Abstract:

Social Studies course is an interdisciplinary curriculum involved in the primary school curricula beginning from 4th grade by which knowledge, abilities, attitudes and values on social life are acquired. In constructive approach, active participation of learners are to be provided, the learners should get prepared by themselves researching, investigating and interpreting according to their own prior knowledge and they should be in a continuing construction process. Teachers should be a guide, a partner in the learning process and a leader. From this point of view, the aim of this research is to determine the expectations of the 4th grade students in primary schools from their teachers on Social Studies course and to examine whether these expectations vary according to various variables (gender, academic achievement). The sample of the research consists of 200 4th grade learners in primary schools of Muğla in 2014-2015 academic years. The research is a quantitative study designed within survey model. As a data collection tool, a likert scale composing of 6 dimensions and 33 items was used. The data collected in the research process were analysed utilizing statistical software SPSS In the data analysing process, independent samples t-test was used to compare the groups according to the gender. One way analysis of variance (Anova) was utilised in order to compare the groups according to academic achievement. According to the findings of the research, the expectations of the students from their teachers about Social Studies course related to active participation in the lesson, verbal participation, reading and writing activities, including the subjects on Social Studies, testing and evaluation were considered. Findings acquired at the end of the research demonstrated that the learners have expectations from their primary school teachers related to the increase on in-class activities and using methods and techniques in which the learners are active.

Keywords: