Primary school 4th and 5th classes new (2004) social sciences content evaluation by sights of teachers (Trabzon city sample)

Today, most countries around the world have been following the newest strategies to reach the highest civilization level and applying the recent developments into their education system. For this purpose, deep- seated variations have been presented and put into practice beginning from the fundamental subjects The aim of this work is to do the pre- evaluation of the New Social Studies Program carried out in Primary Education 1st grade (of 4th and 5th classes) in 2005-2006 education- teaching term. The definition of education is explained and education system in Turkey is presented in the first part of our work. Then the concept of social studies is explained and the importance of social studies lecture in Turkish education system has been stated. In the last part why the curriculum has been changed is overviewed and the principals of the old and new program have been given. In the second part the units of the old and the new social studies curriculum are introduced and the objectives of both curriculums are explained. Then the aspects of new program are presented and the importance of structuralism in it has been mentioned. In the third part, the results of a survey have been given. Trabzon has been chosen as a model city. Social studies lecture firstly was adapted to Turkish education system called in different names in 1926 and after such various changes it has its shape in new curriculum program today. In order to evaluate the program carried out a questionnaire was given to eighty- six teachers selected in different areas of the city, especially from the city center, towns and villages. Forty questions were asked to the teachers carrying out the new program and recognizing the program much closer. The results of it have been checked with SPSS program. Each question has its own graphic and some questions? detailed graphics have been examined. In short, these results have been achieved in our questionnaire: new points of view have been obtained by New Social Studies Curriculum. The students who only make the repetition of the past and are equipped with memorizing the concepts face a program that states daily subjects intensely by not using the old program any more. In this program, students become more active and are led to a method that they can learn by doing and experiencing. Students become willing to discover and research with the projects and performance tasks they do and also they make students think critically and realize their selves. Also the program aims to get the students to acquire the ability to take responsibility by their own wishes with the workbooks except main course book. Furthermore, New Social Studies Curriculum has made positive results in many subjects except the ones mentioned above. However some negative aspects of the program are seen. With that respect the subject the teachers dwell on most is that the new curriculum doesn?t address our education system. Moreover crowded classrooms and insufficient materials in schools especially not having internet connection cause some problems in applying the program.