UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS

Prepared by: Percival P. Alvarez

S.Y. 2017-2018

TOPIC/LESSON NAME Starting points for the understanding of culture, society

and politics

CONTENT STANDARD The learners demonstrate an understanding of:

1.human cultural variation, social differences, social change and
political identities
2.the significance of studying culture, society and politics
3. the rationale for studying Anthropology, Political Science and
Sociology

PERFORMANCE The learners:

STANDARD

3. appreciates the value of disciplines of Anthropology,

Sociology, and Political Science as social sciences

LEARNING 3. Analyze social, political and cultural change

COMPETENCIES
4. Recognize the common concerns or intersections of
anthropology, Sociology and Political Science with respect to the
phenomenon of change.

5. Identify the subjects of inquiry and goals of Anthropology,

Political Science and Sociology

SPECIFIC LEARNING At the end of the lesson, the learners are able to:
OUTCOMES

Understand Social, Political and Cultural change through

understanding and applying the disciplines of anthropology,
sociology and political science.
TIME ALLOTMENT 2 hours/120 minutes

SOURCES  Contreras, Antonio et.al. Understanding Culture, Society

and Politics (2016)
 Riodique, Francisco. Understanding Culture, Society and
Politics (2016)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQJnVmocbtI&t=37s
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZYq_r4VXuA&t=56s
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emMKQOFBYm0

MATERIALS Pictures, Marker

LESSON OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION (10 MINUTES): Introduce learning objectives
MOTIVATION (20 MINUTES): Activity: Video Clip Presentation

INSTRUCTION AND DELIVERY (20 MINUTES): Lecture and discussion // Picture

Perfect Activity
PRACTICE (20 MINUTES): Panel Discussion
ENRICHMENT (20 MINUTES): Reaction Paper
EVALUATION (30 MINUTES): Formative Quiz

INTRODUCTION:
Present the specific learning outcomes to the students:
At the end of the lesson, the learners are able to:
Understand Social, Political and Cultural change through understanding and applying
the disciplines of anthropology, sociology and political science.

MOTIVATION:
Activity: Video Clip Presentation
Directions: The teacher shall play video clips on sociology, anthropology and
political science. After the viewing activity, a panel discussion shall be made to
process gained knowledge and insights.

*Teacher will let the students take down notes on what they have observed on the video.

INSTRUCTION/DELIVERY:
There are saying that the only thing that does not change is change itself. This is
considered as a truism in almost all the aspects of the study of culture, society and
politics. Change has always been present not only in the history of mankind but also in
the history of the world itself. Change also has always been the springboard for all
controversies and issues that besieged mankind. Thus it will be right to assume that
culture, society and politics change all the time.
*Teacher will show a picture how Culture and society change.
Learners will try to see how change happens a short period of time. They will give out their
ideas to the class on what they have observed in the Photo being shown.

What is Social Science?

- a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human
society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of
society
Anthropology can be easily defined as the scientific study of humanity. It deals with
the study of human beings and their humanity through examination of a people’s
biological and cultural past and comparing these with that of another group or
community.

Subfields of Anthropology
 Socio-cultural/Cultural Anthropology
- It deals with the study of human culture and its influences on the daily lives
of people. It also deals with the study of the differences and similarities of
various cultures and how they correlate with each other.
 Biological/Physical Anthropology
- Studies the biological or physical aspects of human beings such as but not
limited to genetics, paleoanthropology, evolutionary science and population
diversity. These sub-fields involves studies regarding man as a biological
creature and therefore subject to the laws of biology such as heredity.
 Archeology
- Basically the study of the cultural heritage of the past through examination of
the physical remains and ruins of past cultures. It also involves the studies
regarding ancient civilizations.
 Anthropological Linguistics
- Deals with the influences of language and symbols to human culture. Without
language, there could be no culture to speak if since culture can only be
transmitted through symbols of communication.

Sociology has been defined as the scientific study of the society which necessarily
entails the study of all human activities in the society. Sociology is a broad course that
deals with all human activities inside the society including all interactions with other
human beings, social institution, social problems and dilemmas and all other social
forces inside the society.
Political Science deals with systems of government and the analysis of political
activity and political behavior.
  Political Philosophy
- It deals with the study of concepts such as politics, government, liberty and
justice. It even comprehends the most difficult and abstract questions such as
but not limited to what is the best form of government or what should be the
best formula for good policy making.
 Comparative Government and politics
- It incorporates topics such as different forms of government found in
different countries around the world with their concomitant advantages and
disadvantages.
 Public Administration
- It deals with the study of bureaucracy behind the government and the proper
way to administer the needs of the general public.
The different Social Science Disciplines
 Philosophy
- Basically studies man as an individual and its relations to other individuals
and the entire universe.
 History
- Is the study of past events as it relates to the present and even to some
respect the future.

 Psychology
- Is the study of human psyche or can be construed as the study of human
behavior. As a Social Science, Psychology deals on how man behaves in a
certain community and a given particular situation.
 Economics
- It is defined as the study of how individuals, firms and even the state itself
can effectively allocate finite resources in order to satisfy infinite human
needs and wants.

Activity: Focus Group Discussion

Directions: The teacher will let the students brainstorm with their group and
apply all the ideas they have shared on a Venn diagram about the basic concepts
and goals of Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science.

PRACTICE:
Directions: The teacher will divide the class into three groups and assign
specific learning stations for each. Each learning station shall have one Manila
paper where the students shall write their ideas on the written concepts in a two
minute time frame per learning station.
ENRICHMENT:
To help the students better appreciate the importance of the social sciences, you can
require this class activity:
What If Activity: Ask the students to imagine the consequences if we do not have the
social sciences today.
1. What will be the state of our society if people have relied simply on the wisdom
of the past and the teachings of religion?
2. If we have not developed the social sciences, will there be election? What kind of
government do we have: Monarchy (King) or Democracy?
3. How do we view and define the nature of Society, Politics and Culture?

EVALUATION:
Formative Quiz:
Part I: Multiple Choices
1. Has been defined as the scientific study of the society which necessarily entails
the study of all human activities in the society.
a) Political Science
b) Sociocultural Anthropology
c) Archeology
d) Sociology*
2. It deals with the study of human beings and their humanity through the
examination of a people’s biological and cultural past and comparing these with
that of another group or community.
a) Social Science
b) History
c) Anthropology*
d) Sociology
3. It is the study of past events as it relates to the present and even to some
respect the future.
a) Biological Anthropology
b) Political Science
c) History*
d) Economics
4. Defined as the body of knowledge that studies the art of politics and governance.
 a) Social Science
b) Empiricism
c) Political Science*
d) Social Politics
5. Basically studies man as an individual and its relation to other individuals and the
entire universe.
a) Archeology
b) Sociocultural Anthropology
c) Philosophy*
d) Science
Part II: True of False
Write T if your answer is True. And state your answer if it’s False.
1. A government is the system by which a state or community is controlled so as to
put order.
2. Social Stratification describes the relative social position of persons in a given
social Group, Category, Geographical region or other social unit.
3. Social science’s utmost goal is to answer different questions and find solutions to
problems of the society to improve human condition despite cultural, social and
political differences.
4. Cultures are a group or community which shares common experiences that
shape the way its members understand the world.
5. Anthropology is the holistic “science of man”, a science of the totality of human
existence.