NCERT Book Class 6 Social Science Locating Places on the Earth PDF Download

Chapter 1: Introduction - Why Social Science?

[Figure: Social Science themes diagram showing five interconnected themes - Theme A: India and the World (Land and the People), Theme B: Tapestry of the Past, Theme C: Our Cultural Heritage and Knowledge Traditions, Theme D: Governance and Democracy, and Theme E: Economic Life Around Us, See in your textbook]

Let's Explore

• Observe the picture above. What do you notice?
  • Where does the water in the lake come from?
  • Who made the road and why?
  • What could be the activities of people living in the small house? What could be their history? Their future?
• Write down your answers and discuss them with your classmates.
• Now, looking at the picture on the facing page, what questions come to your mind? Write them down.
• How do you propose to find answers to the questions related to these two images?

[Figure: Lake with mountain, house, and road, See in your textbook]

How are our questions above relevant to Social Science?

We live in the 21st century (if you do not know what this figure really means, you will soon learn about it). Everyone agrees that it is a particularly challenging time for humanity. On the one hand, there is rapid progress in technology, which is changing our lives in many ways. On the other hand, the world is witnessing multiple wars, armed conflicts and rising social tensions, and our planet's natural environment is under great stress. We live in an age of great possibilities but also great challenges.

[Figure: Modern city with tall buildings and road, See in your textbook]

The world over, more and more people wonder, "How do we solve the problems facing humanity? How can our societies learn to live in peace and harmony? How can we protect this beautiful Earth which we all share - and protect it not only for ourselves but also for all the species that live on it?"

Teacher's Note

Social Science is not about memorizing facts or dates. When you study this subject, you will be learning to ask good questions about the world around you, just like the "Let's Explore" section does. Think of it as detective work: you observe something (like a road, a building, or a community), ask "Why?" and "How?", and then use what you learn to understand your society better.

These fundamental questions are simple, but the answers are not. They cannot be simple, because human societies are very diverse and complex. If we wish to find answers to such questions and help build a better future, we first need to understand our world, and human societies in particular. That is what Social Science is all about.

You may wonder whether this is a 'science' like, say, physics or chemistry. It is not. The discipline does use scientific

Teacher's Note

Social Science uses methods similar to other sciences - observation, evidence, and reasoning - but it studies people and societies instead of atoms or chemicals. When you read a history source, analyze how a government works, or study how people earn a living, you are using the scientific method to understand human behavior and society, even though the subject is not "science" in the physics sense.

Key Points

• Social Science helps us understand human societies, their challenges, and how they change over time by asking questions about the world around us.
• The questions Social Science asks are about real-life issues: how people live, where they came from, how they govern themselves, what work they do, and how their culture and beliefs shape their societies.
• Social Science is not the same as physics or chemistry, but it uses similar methods of careful observation, evidence, and logical reasoning to study people and communities.
• Understanding our world through Social Science helps us think about how to solve problems, live together peacefully, and protect the Earth for ourselves and future generations.

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