CONCEPTS

Teaching concepts in social studies is essential for developing students' understanding

of the world around them.
Concepts can be thought of as categories that group all events in experience.
Phenomena may be emotions, living organisms, thoughts, objects, and events. Concepts are
hooks on which can hang new information. When encountering new subject matter that does
not fit neatly on any existing conceptual hook, these conceptual hooks tidy up knowledge
structure and make learning and remembering information easier.
There are three types of concepts; concrete concepts, abstract concepts, and concept
attributes. Each concept plays a vital role in social studies instruction. But, according to the
social science discipline, although all concepts are interdisciplinary, some concepts appear
more in one discipline than in another.
Concrete concepts are directly perceived by one of the senses. Like that flag and
shelter. And, abstract concepts are things that cannot be directly perceived. Such as fear and
love. Moreover, the line between the concrete and the abstract is drawn in reality. Some may
not be perceived directly, while others may be perceived, but most are somewhere in
between. Some aspects of neighborhood and family are visible, but other important
characteristics are abstract.
And the last one is concept attributes. Some concepts are more complex than others.
What makes it confusing is their properties. In contrast, the concept of near has more
complex attributes. The study of the concept is more than identifying a single, simply
identifying skills.
In addition, there are three types of concept attributes; conjunctive, relational, and
disjunctive. A conjunctive concept has fixed a single set of characteristics that define it.
Relational concepts are stated that the most complex type of concept. Unlike conjunctive
concepts, relational concepts do not have fixed characteristics. They can be defined by
comparison with other objects. Between the least complex and the most complex concepts are
disjunctive ones. Disjunctive concepts are similar to conjunctive ones. They are characterized
by two or more alternative characteristics that define them, rather than just one.
In conclusion, teaching concepts in social studies plays a vital role in shaping
students' knowledge and awareness of society. By incorporating these concepts into their
lessons, teachers can foster curiosity, empathy, and critical thinking skills among their
students.