Social Studies Grade 7 Design
Social Studies Grade 7 Design
Social Studies Grade 7 Design
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
SOCIAL STUDIES
GRADE 7
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transcribed, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
ISBN: 978-9914-43-928-1
The curriculum designs at this level build on competencies attained by learners at the end of the Primary School cycle.
Further, they provide opportunities for learners to continue exploring and nurturing their potentials as they prepare to
transit to Senior Secondary School.
The curriculum designs present National Goals of Education, essence statements, general and specific expected learning
outcomes for the learning areas (subjects) as well as strands and sub strands. The designs also outline suggested learning
experiences, key inquiry questions, core competencies, Pertinent and Contemporary Issues (PCIs), values, Community
Service Learning (CSL) activities and assessment rubric.
It is my hope that all Government agencies and other stakeholders in Education will use the designs to plan for effective
and efficient implementation of the CBC.
KICD receives its funding from the Government of Kenya to enable the successful achievement of the stipulated mandate and
implementation of the Government and Sector (Ministry of Education (MoE) plans. The Institute also receives support from development
partners targeting specific programmes. The Grade 7 curriculum designs have been developed with the support of the World Bank through
the Kenya Secondary Education Quality Improvement Program (SEQIP) commissioned by the MoE. Therefore, the Institute is very grateful
for the support of the Government of Kenya, through the MoE and the development partners for the policy, resource and logistical support.
Specifically, special thanks to the Cabinet Secretary – MoE and the Principal Secretary – State Department of Early Learning and Basic
Education.
We also wish to acknowledge the KICD curriculum developers and other staff, all teachers, educators who took part as panelists; the Semi-
Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) and representatives of various stakeholders for their roles in the development of the Grade 7
curriculum designs. In relation to this, we acknowledge the support of the –Chief Executive Officers of the Teachers Service Commission
(TSC) and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) for their support in the process of developing these designs.
Finally, we are very grateful to the KICD Council Chairperson Prof. Elishiba Kimani and other members of the Council for very consistent
guidance in the process. We assure all teachers, parents and other stakeholders that these curriculum designs will effectively guide the
implementation of the CBC at Grade 7 and preparation of learners for Grade 8.
FOREWORD .......................................................................................................................................................................................... i
PREFACE .............................................................................................................................................................................................. ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................................................................................... iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................................................................... iv
LESSON ALLOCATION ....................................................................................................................................................................... v
NATIONAL GOALS OF EDUCATION ............................................................................................................................................. vi
LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL ....................................................................................................................... viii
ESSENCE STATEMENT .................................................................................................................................................................. viii
SUBJECT GENERAL LEARNING OUTCOMES ................................................................................................................................x
STRAND 1.0: SOCIAL STUDIES .........................................................................................................................................................1
STRAND 2.0: NATURAL AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENTS IN AFRICA .................................................................................5
STRAND 3.0: PEOPLE AND POPULATION .................................................................................................................................... 20
STRAND 4.0: RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES .........................................................................................................47
STRAND 5.0: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNANCE ............................................................................................. 59
GUIDELINES ON COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING CLASS ACTIVITY ..............................................................................86
APPENDIX 1: TABLE SHOWING: SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT METHODS,
SUGGESTED LEARNING RESOURCES AND NON-FORMAL ACTIVITIES ..............................................................................91
ii) Promote the social, economic, technological and industrial needs for national development.
Education should prepare the youth of the country to play an effective and productive role in the life of the nation.
a) Social Needs
Education in Kenya must prepare children for changes in attitudes and relationships which are necessary for the smooth
progress of a rapidly developing modern economy. There is bound to be a silent social revolution following in the wake
of rapid modernization. Education should assist our youth to adapt to this change.
b) Economic Needs
Education in Kenya should produce citizens with the skills, knowledge, expertise and personal qualities that are required
to support a growing economy. Kenya is building up a modern and independent economy which is in need of an adequate
and relevant domestic workforce.
c) Technological and Industrial Needs
Education in Kenya should provide learners with the necessary skills and attitudes for industrial development. Kenya
recognizes the rapid industrial and technological changes taking place, especially in the developed world. We can only
be part of this development if our education system is deliberately focused on the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will
prepare our young people for these changing global trends.
vi) Promote respect for and development of Kenya’s rich and varied cultures.
Education should instill in the youth of Kenya an understanding of past and present cultures and their valid place in
contemporary society. Children should be able to blend the best of traditional values with the changing requirements that
must follow rapid development in order to build a stable and modern society.
vii) Promote international consciousness and foster positive attitudes towards other nations.
Kenya is part of the international community. It is part of the complicated and interdependent network of peoples and nations.
Education should therefore lead the youth of the country to accept membership of this international community with all the
obligations and responsibilities, rights and benefits that this membership entails.
viii. Promote positive attitudes towards good health and environmental protection.
Education should inculcate in young people the value of good health in order for them to avoid indulging in activities that
will lead to physical or mental ill health. It should foster positive attitudes towards environmental development and
conservation. It should lead the youth of Kenya to appreciate the need for a healthy environment.
