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REET L2 · Social Studies

Teaching Aids and Resources for Social Studies

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This page explains the classification of Social Studies teaching aids, Edgar Dale's Cone of Experience, traditional aids like maps and globes, community resources, and newer digital-innovation resources such as DIKSHA, CIET and toy-based learning. REET 2024 carried 5 questions on this topic, and most were on the newer resources and institutions.

  • 5 questions in REET 2024
  • Teacher-training level
  • 7 min read
Verified 17 September 2026 · Source: CIET (NCERT) — About

How REET asks about this topic

Of REET 2024's 5 questions, only one was traditional — identifying cultural resources among community resources (an art forum, a museum, a radio station). The other four were on newer educational resources: the formal name for QR-code textbooks (energised textbooks), which task is NOT a function of CIET (Central Institute of Educational Technology), which feature does NOT belong to toy-based learning, and the 'real-time web' idea in social networking. So along with maps and globes, basic knowledge of NCERT/Ministry of Education digital initiatives matters too.

Teaching aids: meaning and importance

Teaching aids are the tools that help a teacher make content concrete, interesting and clear, and that engage more than one of the students' senses. In Social Studies, place, time and society are all abstract or distant things — a child cannot directly see Harappa, the equator or Parliament. That's why maps, globes, timelines, pictures, models and field trips are especially important in this subject.

Edgar Dale presented the 'Cone of Experience' in 1946. At its base are direct, purposeful experiences (the most concrete); moving up, in order, come contrived experiences (models), dramatised experiences, demonstrations, field trips, exhibits, motion pictures (educational television was added at level 1954 in the revised version), recordings-radio-still pictures, visual symbols (maps, charts), and at the very top, verbal symbols (the most abstract). The principle: for younger classes and new concepts, start from the base of the cone (concrete) and move toward the top (abstract).

Principles for selecting and using teaching aids

Good teaching material connects directly to the lesson's objective, suits students' age and mental level, gives accurate and up-to-date information, is large and clear enough for the whole class to see, and is affordable and locally available. The aid is a means, not an end — it should be shown at the right point in the lesson and put away afterward so attention doesn't wander.

Teachers should try out an aid themselves before class, avoid using too much material at once, and involve students in making and using the aid rather than leaving them as mere spectators. A map or model children build themselves gives a deeper understanding than a chart bought from the market.

Classification of teaching aids

TypeExamplesUse in Social Studies
Visual — non-projectedBlackboard, map, globe, chart, timeline, picture, model, specimen, bulletin boardMap — location and distribution; globe — latitude-longitude, the earth's tilt; timeline — historical sequence
Visual — projectedProjector, slides, smart-board displayPictures of historical monuments, satellite images
AudioRadio, podcasts, audio recordingsRecordings of historical speeches, educational radio programmes
Audio-visualTelevision, video, documentaries, digital lessonsA documentary on the Constituent Assembly, a video on volcanoes
Activity-based / direct experienceField trips, museum visits, dramatisation, model-makingA fort/panchayat-building visit, a child-parliament
Digital / ICTEnergised textbooks (DIKSHA), e-Pathshala, interactive mapsScanning a QR code to open a video or exercise linked to the lesson

Community resources

TypeExamples
Natural resourcesHills, valleys, rivers, ponds, forests, soil
Cultural resourcesArt forums, museums, radio stations, libraries, fairs and festivals, historical monuments
Administrative / institutional resourcesPolice stations, municipal/panchayat offices, courts, post offices
Economic resourcesMines, factories, markets, banks, cooperative societies
Human resourcesElders, freedom fighters, elected representatives, artisans, doctors — as guest speakers

If a REET question asks for 'cultural resources', pick places tied to art, culture and the spread of knowledge; keep natural, administrative and economic resources distinct.

