EDU 571 TEACHING SOCIAL

STUDIES IN ELEMENTARY GRADES

(CULTURE AND GEOGRAPHY)
MODULE 1
Lesson Title:
Knowing My Country: Our
Country

Lesson Objective:
At the end of the lesson, I
should be able to understand
the concept of a country.
Instruction to Students:

Divide the class into five groups. Assign someone from each
group to supervise. Each group must share as many ideas as
they can about our country, the Philippines through a
concept map which is attached below. At the center of the
concept map will be the main topic, the Philippines. Write the
ideas in the concept map on a whole sheet of paper. Once
they’re done, call someone from the group to share their
ideas with the class.
TO PONDER:

1. What is a country?
2.What makes a country?
3.What makes the Philippines a
country?
What are the 4 things that make a country?

These are a settled population, a defined territory,

government and the ability to enter into relations with
other states. These were originally set out in the 1933
Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of
States. Even now, these are the benchmarks used by the
UN when judging whether to admit a new member.
Looking at the world map, you would see a lot of
countries. These countries are part of a continent. Like
Asia, there are many countries in it. They are divided by
regions. One of which is the Southeast Asian region
where the Philippines is a member-country.

Our country, the Philippines, has 17 regions with

provinces, towns, cities and communities. Filipinos in
each region have distinct culture and language, but love
for the country dominates whatever differences exist.
Why is the Philippines a country with a diverse culture?
● 17 regions;
● One archipelago;
● 7,641 islands (The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,641
islands that are categorized broadly under the three
main geographical divisions from north to south:
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.)
● Lesser Islands during high tides;
● Indigenous people around and
● Culturally-diversified
“What makes a country?
Is it the same as a state?
What about a nation?”
These three words have different meanings but sometimes, the
words, “country” and “state” are used interchangeably.

A country is a self-governing political entity or a region or land

defined by geographical features and political boundaries, while a
nation refers to the group of people who shares the same culture,
language, institutions, and history. A country is a state if it has
sovereignty over its territory and population.