Kindergarten: Social Studies Strands

Social studies instruction incorporates the four strands of history, geography, civics, and economics. Students learn about themselves and others, their families, their community, and their world. They study national holidays and the people or deeds associated with those holidays. Students also study various family traditions and celebrations. They learn about history by studying people and events of other times and places.

History

Students:

• identify themselves as individuals and part of a family and a community
  
• share family traditions and celebrations
  
• compare family life in the past with life in the present
  
• hear stories about famous Americans and past events and legends
  
• explore American traditions, leaders, and holidays
  
• identify patriotic symbols -- United States flag, bald eagle, cardinal, and dogwood tree
  
• recognize devices for measuring passage of time -- clocks, watches, and calendars
  
• become aware of historical information through listening, observing, reading, writing, technology, drawing, music, and poetry
  
  

Civics

Students:

• become aware of individual rights and responsibilities
  
• participate in developing classroom rules
  
• demonstrate respect and fairness within the school community
  
• learn behaviors of a good citizen
  
• recognize the Pledge of Allegiance and the president is the leader of the United States
  
  

Economics

Students:

• recognize the differences between basic needs and wants
  
• discuss how people earn a living in the community
  
• recognize that people use money to purchase goods
  
• participate in dramatic play activities that show how money is used to buy goods and services, e.g., banks, grocery stores, and restaurants