New educational resources and institutions

CIET (Central Institute of Educational Technology)
An NCERT constituent unit; set up in 1984 by merging the Centre for Educational Technology (1973) and the Department of Teaching Aids (1959).[Source 1]
CIET's functions
Designing and producing media/multimedia content, training personnel in educational technology, promoting ICT use, and advising and coordinating the programmes of the states' SIETs.[Source 1]
SIET (State Institute of Educational Technology)
Institutes set up in the states by the (then) central Ministry of Education (formerly MHRD); CIET advises them — setting up SIETs is NOT a 'function' of CIET, they're separate institutions.[Source 1]
Energised Textbooks
Textbooks printed with QR codes; scanning the code with the DIKSHA app opens digital content (videos, exercises) linked to that lesson.[Source 2]
Toy-based Pedagogy
In line with NEP 2020; toys spark thinking and creativity, and help with multidisciplinary learning, motor development and socio-emotional development — not just one aspect.[Source 3]
Real-time web
The social-networking idea in which information reaches users the moment it's created (live posts, live streams) — similar to a live radio/TV broadcast.

How to teach this to children

Classroom activity (Class 6–7)

'Our Community — Resource Map': in groups, students draw a hand-made map of their village/neighbourhood and mark natural (a pond), cultural (a temple, a library), administrative (the panchayat building, the police post) and economic (market, bank) resources with different coloured symbols.

Low-cost materials

A timeline from old calendar pictures, a globe from a ball and a stick, a landform model from clay, a bulletin board from newspaper clippings; and a textbook's QR code for a DIKSHA video.

Common misconceptions

A teacher's misconception: 'the more expensive/digital the aid, the better it is.' An aid's value comes from how well it matches the objective and how much it engages students. A student misconception: reading 'up' on a map as 'higher elevation' — clarify the difference between direction and elevation.

Assessment approach

Marking locations on a blank map, completing a timeline, short writing on 'my favourite museum object and its history' after a museum visit, and rubric-based evaluation of the community resource map.

Memory trick / exam tip

In 'which is NOT' questions, watch for the word 'only' — for example, 'toys only help socio-emotional development' is wrong, because toys support multi-dimensional development. And QR = Energised — 'QR gives the lesson its energy/life'.

Questions asked in REET 2024 (solved)

Question 114

Which of the following is an example of a cultural resource in the community ?

  1. Aपहाड़ियाँ और घाटियाँ
  2. Bकला मंच, संग्रहालय और रेडियो स्टेशन
  3. Cपुलिस स्टेशन और नगर निगम कार्यालय
  4. Dखदानें और कारखानें

Explanation

समुदाय के सांस्कृतिक संसाधन वे हैं जो कला, संस्कृति और ज्ञान के प्रसार से जुड़े हों – जैसे कला मंच, संग्रहालय और रेडियो स्टेशन। पहाड़ियाँ-घाटियाँ प्राकृतिक संसाधन हैं, पुलिस स्टेशन-नगर निगम प्रशासनिक संसाधन हैं और खदानें-कारखाने आर्थिक संसाधन हैं।

Question 139

Which concept introduced by social networking is analogous to live radio and television broadcast ?

  1. Aउपयोगकर्ता गोपनीयता सेटिंग
  2. Bरियल-टाइम वेब
  3. Cसमूह संदेश
  4. Dसामग्री अनुसूची

Explanation

'रियल-टाइम वेब' वह अवधारणा है जिसमें सूचना बनते ही तुरन्त उपयोगकर्ताओं तक पहुँचती है (जैसे लाइव ट्वीट, लाइव स्ट्रीम, लाइव अपडेट)। यह लाइव रेडियो और टेलीविजन प्रसारण के समान है। गोपनीयता सेटिंग, समूह संदेश और सामग्री शेड्यूल करना 'लाइव' प्रसारण जैसे नहीं हैं।

Question 98

Which of the following is not the function of CIET (Central Institute of Educational Technology) ?

  1. Aमीडिया सॉफ्टवेयर सामग्री, ग्राफिक्स और अन्य कार्यक्रमों को डिजाइन और उत्पादन करना
  2. Bशिक्षा में सूचना एवं संचार प्रौद्योगिकी (आईसीटी) के उपयोग की योजनाओं को तयार करना
  3. Cशैक्षिक प्रौद्योगिकि के उपयोग में शिक्षा के उच्च अध्ययन संस्थानों/अध्यापक शिक्षा महाविद्यालयों और जिल्ला शिक्षा एवं प्रशिक्षण संस्थानों के संख्याओं को उनके अध्यापक शिक्षा कार्यक्रमों में प्रशिक्षित करना
  4. Dभारत के राज्यों में शिक्षा मंत्रालय द्वारा स्थापित राज्य शैक्षिक प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थानों