ESSENCE STATEMENT
Social Studies is an integrated subject including aspects of History, Geography and Citizenship. It is the study of change
and development in society over time. It enables the learner to understand and evaluate how past human action has an
impact on the present and how it influences the future. It also involves the study of the natural and historic built
environments. It examines both physical and human processes over space and time. It encourages civic responsibility and
responsible leadership, including raising current social and environmental concerns. It prepares the learner for local,
regional, national, regional and global responsibility. The subject aims at providing the learner with knowledge, skills,
values and attitudes necessary for good character formation to enable him or her to live harmoniously in the family and
society. The main theme of Social Studies is ‘Living Together’. Social Studies will enable the learner to be aware and be
concerned about the welfare of others, protect the environment and be active at community, national, regional and global
levels.
Social Studies is anchored on the tenets of the Constitution of Kenya, Kenya Vision 2030, the National Goals of Education
and the Kenya Sessional Paper No. 8 of 2013 on national values and principles of governance. It is also in line with Africa
Agenda 2063 and the Strategic Objective 10, of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025 which envision
“an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa. In addition, Social Studies addresses the 2017 AU Ministers of Education
decision to integrate General History of Africa in School Curricula and aspirations of SDG 4: target 7 and Goal 16.
Theories of learning such as Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, Lawrence Kohlberg theory of moral
development, Dewey’s social constructivism and Vygotsky’s socio-cultural development theory have informed the
development of this design. Social Studies will prepare the learners for the social sciences pathway in senior school.
Ability to assess the With examples assesses Assesses the Partly assesses the With assistance,
significance sources the significance of significance sources significance of assesses the
of historical sources of historical of historical sources of historical significance of
information in information in providing information in information in sources of historical
providing evidence evidence of past human providing evidence providing evidence information in
of past human accounts. of past human of past human providing evidence of
accounts. accounts. accounts. past human accounts.
Assessment Rubric
Indicator Exceeds Expectation Meets Expectation Approaches Below Expectation
Expectation
Ability to explain With examples explains Explains the terms; Partialy explains the With assistance,
the terms; state, the terms; state, state, kingdom and terms; state, explains the terms;
kingdom and kingdom and empire as empire as used in kingdom and empire state, kingdom and
empire as used in used in Social Studies. Social Studies. as used in Social empire as used in
Social Studies. Studies. Social Studies.
Ability to explore Skillfuly explores Explores factors that Partly explores the With assistance,
factors that led to factors that led to led to growth of factors that led to explores the factors
the growth of growth of Ancient Ancient Egypt, Great growth of Ancient that led to growth of
Ancient Egypt, Egypt, Great Zimbabwe Zimbabwe and the Egypt, Great Ancient Egypt, Great
Great Zimbabwe and the Kongo Kongo Kingdom. Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe and the
and the Kongo Kingdom. Kongo Kingdom. Kongo Kingdom.
Kingdom.
Ability to assess With examples assesses Assesses the Partly assesses some With guidance,
the contributions the contributions of contributions of early of the contributions assesses some of the
of early African early African African civilization of early African contributions of early
civilization to the civilization to the to the modern world. civilization to the African civilization to
modern world. modern world. modern world. the modern world.
Ability to assess the With examples Assesses the Partially assesses the With support,
contribution of Nile assesses the contribution of Nile contribution of Nile assesses the
valley agriculture to contribution of Nile valley agriculture to valley agriculture to contribution of Nile
world civilisation. valley agriculture to world civilisation. world civilisation. valley agriculture to
world civilisation. world civilisation.
Ability to discuss With examples Discusses the use of Partly discusses the With guidance ,
the use of money discusses the use of money economy in use of money discussing the use of
economy in trade. money economy in trade. economy in trade. money economy in
trade. trade.
Ability to compare With examples Compares the use of Partialy compares With support,
the use of money compares the use of money in currency the use of money in compares use of
in currency trade money in currency trade and barter trade currency trade and money in currency
and barter trade in trade and barter trade in in Africa. barter trade in trade and barter trade
Africa. Africa. Africa. in Africa.
Ability to analyse With examples analyses Analyses ways of Partialy analyses With support,
ways of upholding ways of upholding and upholding and ways upholding and analyses ways of
and protecting the protecting the protecting the protecting the upholding and
Constitution of Constitution of Kenya Constitution of Constitution of protecting the
Kenya for social for social cohesion. Kenya for social Kenya for social Constitution of Kenya
cohesion. cohesion. cohesion. for social cohesion.
Community Service Learning (CSL) is an experiential learning strategy that integrates classroom learning and community
service to enable learners reflect, experience and learn from the community. CSL is expected to benefit the learner, the
school and local community. Knowledge and skills on how to carry out a CSL project have been covered in Life Skills
Education (LSE).
All learners in Grade 7 will be expected to participate in only one CSL class activity. The activity will give learners an
opportunity to practise the CSL project skills covered under LSE. This activity will be undertaken in groups for purposes
of learning. Learners will be expected to apply knowledge and skills on steps of the CSL project to carry out an activity of
their choice as per the guidelines provided in the template. The learning will take the form of a whole school approach,
where the entire school community will be engaged in the learning process. Teachers will guide learners to execute a
simple school based integrated CSL class activity. This activity can be done in 4 to 6 weeks outside the classroom time.