Social Studies

The goal of the social studies program is to promote civic competence in our students.  The five strands which comprise the social studies curriculum are:  history, civics/government, social justice, geography, and economics.  In the primary grades, students begin this journey with instruction in communities.  We begin to introduce the roles and responsibilities of citizens within our country, and introduce our students to maps and globes.  Weaving our Catholic faith into the social studies curriculum, our students explore how we, as Catholics, are called to respond to those in need.  Students in Pre-K4 and kindergarten use thematic units to incorporate social studies lesson with other core area subjects.  For our students in first and second grade, teachers use a basic text, discussion, hands-on projects, and real-life projects to teach the social studies concepts.

Textbooks used: 

• First grade: Social Studies:  All Together
• Second grade: Social Studies: People and Places

• Explore American symbols, customs, national holidays, and religious holidays
• Explore the beginnings of our state and country
• Understand the role and responsibilities of citizens in our country
• Gain an understanding of communities and the role citizens play within the community
• Gain an understanding of the laws within our country
• Develop an understanding of how Catholics respond to the needs of others
• Identify and interpret different symbols and directions on a map or globe
• Identify basic land/water formations using a map or globe
• Distinguish between needs, wants, good, services, producers, consumers, and workers