First Grade Social Studies

The major focus of the first grade curriculum is the family and the school. Included in this focus are the themes: interactions between groups, culture, history, government, and geography.

Students will:

• explain the purpose of government, recognize the Constitution as the basis of our laws, and give examples of civic responsibility.
• identify leaders in the community, state, and nation.
• explain the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance and explain patriotic symbols.
• recognize that people must work independently and cooperatively to achieve goals.
• understand the importance of voting.
• compare and contrast families of today and long ago and recognize the diversity of family customs and traditions.
• define culture as learned behavior that includes customs, beliefs, rules, language, food, and clothing and recognize its diversity.
• use map legends, symbols, and directions to locate cities, states, countries, continents, and major bodies of water.
• define natural resources and explain how people are dependent on them.
• distinguish between goods and services and explain how people exchange them.