First Grade Social Studies

My School and My Family

How Do We Get Along in School?
In this lesson, students learn ways to get along in school. In an Experiential Exercise, they play a game in which they work together to draw a picture. They discover the value of cooperating to complete a task. Then students read about four ways they can practice getting along in school. 

Why Is It Important to Learn from Each Other?
In this lesson, students explore their similarities and differences and discover the importance of learning from and accepting each other. In a Social Studies Skill Builder, they complete questionnaires that reveal their preferences, interests, and special skills. They then build interpersonal skills by practicing appropriate ways to talk and listen.

Why Do Schools Have Rules?
In this lesson, students learn why schools have rules. In an Experiential Exercise, they play a game without rules to discover why rules are needed. They then read about four reasons for school rules.

Who Helps Us at School?
In this lesson, students learn about the typical duties of a school teacher, principal, secretary, and custodian, and discover how each contributes to the school community. In a Visual Discovery activity, they analyze images of school staff and listen to a recording of each person describing his or her job, and use this information to act out each role.

How Are We Good Helpers at School?
In this lesson, students discover that they can make valuable contributions at school by helping others, respecting school property, being positive, and solving problems. In Response Group activities, they explore four situations they might encounter at school and discuss the best ways to be good helpers.

What Is a Map?
In this lesson, students learn about maps. After listening to a story about an escaped mouse, they help create a map of the story setting. Then, in a Social Studies Skill Builder, they practice reading a map.

What Was School Like Long Ago?
In this lesson, students discover what schools were like long ago and compare them to schools today. In a Response Group activity, they view and read about school objects from the past, discussing their identities and use.

What Groups Do We Belong To?
To transition from schools to families, students learn about groups they may belong to. In a Social Studies Skill Builder, they identify and categorize different types of groups.

How Are Families Special?
In this lesson, students learn that all families are special in different ways. In a Writing for Understanding activity, they read about family members, homes, and activities, and then create a book about their own family members, homes, and activities.

What Do Families Need and Want?
In this lesson, students learn what families need and want. In a Problem Solving Groupwork activity, they create camping triaramas (miniature three-dimensional scenes) that depict what families would need and want on a camping trip. Afterward, children justify why selected camping items are needs and wants.

How Do Family Members Care for Each Other?
In this lesson, students learn ways family members care for each other. In a Response Group activity, they categorize pictures illustrating family members into three categories of caring for one another.

How Do Families Change?
In this lesson, students learn about ways families change over time. In a Visual Discovery activity, they discover what happens when people grow olders. They also learn how families change size.

What Are Family Traditions?
In this lesson, students explore their own family traditions and learn about the traditions of others. In Experiential Exercises, they participate in celebrations from different cultures.

What Do Good Neighbors Do?
To transition into the Grade 2 focus on communities, students learn about neighbors and neighborhoods. In a Problem Solving Groupwork activity, students illustrate and assemble puzzles that show examples of actions that good neighbors take.

Other Resources:

Social Studies Grade Level Content Expectations for First Grade 332kb PDF externallink.gif

AAPS First Grade Social Studies Curriculum Map 148kb PDF

First Grade Report Form 498kb PDF

 

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