Social Studies - Kindergarten

Content Overview:

Social Studies in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade is focused around a central theme for each grade. A Child’s Place in Time and Space is the theme Kindergarteners will further explore throughout the school year. During Kindergarten students begin to form ideas and concepts beyond their immediate community. They begin to learn about themselves as a responsible citizen and form an understanding of their role within the community. The skills and concepts taught in Kindergarten are through interdisciplinary units using authentic literature. The units taught throughout the year are All About Me, Safety, Ancestry and Traditions, Holidays and traditions, Needs and Wants, American Symbols and Presidents, Maps, Natural Resources, and Civic Participation. A Child’s Place in Time and Space is reflected within these units.

Text Books:

Variety of authentic literature

Assessments:

Classroom activities and projects

 

Standards/Learning Goals

Ohio’s Learning Standards in Social Studies are comprised of 4 strands: History, Geography, Government, and Economics. The  content statements listed below state what students should learn and understand in each strand.

History

  • Historical Thinking and Skills
    • Time can be measured.
    • Personal history can be shared through stories and pictures.
  • Heritage
    • Heritage is reflected through the arts, customs, traditions, family celebrations and language.
    • Nations are represented by symbols and practices. Symbols and practices of the United States include the American flag, Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.

Geography

  • Spatial Thinking and Skills
    • Terms related to direction and distance, as well as symbols and landmarks, can be used to talk about the relative location of familiar places.
    • Models and maps represent places.
  • Human Systems
    • Humans depend on and impact the physical environment in order to supply food, clothing and shelter.
    • Individuals are unique but share common characteristics of multiple groups.

Government

  • Civic Participation and Skills
    • Individuals have shared responsibilities toward the achievement of common goals in homes, schools and communities.
  • Rules and Laws
    • The purpose of rules and authority figures is to provide order, security and safety in the home, school and community.

Economics

  • Scarcity
    • People have many wants and make decisions to satisfy those wants. These decisions impact others.
  • Production and Consumption
    • Goods are objects that can satisfy people’s wants. Services are actions that can satisfy people’s wants.