Art-based values education in social studies course: An action research

Social studies course offers students the opportunity to understand social values. In this way, students grow up to be more responsible and sensitive individuals towards their society. Therefore, the social studies course is an important part of values education and contributes to students' character development and social cohesion. Utilising art-based activities in values education enables students to establish emotional bonds and gain awareness of values. The aim of this study is to reveal the views of students and social studies teachers on the social studies course process that is handled with art-based values education activities in the social studies course. Action research, one of the qualitative research designs, was adopted in the study. The research was conducted in the spring term of the 2022-2023 academic year with the 7th grade students and social studies teacher of a public school. The data were collected through semi-structured interview forms, observation form, student anecdote book, researcher diary, teacher diary, video recordings of the implementation process and student products. The data were analysed through descriptive analysis. As a result of the research, it was revealed that the use of art-based values education activities in the social studies course enabled students to be interested in the course, to actively participate in the course, and to gain knowledge and skills as well as various values. As a result of the research, suggestions for both research and practice were explained.