Class 8 - Social Science

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SYLLABUS:

1. READING AND ANALYSIS OF MAPS: Story and evolution of maps – Early maps of Sumerians, Babylonians, Hecataeus, Al-Idrisi, Ptolemy and Gerardus Mercator – Development of map making in India – Role of maps in colonization, exploration and military activities – Map projections and their importance – Uses of maps in modern times – Preparation of Population Maps – Conventional Symbols, Colours and Patterns – Analysis of Contour Maps – Thematic Maps such as Physical, Political, Agriculture, Temperature, Rainfall, Population, Industry and City Maps – Use of Atlas for geographical study.

2. ENERGY FROM THE SUN: Insolation and distribution of solar energy – Importance of solar energy for life on Earth – Factors affecting the distribution of sunrays such as angle of sunrays, Earth’s axis, duration of daytime, altitude, slope, land-water distribution and cloud cover – Greenhouse effect – Temperature and methods of measuring temperature – Use of thermometers – Minimum and maximum temperature – Daily, monthly, seasonal and annual averages – Temperature graphs and maps – Comparison of temperatures in coastal, inland and mountainous regions.

3. EARTH MOVEMENTS AND SEASONS: Rotation and Revolution of the Earth – Causes and effects of Earth’s movements – Formation of seasons – Why seasons occur – Demonstration of Earth’s movements using a globe – Changes in day and night – Temperature belts of the Earth and their characteristics.

4. THE POLAR REGIONS: Characteristics of Polar and Tundra Regions – Life in extremely cold climates – Seasonal changes in Tundra regions – Natural vegetation and wildlife – Group life and community living – Hunting and fishing practices – Religious beliefs and traditions – Modern changes in Polar regions and their impact on indigenous communities.

5. FORESTS: USING AND PROTECTING THEM: Types and distribution of forests – Forests in Telangana – Tribal dependence on forests – Forest products and their economic importance – Trade in forest products – Deforestation and its causes – Forest conservation and social forestry – Forest Rights Act, 2006 – Sustainable use and protection of forest resources.

6. MINERALS AND MINING: Minerals and their importance – Distribution of mineral resources – Mineral resources of Telangana – Mining and its economic significance – Open-cast mining at Sathupally – Underground mining in Singareni Collieries – Mining and environmental issues – Safety measures and accident prevention in mining activities.

7. MONEY AND BANKING: Barter System and its limitations – Need for money – Evolution of money from coins to paper currency and plastic money – Banking system and its functions – Deposits and types of accounts – Banking transactions – Loans and credit facilities – Role of banks as financial intermediaries – Cheques and banking services – Internet Banking and modern banking practices.

8. IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON LIVELIHOODS: Technological changes and development – Impact of technology on agriculture – Use of harvesters and modern farming methods – Technology and industrial production – Technological changes in service sectors – Emergence of new jobs and skills – Benefits and challenges of technological advancement.

9. PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE GOVERNMENT: Role of government in providing welfare services – Meaning and importance of health – Difference between health and illness – Public and private healthcare services – Health insurance – Health care and equality – Public facilities such as safe drinking water and sanitation – Health status in Telangana – Nutrition and communicable diseases – Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and government health schemes.

10. LANDLORDS AND TENANTS UNDER THE BRITISH AND THE NIZAM: Zamindars and peasants during Mughal times – Permanent Settlement introduced by the British – Ryotwari System – Commercialization of agriculture – Role of moneylenders – Doras and peasants in Hyderabad State – Famines and rural distress – Peasant movements against exploitation.

11A. NATIONAL MOVEMENT – THE EARLY PHASE (1885–1919): Rise of early political associations – Formation of the Indian National Congress – Moderate Phase (1885–1905) – Extremist Phase (1905–1920) – Swadeshi Movement – Impact of the First World War on India – Growth of national consciousness.

