Sociology

Sociology helps students understand the complex world in which they live and develop skills for dealing with social issues and personal relationships. This unit introduces students to the diverse field of sociology and addresses the five major institutions of government, education, family, economy, and religion. Activities illustrate that humans are never too old to learn or too young to be influenced by the world; socialization affects every person. Students analyze the beliefs, values, and rules of society and how they affect one another. They expand their definition of interaction, apply interactive concepts to verbal and nonverbal areas, and express their views on social issues in a nonjudgmental fashion. Students also have the opportunity to experiment and apply the main concepts of the field of sociology. A sociology project is assigned early in the course and can be counted as a major portion of the final grade.

Lessons provide a comprehensive manual for teachers as a primary teaching tool or as a supplementary resource. The unit may be used with any high school text.

About the Series:

Social Studies curriculum units contain complete lesson plans with preliminary and follow-up work, teacher notes with background and rationale, ready-to-use worksheets, and suggested answers for student questions. These materials encourage the development of thinking, reading, speaking, research, and writing skills as well as critical thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.