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Elementary Social Studies Philosophy
Because of the increasing complexity of our
society, it is vital that our country have an informed,
responsible, and contributing citizenry. Social studies is that
part of the curriculum which uses the facts, concepts,
generalizations, and skills of history and the social sciences
to promote responsible citizenship.
The selection of content for social studies
curriculum is based on the outcomes and indicators for the
Maryland School Performance Assessment Program. These outcomes
and indicators encompass the following areas:
- Political Science
- Geography
- Economics
- Peoples of the Nations and
World
- Social Studies Skills and
Processes
- History
Social studies topics share a
common theme - people relating to and interacting with
other people in their environments. The central theme of
social studies is the study of people and their behavior
in a variety of past and present situations.
Planning instruction for students requires consideration
of the unique and complex individuals who are the
learners. Students bring personal ideas, attitudes, and
skills into the classroom. They share many common
experiences and similarities, mature in similar growth
patterns, and share many common cultural experiences.
However, both similarities and differences in students
should be considered in order to address the learners’
needs.
Kindergarten students begin the school year
defining their roles and responsibilities within the home and
school community. They continue by examining the features of the
local community, learning about people important to US history
and American symbols, and end the year learning basic economic
concepts.
In first grade, students learn about their
classmates and their school community. They learn about the
earliest settlers in our country and their resourcefulness in
meeting their wants. First graders learn about the goods and
services available in local communities and develop a basic
understanding of the people and events celebrated in national
holidays. At the end of the year, they compare the lives of
children living in Mexico and two other countries with their own
experience.
In second grade, students learn to gather
information from maps and globes, they learn about the way
people live in communities of the United States, and they
complete the year by learning basic concepts in economics which
they apply to solving problems. Social studies provides many
authentic purposes for the processes of language arts (reading
to be informed, reading to perform a task, writing to inform,
writing to persuade, and writing to express personal ideas).
Third grade students apply concepts of
economics and geography to establish a definition of culture;
they study the culture of Howard County by examining the way
people who live here meet their economic wants; they learn about
the countries, regions, and physical and human-made features of
the continent of North America, and they study countries in
other parts of the world using what they have learned to
understand the way economics and geography affect culture.
Fourth grade students begin their study of
the history of the United States and Maryland by learning about
the culture and customs of the Native Americans and the impact
of exploration. They learn about the history of Maryland from
the first settlers to life in modern day Maryland. Students
develop an understanding of the ways in which Maryland has
changed with respect to modification of the natural environment,
the economy, and human settlement patterns.
Fifth grade students continue to study the
history of the United States and Maryland (which they began in
Grade 4) by learning about the American Colonial Period. They
continue their study of US history by examining the major events
leading up to and during the American Revolution. They end the
year by learning about the writing of the Constitution and the
Bill of Rights; the basic principles and organization of state
and federal government, and their roles as active citizens.
Contact: Kim Loisel, Coordinator |