11B. NATIONAL MOVEMENT – THE LAST PHASE (1919–1947): Arrival of Mahatma Gandhi – Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre – Non-Cooperation Movement – Khilafat Movement – Political developments between 1922 and 1929 – Civil Disobedience Movement – Quit India Movement – Independence and Partition of India.

12. FREEDOM MOVEMENT IN HYDERABAD STATE: Hyderabad as a princely state – Growth of nationalism in Hyderabad – Feudal system and administration – Language and religious issues – Andhra Jana Sangham – Andhra Mahasabha and Library Movement – Hyderabad State Congress – Telangana Armed Struggle – Merger of Hyderabad with the Indian Union.

13. THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION: Formation of the Constituent Assembly – Debates in the Constituent Assembly – Preamble and its philosophy – System of Government in India – Values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity – Significance of the Constitution.

14. PARLIAMENT AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT: Structure of Parliament – Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha – Powers and functions of Parliament – Elections to Lok Sabha – Challenges in conducting free and fair elections – President and Vice-President – Prime Minister and Council of Ministers – Central Government administration.

15. LAW AND JUSTICE – A CASE STUDY: Civil and Criminal Cases – Police investigation – Role of judges and courts – Judicial system in India – Appellate jurisdiction – Rule of Law – Supremacy of Law – Flexibility and adaptability of laws – Importance of justice in society.

16. ABOLITION OF ZAMINDARI SYSTEM: Rural poverty at Independence – Abolition of Zamindari System – Land Ceiling Acts – Bhoodan Movement – Land reforms in Andhra Pradesh – Impact of land reforms on rural society – Redistribution of land and social justice.

17. UNDERSTANDING POVERTY: Meaning and causes of poverty – Rural distress and chronic hunger – Poverty alleviation measures – Agriculture as a source of livelihood – Employment opportunities through MGNREGA – Public Distribution System (PDS) – Social Audit in Telangana – Right to Life and food security.

18. RIGHTS APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT: Concept of Human Rights – Growth of Human Rights Movements – Right to Information Act (RTI) – Rights-based approach to development – Improving living conditions through rights – Right to Education Act, 2009 – Role of citizens and government in ensuring rights.

19. SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS REFORM MOVEMENTS: Religious and social reforms in India – Contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda and Dayananda Saraswati – Reforms among Muslims by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan – Women’s education and social reforms – Contributions of Kandukuri Veeresalingam, Savitribai Phule and Pandita Ramabai – Reforms against caste discrimination by Jyotiba Phule, Narayana Guru and Bhagya Reddy Varma – Role of women and Dalits in the freedom movement.

20. UNDERSTANDING SECULARISM: Need for secularism – Meaning and principles of secularism – Separation of religion from the State – Features of Indian secularism – Religious freedom and equality – Importance of secularism in a diverse society.

21. PERFORMING ARTS AND ARTISTES IN MODERN TIMES: Folk and Classical Arts – Burrakatha and Tholubommalata – Bharatanatyam and its decline and revival – Performing arts in contemporary society – Contribution of artistes to cultural heritage – Preservation of traditional art forms.

22. FILM AND PRINT MEDIA: Evolution of films from theatre arts – Development of cinema as entertainment – Role of films in the national movement – Influence of films on society – Film industry and its growth – Evolution of print media – Contribution of newspapers and magazines to social awareness and national movements.

23. SPORTS: NATIONALISM AND COMMERCE: Growth of cricket and its popularity – Comparison with hockey and kabaddi – Historical development of cricket in England – Spread of cricket in colonies – Commercialization of sports – Role of media in sports – Success stories of sportspersons – Status of other popular games.

24. DISASTER MANAGEMENT: Meaning and importance of disaster management – Types of disasters – Natural disasters and their impact – Tsunami and safety measures before, during and after a tsunami – Drought and its consequences – Coping with drought conditions – Rainwater Harvesting – Watershed Development – Community preparedness and disaster mitigation.