened (Georgia Department of Education, 2016
First, elementary social studies goes up to 5th grade from kindergarten. It is imperative to note, both the GPS and GSE students at Kindergarten level are introduced to foundation of social studies strands. In this context, they are made to understand geography, history, economics and civics. This is beneficial to the students as it equips them with basic knowledge like; where they are in the world, symbols of the national flag, the national holidays and amongst others. More importantly, the students are taught the importance of being …show more content…
This can be attributed to the fact that GSE is more detailed and sequential as compared to GPS. For instance, in Kindergarten GSE has made it easier for students to process information related to social studies. This has been made possible by introduction of information processing skill where the student can locate and analyze information before synthesizing the information related to social studies. It is should be noted that this skill is not present in GPS. More importantly, GPS has devised a more systematical approach in terms of developing the skills of the students in elementary level as the syllabus gradually prepares the student to the next topic unlike the GPS, which was bit more abrupt. This can be seen in third grade where students are introduced to the colonization in general before being taught how it happened (Georgia Department of Education, 2016