Applying Social Studies learning activities in the local community : the experience of one village band club

Abstract

This dissertation was an action research project where good pedagogical teaching in Social Studies was applied by the author in a local community. The chosen community was Mqabba, a village in the south of Malta, and the activities were conducted with a local kids’ club called ‘Tfal tat-Titular’ of which the author is the leader. This is a section of the village’s Society of Saint Mary King George V Band Club, and the members were children from Mqabba aged between five and eleven. Social Studies was deemed the best subject to use since, when it is effectively taught, it embodies the essential thinking skills which help children to be socialized in their community. Elements from the humanities which make up Social Studies, that is history, geography and citizenship, were used during these activities. The effectiveness of these activities was then evaluated.