K - 8 SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM SUMMARY
Revised August 2006

This is a brief summary of our K-8 social studies curriculum.  The year in parenthesis indicates when the curriculum was written or revised.  The new state standards (History, Geography, Civics/Government and Economics) are being integrated into the K-8 program.

ELEMENTARY LEVEL

Writing Across the Curriculum and the Pennsylvania Writing rubric encourages elementary teachers to use social studies in student writing activities.  The use of content-related trade books integrates social studies with the teaching of reading. Technology is an important resource for students to investigate how humans live.

Kindergarten (2002) - The emphasis is on introducing and developing basic concepts of School Citizenship/Group Cooperation, Self-Image, Family Living and Holidays.  There is an introduction to basic geographic skills and concepts.  Social Studies is integrated with other subjects for real life learning experiences.

Grade 1  (2003) - Using the concepts of people, place and time students learn how they can discover patterns and connections in their world.  Units of study are: Citizenship, People I Know, How People Live and Celebrate, Where People Live, How People Work, and How and Why People Move and Travel.  Students start learning basic map skills and economic concepts.  The culminating activity will have students create a book showing where they live from their home (near) to the entire world (far).  Social studies is integrated with other subjects, especially language arts.

Grade 2 (2005) – Students will travel to the seven continents as they learn about their expanding world.  They use primary research skills to investigate their family heritage, community, the United States and the World.  Each student creates a Passport to record their “visits” to the continents and different countries.  The units are: How to Investigate My World, Geography Skills and Concepts, Living In Our Country, and Investigating People Making a Difference -- Past & Present.   Trade books and hands-on materials are used instead of a textbook.

Grades 3 (2001/05) - Students learn about how humans interact with their environment through the study of Native Americans, in the past and in the present.  The concepts of environment, culture and adaptation are learned by comparing and contrasting the environments and the Native American cultures found in our nation.  Geography skills and concepts are emphasized.  Hands-on activities and vicarious experiences help give students a sense of Native American cultures.  Social studies and language arts are closely integrated, using social studies content and the theme of Similarities and Differences.

Grade 4 (2003/05) - The year's theme is Cause and Effect.  There are mini-units on Geographic Skills and Concepts and on Multiculturalism.  The major units are: A) U.S. Regions such as Southeast, Northeast, etc. - students discover patterns in regions' history, ethnic groups and geography by doing research.  Students will report their findings to the class. B) Pennsylvania and Local Heritage, which includes the study of the community as a primary source.  Students learn primarily through researching about their country and state.  Then they compare and contrast the different regions of the United States.  In 2003 Social Studies Alive! program became an integral part of the curriculum.

Grade 5  (1997/2003) - This introductory course to early American history is based on the year's theme of Conflict and Resolution.  Students learn about major historical eras from the Age of Exploration to the Civil War.  The concept of the U.S.A. as a multicultural and pluralistic nation is reinforced.  Basic geography and map skills are taught.  Social studies is integrated with language arts by a thematic approach in core units: Exploration and Colonization, American Revolution, Westward Movement and the Civil War.  In 2003 Social Studies Alive! program became an integral part of the curriculum.

Grade 6 (2004) - Exploring Our Ancient Heritage is learned through the year’s theme of Problems and Solutions.  Students use research and thinking skills to examine how ancient people solved problems, then relate their findings to modern-day life.  The concepts of history/the past, historical method, culture and multicultural society are emphasized.  Basic geography, thinking and research skills are used by students to produce projects about ancient people and their civilizations.  Social studies is integrated with language arts in the thematic core units:  Early Humans and the Rise of Civilization, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire.   The interactive History Alive! program is an integral part of the curriculum.

SECONDARY LEVEL

Grade 7 (updated 2006) - World Geography is learned based on the Five Themes of Geography - Location, Place, Human-Environment Interactions, Regions and Movement.  A major goal is student mastery of map skills and basic geographic concepts along with gaining mental maps of our world and nation.  Students use research and higher order thinking skills in order to investigate issues/problems and pose possible solutions of human-environment interaction during the major units: Exploring Our World, World Regions & Global Concepts, Changing Face of Europe, United States, Canada, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.  An overview of Asia is learned as a case study during the culminating mini-unit in which students investigate a world problem or issue.

Grade 8 (updated 2006) - American Civic History is studied from European origins to the establishment of our constitutional government in 1787.  The key question for students' learning of early American history is to discover "why and how our nation became a representative democracy."  The purpose and process of history is studied.  Students participate in a simulation of the Constitutional Congress.  The U.S. Constitution is studied in-depth to gain an understanding of how our representative government works.  They will also research a modern-day issue or problem related to our nation's basic political principles and governmental system.  Pennsylvania heritage is integrated within the curriculum by studying relevant topics of American history and civics.