Category: Grade 1 Social Studies

Unit description In this unit the students will learn to identify character traits of a family and share traits, habits and values. They will define traditions and examine their importance in passing information from one generation to another. The students will examine the varying ethnic and cultural groups in the community and state. They will identify, examine and understand how ancestors affect cultures and identity of the following generations. The students will examine symbols and how they represent a culture and are all unique.

In this unit, the students will examine the role and characteristics of a citizen including appropriate actions and model behavior in specific contexts (i.e. classroom, community, etc.). They will develop a basic understanding of our connection to people and cultures across the world and how to protect and respect them both as well as develop an understanding of rules and laws, why they exist, and what consequences are. The students will examine the different levels of government at a local, state and national level and they will become familiar with economic terminology in the context of making economic decisions.

Students will utilize maps to practice using various map tools, legends, and cardinal directions. They will be given the opportunity to practice these skills to describe location of items in the classroom as well as find places in the community or give directions to another student. In addition to this, students will learn about people and communities depending on and modifying their physical environment in order to meet basic needs and how humans interacting with their environment can have a positive or negative impact.

In this unit students will examine personal and family history as a source of information. Students will investigate how families change over time and how these changes can be recorded or documented. Students will have the opportunity to examine other families and compare them to their own, as well as learn about sequence and chronology when describing family events. In addition, students will be exposed to historical sources and oral histories.

In this unit, students will investigate that people have many economic wants and needs, but limited resources with which to obtain them. Students will define scarcity and the effect it has on families and their choices based on their wants and needs. Students will also investigate how tools, technology, and other resources can be used to meet needs and wants. In addition, students will learn the difference between goods and services and consumers and producers and will learn about earning money for wants and needs.