The first grade social
studies curriculum uses history, geography, civics, and
economics as lenses to engage students in the study of
school and family life. The children begin by studying
their own families, present and past. Through
comparison, they discover different types of families.
They compare present-day families and schools to ones of
recent and distant past. Families and schools from the
local community are compared to those of other cultures
and places, both near and far. The basics of family
economics, including ways of making a living, budgeting,
and spending, are introduced. The children learn
rudimentary geography by studying place and movement in
school and the surrounding area. They make and use
simple maps of the school. Through discussion of civic
issues that arise in school, the children learn about
rules, fairness, and collective decision making.
Throughout the year, they practice collecting,
organizing, interpreting, and presenting data about the
history, geography, and economics of family and school.
Units of
Study
Our Families
Schools and Families of
the Past
Families Near and Far
Getting Around at
School
Rules at Home and in
School
Earning and Spending
