Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to explain the features of the Film Series for Social Studies as teaching materials in the Early Social Studies. The teaching materials in the Early Social Studies include data and problems for the unit of study, and instructions on how to learn. The New Education suggests that film is one such material. The argument for using film as teaching materials for social studies gained popularity in 1949. Thirty nine movies as teaching materials for social studies were manufactured under the name Film Series for Social Studies in four years. Three main features characterize the Film Series for Social Studies; (1) The themes are selected by the social function based on the work unit of Hosetu in 1948. (2) To facilitate teaching and learning in class, each movie contains a teaching plan that includes "the movie's purpose", "examples of the study", "scenario", and other items. (3) There are two types of movies. One describes the student's learning activities and the other provides the information to be learned. As teaching materials in the Early Social Studies, the Film Series for Social Studies serves to teach democratic activity through movies.