Explanation

केन्द्रीय शैक्षिक प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान (CIET), NCERT की इकाई है जो शैक्षिक मीडिया सामग्री का निर्माण, शिक्षा में ICT के उपयोग की योजना बनाना और शिक्षक-प्रशिक्षकों को शैक्षिक प्रौद्योगिकी का प्रशिक्षण देने जैसे कार्य करता है। CIET के आधिकारिक विवरण के अनुसार राज्य शैक्षिक प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थानों (SIETs) के सम्बंध में उसका कार्य उनके कार्यक्रमों पर 'सलाह देना और समन्वय करना' है, उन्हें विनियमित (regulate) करना नहीं। प्रश्न-पुस्तिका में हिन्दी विकल्प (D) अधूरा छपा है; अंग्रेज़ी विकल्प 'Regulate' के आधार पर सही उत्तर (D) है।

Question 135

Which of the following term refers to “QR Code embedded text books” ?

  1. Aऊर्जित पाठ्यपुस्तकें
  2. Bदान की गई पाठ्यपुस्तकें
  3. Cशिक्षण सहायक सामग्री
  4. Dफ्लिप पाठ्यपुस्तकें

Explanation

QR कोड युक्त पाठ्यपुस्तकों को ‘ऊर्जित पाठ्यपुस्तकें’ (Energised Textbooks – ETBs) कहा जाता है। इन पुस्तकों में छपे QR कोड को स्कैन करके DIKSHA जैसे डिजिटल प्लेटफ़ॉर्म पर उस पाठ से जुड़ी वीडियो, अभ्यास और अन्य ई-सामग्री देखी जा सकती है।

Question 149

Which one is not the feature of toy based learning ?

  1. Aखिलौने सोचने तथा सृजनात्मकता का स्फूर्त करते है
  2. Bखिलौने बहुविषयक अधिगम में मदद करते है
  3. Cखिलौने केवल सामाजिक-संवेगात्मक विकास में मदद करते है
  4. Dखिलौने गत्यात्मक विकास को सुदृढ़ करते है

Explanation

खिलौना आधारित अधिगम (toy-based pedagogy, NEP 2020 में प्रोत्साहित) से सृजनात्मकता व कल्पनाशीलता, बहुविषयक अधिगम तथा गत्यात्मक (motor) कौशल का विकास होता है। खिलौने सामाजिक-संवेगात्मक विकास में भी मदद करते हैं, पर ‘केवल’ उसी में मदद करते हैं — यह कथन गलत है, क्योंकि उनका योगदान संज्ञानात्मक, शारीरिक और भाषाई विकास में भी होता है।

Practice questions

Question 1

In Edgar Dale's Cone of Experience, which is the most abstract experience?

  1. Aप्रत्यक्ष उद्देश्यपूर्ण अनुभव
  2. Bनाटकीकरण
  3. Cशाब्दिक प्रतीक
  4. Dक्षेत्र-भ्रमण

Explanation

At the top of Dale's cone are verbal symbols, which are the most abstract. At the base are direct purposeful experiences, which are the most concrete.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of an economic community resource?

  1. Aसंग्रहालय
  2. Bपंचायत कार्यालय
  3. Cकारखाना और बाज़ार
  4. Dनदी और वन

Explanation

Factories and markets are economic resources tied to production and trade. A museum is cultural, a panchayat office administrative, and a river and forest are natural resources.

Question 3

In which year was CIET established?

  1. A1959
  2. B1973
  3. C1984
  4. D2017

Explanation

CIET was formed in 1984 by merging the Centre for Educational Technology (1973) and the Department of Teaching Aids (1959). 1959 and 1973 are the years of those earlier units.

Question 4

Which national platform is used to scan QR codes printed in textbooks to access digital content?

  1. ADIKSHA
  2. BUMANG
  3. CDigiLocker
  4. De-Hospital

Explanation

Energised textbooks' QR codes are linked to the DIKSHA platform. UMANG is for government services, DigiLocker for documents, and e-Hospital for health services.

Question 5

The most suitable teaching aid to explain latitudes and longitudes in Class 6 is—

  1. Aसमय-रेखा
  2. Bग्लोब
  3. Cरेडियो
  4. Dबुलेटिन बोर्ड

Explanation

A globe is a three-dimensional model of the earth on which latitude-longitude lines appear in their true form, without distortion. A timeline is for historical sequence, and radio is an audio medium.

