Social Problems in Turkish Social Studies Coursebooks and Workbooks

In Turkey, the social studies course, which is taught in elementary 5 th to 7 th grades, prepares students to solve problems they may encounter in their future life. Therefore, the teaching of social problems to help students get to know them is one of the most important issues for the social studies course. The primary aim of this study is to examine how social problems are included in the social studies coursebooks and workbooks. 5 th , 6 th and 7 th grade social studies coursebooks and workbooks were analysed in the study. Document analysis method, which is one of the qualitative research methods, was used in data analysis. The findings of the study showed that the coursebooks and workbooks of the Ministry of National Education included and emphasized more social problems than those of the private publishing companies. Based on the findings, it is suggested that social studies coursebooks and workbooks published by private publishing companies should be modified in such a way that they include and emphasize more social problems.