Module 2: Exploring social development

Section 1: Exploring social networks

Key Focus Question: How can using role play, family trees and local experts help you explore social networks?

Keywords: role play; differences; problem solving; large classes, social networks; family trees

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this section, you will have:

  • set up discussions and used family trees to identify pupils’ immediate and extended family;
  • used role play and problem solving to explore school networks and relationships;
  • worked with local experts to extend pupils’ knowledge about community networks.

Introduction

Children have different family, clan, ethnic and other social networks to which they belong and which define who they are. As a teacher, you need to be sensitive to these differences and work to make all your pupils feel included as they build more networks.

In this section, you will use a variety of teaching methods and resources to help your pupils identify their own networks and to respect their differences. We start with discussion and drawing family trees to find out about family relationships. You will use role play and problem-solving activities to help pupils identify their school network. Finally, we propose that you invite a local expert to explore the wider community networks that form part of your pupils’ lives.

1. Exploring family networks with large classes