Question 6

Which teaching aid is most useful for understanding the chronology of historical events?

  1. Aग्लोब
  2. Bसमय-रेखा (Time-line)
  3. Cउच्चावच मॉडल
  4. Dमौसम मानचित्र

Explanation

A timeline shows events in order and with intervals, in visual form. A globe, relief model and weather map are geography materials.

Question 7

Which of the following is a function of CIET?

  1. Aराज्यों में विद्यालय भवनों का निर्माण
  2. Bशैक्षिक मीडिया सामग्री का डिज़ाइन और निर्माण
  3. Cबोर्ड परीक्षाओं का संचालन
  4. Dशिक्षकों की भर्ती

Explanation

CIET designs and produces educational media/multimedia content, trains people in educational technology, and advises SIETs. Building school buildings, conducting board exams, or recruiting teachers are not its functions.

Question 8

According to Dale's Cone, the most effective starting point to teach 'local government' to Class 6 is—

  1. Aपाठ्यपुस्तक की परिभाषा पढ़ना
  2. Bग्राम पंचायत भवन का भ्रमण और सरपंच से बातचीत
  3. Cपंचायत पर लिखा निबंध सुनाना
  4. Dपंचायती राज के चार्ट को देखना

Explanation

Per Dale, a new concept should begin with a concrete, direct experience. A visit to the panchayat building is a direct experience; reading a definition and listening to an essay are verbal symbols, and a chart is a visual symbol — both higher up (more abstract) on the cone.

Question 9

A school has no internet. For teaching the rivers of India, the most suitable option for the teacher is—

  1. Aपाठ न पढ़ाना जब तक स्मार्ट क्लास न आ जाए
  2. Bरिक्त मानचित्र पर विद्यार्थियों से नदियाँ बनवाना और मिट्टी से नदी-घाटी मॉडल बनाना
  3. Cकेवल नदियों के नाम श्रुतलेख में लिखवाना
  4. Dविद्यार्थियों को घर पर वीडियो देखने को कहना

Explanation

Effective material doesn't have to be expensive; low-cost materials build active participation and spatial understanding. Dictation is rote learning, and a video at home isn't possible for everyone.

Question 10

Which statement is correct regarding toy-based pedagogy?

  1. Aखिलौने केवल मनोरंजन के साधन हैं
  2. Bखिलौने केवल शारीरिक विकास में मदद करते हैं
  3. Cखिलौने सृजनशीलता, बहुविषयक अधिगम और गत्यात्मक विकास में सहायक हैं
  4. Dखिलौने केवल पूर्व-प्राथमिक कक्षाओं के लिए हैं और सामाजिक अध्ययन में अनुपयोगी हैं

Explanation

Toy-based teaching is multi-dimensional — it helps with thinking, creativity, multidisciplinary learning, motor development and socio-emotional development, all together. Statements with 'only' limit it to one aspect, so they are wrong.

Frequently asked questions

What is an Energised Textbook?+

A textbook printed with QR codes. Scanning the code with the DIKSHA app opens videos, exercises and other digital content linked to that lesson.

What does Edgar Dale's Cone of Experience tell us?+

Presented in 1946, this cone arranges experiences from concrete to abstract — direct purposeful experience at the base, verbal symbols at the very top. Starting learning from concrete experiences is considered more effective.

What is CIET and when was it set up?+

The Central Institute of Educational Technology is an NCERT constituent unit, formed in 1984 by merging the Centre for Educational Technology and the Department of Teaching Aids. It produces educational media, provides training, and advises the states' SIETs.

What are some examples of community resources?+

Natural (river, hill), cultural (museum, art forum, radio station), administrative (panchayat office, police post), economic (market, factory), and human resources (elders, artisans).

Read next

Methods of Teaching Social Studies

Previous topic: source, project, 5E and other teaching methods

Evaluation in Social Studies

Next topic: continuous and comprehensive evaluation, types of questions

REET Syllabus

The complete official syllabus for every subject

REET 2024 Solved Paper

Questions from every shift, official answers and explanations

Official Sources

  1. CIET (NCERT) — About
  2. DIKSHA — Energised Textbooks: digital content via QR code
  3. PIB — Toy-based pedagogy is in alignment with the NEP 2020

Change Log

  • 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked