Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region I
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF PANGASINAN II
Canarvacanan, Binalonan, Pangasinan

Understanding Culture,
Society & Politics
Quarter 1 - Week 4
Module 4
The significance of cultural, social, political, and
economic symbols and practices.

Most Essential Learning Competency:

Analyze the significance of cultural, social, political, and economic
symbols and practices.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview 1
Content 1
Competencies 1

1
Pretest 1
Lesson 1 2
Activity 1 2
Activity 2 7
Activity 3 8
Additional Activities 9
Post Test 10
Answer Key 11
References 13

2
 OVERVIEW

For the Learners

This module on “Becoming a member of society” deals with activities that
could help the learners analyze the significance of cultural, social, political and
economic symbols and practices.

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW?

This module provides activities on analyzing the significance of cultural, social,
political and economic symbols and practices.
1. Explain the importance of cultural relativism in attaining cultural understanding.

WHAT I KNOW? (PRETEST)

This activity will enable you to assess your prior knowledge from the
topic that will be discussed in this lesson.

Direction: Arrange the Jumbled Letters to get the correct answer. Write your
answer on the space provided.

ODHMINI 1.) _______________________. General term used to

categorize the group of early humans and other
humanlike creatures that can walk erect during the
prehistoric period.

OOHM 2.) _______________________. They are classified as

humans and not humanlike creatures because they had
bigger brains and were bipedal

NOITZAVILIIC 3.) _______________________.The formation of a

highly complex and organized group of people.

TORYISHREP 4.) _______________________.The period of human

development during the time before the discovery of
writing.

LOGTECYHON 5.) _______________________.Tools, Machines,

Architecture and other skills that enhance life.

ACYCREOTH 6.) _______________________. Government system

during early civilization which claims of power to rule
coming from the gods.

REDAT 7.) _______________________. Buying and

selling/exchanging goods which begin during Neolithic
Period.

PERCOP 8.) _______________________. The first metal they

used during early civilization.

1
ADNOM 9.) _______________________.A person who does not
have a permanent home and moves around a lot.

LISIBHA OMOH 10.) ______________________.They made stone tools

and lived from hunting and gathering.

OHOM REECTUS 11. ______________________.These appeared one

and a half million years ago and they walked upright.

OMHO APIENSS 12.) ______________________. They were able to

make finer tools and they also created art.

IREF 13.) ______________________. It was an extremely

important discovery during Paleolithic period which used
to heat their caves, cook food and drive wild animals
away.

PHRAGTOICP 14.) ______________________. Developed 5,000 years

ago to help people express ideas and communicate.

TRAAUSPILOTHECUS 15.) ______________________. These appeared about

five million years ago and they were very similar to
chimpanzees.

Analyze the Significance of Cultural, Social,

Lesson
Political and Economic Symbols and
1 Practices

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW?

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
 Analyze key features of interrelationships of biological, cultural and
sociopolitical processes in human evolution that can still be used and
developed.

WHAT’S NEW?
Activity 1: COMPARISON CHART!
Direction: Describe and summarize the changes took place during broad
spectrum revolution. Compare how early human carried out their lives in the lithic or
stone-age revolution.

CHARACTERISTICS PALEOLITHIC NEOLITHIC

Tool

Personal Property

2
 Arts

Subsistence /Economic

Leadership

Social Divisions

Population Size

WHAT’S NEW?
What have you noticed on the activity above? These have something to do
with interrelationships of biological, cultural and sociopolitical
processes in human evolution that can still be used and developed.
What Prehistory?
The period of human development during the time before the discovery of writing.
Prehistory extends from the emergence of our first ancestors, about five million years
ago, to the invention of writing about 5000 years ago.
Prehistory is divided into three periods:
1. The Palaeolithic Period extends from the appearance of our first ancestors to about
11,000 years ago. Humans living during the Paleolithic Era were hunter-gatherers. This
means they moved around hunting animals and gathering plants to eat. Paleolithic people
lived in temporary shelters like tents or caves because they were nomads. A nomad is a
person who does not have a permanent home and moves around a lot. Paleolithic people
lived in small groups of no more than 60 people because being nomadic made living in large
groups difficult.
The following are the characteristics of Palaeolithic People.
 Used rough/rugged stones for tool and weapons
 Absolutely dependence on nature (also called environmental parasitism) by
gathering food and hunting animals.

3
  Discovered fire from stones for cooking and protection from animals.
 High degree of spirituality and connection to nature by practicising Animism and
Polytheism.
 Extremely nomadic way of life (moving from place to place to hunt.)
 Belief in afterlife (bury the dead with important items.)
2. The Mesolithic Period which is the Formation of Forest after melting of ice caps. People
during this Period started to depend on rivers and started domesticated of animals although this
period did not last long due to the arise of Neolithic Period.
3. The Neolithic Period began about 11,000 years ago. Groups of human beings started to live
in villages. It began when humans invented agriculture and started making tools out of metal
instead of stone.
 Neolithic people learned how to farm and domesticate animals. Domesticate means to
train a wild animal to be useful to humans.
 Growing crops and domesticating animals is called agriculture and this began in the
Neolithic Era.
 A lot of Neolithic people began living in the Fertile Crescent. The Fertile Crescent was a
place where the land was fertile (good for growing plants).
 Neolithic people were not nomadic. They settled down in towns and built houses
because they were able to farm and needed to be close to their fields.
 They began to form villages around the fields they farmed, and they learned how to
make many new things like: jewelry, pottery, bigger houses, better clothing, and stronger
tools.
 After starting agriculture Neolithic people began to focus on making their lives
comfortable and beautiful.
 Trade began during the Neolithic Era. Trade is buying and selling/exchanging goods.
Neolithic people began to trade for things they wanted, so some people became traders.
They wanted resources they did not have.

4
What is Biological Evolution and Cultural Evolution?
Biological Evolution - It refers to the changes, modifications, and variations in the genetics
and inherited traits of biological populations from one generation to another. Scientists study the
changes in the physical body of humans, the changes in the shape and size of their bones.
Cultural Evolution - It refers to the changes or development in cultures from a simple form to a
more complex form of human culture. Scientist study the cultural evolution of humans by
analyzing the changes in the latter’s way of life.

What is Hominid?
The general term used to categorize the group of early humans and other humanlike creatures
that can walk erect during the prehistoric period.
What were early human beings like?
Hominin or Significant Biological Cultural Means of
Hominid Characteristics Adaptation
Australopithecus These appeared about five million years This species probably used
Afarensis ago. They were very similar to simple tools that may have
chimpanzees. However, the included sticks and other non-
Australopithecus normally walked on two durable plant materials found in
feet. Afarensis had both ape and human the immediate surroundings.
characteristics: members of this species This species occupied a range of
had apelike face proportions (a flat nose, environments. Some populations
a strongly projecting lower jaw) and lived in savannah or sparse
braincase (with a small brain, usually woodland; others lived in denser
less than 500 cubic centimeters -- about forests beside lakes.
1/3 the size of a modern human brain),
and long, strong arms with curved
fingers adapted for climbing trees.
Homo habilis These appeared two million years ago. Homo habilis may have been the
Their brain was bigger. Their name first of our ancestors to make
“habilis” means skillful. They made stone stone tools. They lived in a
tools and lived from hunting and predominantly grassland
gathering. This species, one of the environment.
earliest members of the genus Homo,
has a slightly larger braincase and
smaller face and teeth than in
Australopithecus or older hominin
species. But it still retains some ape-like
features, including long arms and a
moderately-prognathic face.
Homo erectus These appeared one and a half million The oldest known stone tools
years ago. They walked upright. This used by Homo erectus were
was the first species to live outside made in China about one million
Africa. They lived in Europe and Asia. years ago technology These
They discovered fire. This species had a tools were simple choppers and

5
 robust skeleton that was generally like flakes.
those of modern humans. The body
(known only from the Chinese
specimens) tended to be shorter and
stockier than those of modern humans.
Structure of the brain was like that of
modern humans.
Homo sapiens The oldest human remains in Europe Neanderthals had a complex
Neanderthalensis appeared in Atapuerca, Spain. They are culture although they did not
800,000 years old. behave in the same ways as the
Neanderthals are recognizably human early modern humans who lived
but have distinctive facial features and a at the same time.
stocky build that were evolutionary The Neanderthals built hearths
adaptations to cold, dry environments. and were able to control fire for
Neanderthals were generally shorter and warmth, cooking, and protection.
had more robust skeletons and muscular They were known to wear animal
bodies than modern humans. hides, especially in cooler areas.

What is Civilization and how it Rise?

Civilization is the formation of a highly complex and organized group of people. A key in
the development of a civilization is the creation of cities.
There are 4 other features that are part of a civilization:
 Cities and Government
Cities - An area where people come together and live to:
 improve farming
 Develop artistic and technological skills
Laws and government- rules and organization that establish order in civilization.
 Jobs and Technology
Cities grow and jobs must come to help meet the demands of the people.
Technology: Tools, Machines, Architecture and other skills that enhance life.
 Social Classes and Religion
Social Classes Groups with different levels of importance.
 Priests and Rulers – believed that gods gave them the right to rule.
 Farmers and Merchants- they have specific skill that are in high need.
 Slaves – they are bought and sold to be laborer of the wealthy-lowest social
class.
Religious and government leaders are often the same. This system of government is
called a theocracy. Claims of power to rule coming from the gods. People believe that
there are gods of life, death, marriage, and weather. People engage in activities in hopes
of pleasing the gods.
 Writing and Record Keeping
As cities grow, people need ways to keep track of information. Merchants create records
to keep track of purchases and sales. Rulers record laws and taxes Writing created to
keep records.
Pictograph - Developed 5,000 years ago to help people express ideas and communicate

6
 Symbols are added later to represent ideas and objects.
Cuneiform is a wedge-shaped script developed in 3300 B.C. by the Mesopotamians
Around 500 wedges make up the Sumerian Alphabet

WHAT’S MORE
Activity 2: CHECK YOU UNDERSTANDING!
Direction: Answer the following questions, be guided by the rubrics
provided.
A.) How did early humans adapt to their environment?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

B.) What factors probably played a role in the origin of agriculture?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

C.) How did food production fuel the rise of state?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

7
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

WHAT I CAN DO
Activity 3: ANALYSIS CHART!
Direction: Cite the biological characteristics and cultural adaptation of the
selected species of hominins necessary in the human biocultural evolution process in
the box provided.

Hominin or Hominid Significant Biological Cultural Means of

Characteristics Adaptation

Australopithecus
afarensis

Homo habilis

Homo erectus

Homo sapiens
neanderthalensis

8
 ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES!
Activity 4: CIVILIZATION UNLOCK!
Direction: Differentiate and explain the features of a civilization before and now.

FEATURES OF CIVILIZATION BEFORE NOW

1.) Cities and Government

2.) Jobs and Technology

3.) Social Classes and Religion

4.) Writing and Record Keeping

POST TEST: IDENTIFYING ERA!

Direction: Identify whether the statement is apt for Paleolithic or Neolithic era. Write
your answer on the space provided.
___________________1. Human began to farm and domesticate animals.

9
___________________2. People are absolutely dependence on nature by gathering food and
hunting animals.

___________________3. They became sedentary and built villages, generally located near
rivers. Work becomes specialized in the villages.

___________________4. They form small groups of 20 or 30 people called tribes. The

members of a tribe belong to the same family.

___________________5. People on this period discovered fire from stones for cooking, warmth
protection from animals.

___________________6. People during this period are extremely nomadic way of life -
(moving from place to place to hunt.)

___________________7. People invented agriculture and started making tools out of metal
instead of stone.

___________________8. People began to form villages around the fields they farmed and they
learned how to make many new things like: jewelry, pottery, bigger houses, better clothing, and
stronger tools.

___________________9. People began to trade for things they wanted, so some people
became traders.

___________________10. People have high degree of spirituality and connection to nature by

practicing animism and polytheism.

ANSWER KEY

PRETEST : JUMBLED LETTER

1.HOMINID 6. THEOCRACY 11. HOMO ERECTUS

2. HOMO 7. TRADE 12. HOMO SAPIENS

10
3. CIVILIZATION 8. COPPER 13. FIRE
4. PREHISTORY 9. NOMAD 14. PICTOGRAPH
5. TECHNOLOGY 10. HOMO HABILIS 15. AUSTRALOPITHECUS

POST TEST: IDENTIFYING ERA

1. Neolithic Era 6. Paleolithic Era

2. Paleolithic Era 7. Neolithic Era
3. Neolithic Era 8. Neolithic Era
4. Paleolithic Era 9. Neolithic Era
5. Paleolithic Era 10. Paleolithic Era
ACTIVITY 1: COMPARISON CHART
CHARACTERISTICS PALEOLITHIC NEOLITHIC
Tool Small and handy for mobile Included a wider array of small
lifestyle and bigger tools due to
sedentary lifestyle
Personal Property Limited to personal accessories Included structures (e.g.,
and small tools that could easily house), decorative ornaments,
be carried around large containers
Arts Small and limited to personal Included the creation of artworks
ornaments, bigger artworks were that required a longer length of
done but not within a long time time and a greater number of
frame (e.g. cave paintings) people (e.g., Stonehenge
Subsistence /Economic Foraging Agriculture
Leadership Not rigid; based on age and Semirigid; based on legitimacy
knowledge (religious beliefs, social status)
Social Divisions None; communal lifestyle Elite vs. working class
Population Size Small (30-50 people) Large (in thousands)

ACTIVITY 2: CHECK YOU UNDERSTANDING!

Criteria Excellent (4) Good (3) Fair (2) Poor (1)

The essay is very Most of essay
Organizatio clear, organized content is clear Some of the content The content is
n and well-written and organized. is clear and unclear and
organized. disorganized.
The content did
Strength All arguments are Most of the Only some
not provide any
and strong, convincing arguments are arguments are
convincing
Relevance and relevant. strong, convincing convincing and
arguments.
of and relevant. relevant.
supporting
argument

Use of All arguments are Most of the Only some The content did
examples supported with arguments are arguments are not provide any
clear examples supported with supported with clear factual support
clear examples examples. m or examples.

ACTIVITY 3: ANALYSIS CHART

11
 Hominin or Significant Biological Cultural Means of
Hominid Characteristics Adaptation

Australopithecus Afarensis had both ape and human This species probably used
Afarensis characteristics: members of this species simple tools that may have
had apelike face proportions (a flat nose, included sticks and other non-
a strongly projecting lower jaw) and durable plant materials found in
braincase (with a small brain, usually the immediate surroundings.
less than 500 cubic centimeters -- about This species occupied a range of
1/3 the size of a modern human brain), environments. Some populations
and long, strong arms with curved lived in savannah or sparse
fingers adapted for climbing trees. woodland; others lived in denser
forests beside lakes.
Homo habilis This species, one of the earliest Homo habilis may have been the
members of the genus Homo, has a first of our ancestors to make
slightly larger braincase and smaller stone tools. They lived in a
face and teeth than in Australopithecus predominantly grassland
or older hominin species. But it still environment.
retains some ape-like features, including
long arms and a moderately-prognathic
face.

Homo erectus This species had a robust skeleton that The oldest known stone tools
was generally similar to those of modern used by Homo erectus were
humans. made in China about one million
The body (known only from the Chinese years ago technology These
specimens) tended to be shorter and tools were simple choppers and
stockier than those of modern humans. flakes.
Structure of the brain was similar to that
of modern humans.
Homo sapiens Neanderthals are recognizably human Neanderthals had a complex
Neanderthalensis but have distinctive facial features and a culture although they did not
stocky build that were evolutionary behave in the same ways as the
adaptations to cold, dry environments. early modern humans who lived
Neanderthals were generally shorter and at the same time.
had more robust skeletons and muscular The Neanderthals built hearths
bodies than modern humans. and were able to control fire for
warmth, cooking and protection.
They were known to wear animal
hides, especially in cooler areas.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY 4: Answer may vary

References:
A. Book

Government of the Philippines, Department of Education, Understanding Culture,

Society, and Politics, Teacher’s Guide-First Edition 2016

B. Online Resources
https://www.slideshare.net/janenulial1/sociocultural-and-political-evolution
https://www.slideshare.net/janenulial1/biological-and-cultural-evolution

12
https://www.slideshare.net/historialavilaroja/prehistory-56799507
https://www.slideshare.net/pazdelarosa/prehistory-34967693
https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/australopithecus-afarensis

13