Grade 1 Social Studies

By Audra Wallace
September 30, 2009

Your grandchild’s study of the world begins with a study of their own families and neighborhoods

The elementary-school social-studies curriculum introduces students to increasingly larger social circles, starting with their families and communities, then gradually expanding to their state, country, and world. Early in first grade, the focus is firmly on families, schools, and neighborhoods. Grandchildren will discuss how their school is made up of different families and how those families have different customs and traditions. They will also begin to develop an understanding of rules and laws, and how laws help people to be safe and responsible citizens within their community. Other topics include the roles of different public servants, or “helpers,” such as firefighters, police officers, postal workers, and librarians, and an introduction to economics, as kids study the ways people in a community trade goods and services with each other. Students will acquire basic geography skills by making and reading maps about their school and neighborhood. Later in the year, most textbooks begin to expand the idea of “community” to include the entire United States. Students learn about patriotic symbols and national holidays; our country’s government and early history; and key historic figures such as George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout the year, students will also learn to place events in time, identifying events and changes in their community as taking place “today,” “yesterday,” and “long ago.”

The New American Family. The structure of the “typical” American family has changed greatly in recent decades. Although certain types of families may not always be represented in first-grade literature, textbooks, or even classrooms, it is important that students understand that different types of families exist and that although families can be different in some ways, most are very much alike in other ways.

* First-graders love having books read aloud to them. It helps them increase their vocabulary and comprehension, and most important, it’s fun, especially when a grandparent is doing the reading. Judith Caseley’s On the Town: A Community Adventure (Greenwillow, 2002); Neil Chesanow’s Where Do I Live? (Barron’s Educational Series, 1995); Norah Dooley and Peter Thornton’s Everybody Bakes Bread (Carolrhoda Books, 1995); and Bonnie Pryor and Beth Peck’s The House on Maple Street (HarperTrophy, 1992) are all great read-alouds that complement the first-grade social-studies curriculum.

* The best way to teach a child about the importance of community and citizenship is to become a role model by getting involved yourself. Jay Walljasper’s The Great Neighborhood Book: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Placemaking (New Society, 2007) offers practical, hands-on suggestions for taking greater responsibility for your own community.

* First-graders are often asked to investigate and report on their own family’s history, and there’s no one better suited to help them with that than you. Recording your memories in a book like Teri Harrison’s Grandparents’ Memory Book: Did You Really Walk Five Miles to School? (Sta-Kris, 1997) will help you get started. It may become a treasured keepsake for your grandchildren.

Family Album. Have your grandchild draw a portrait of each member of your family. When they’re finished, staple all of the portraits together to create a family album. Don’t forget to make a cover!

Rules Rule. Rules are not just for school. They help keep plenty of other places safe and secure. When visiting a library, museum, or playground with your first-grader, look for rules posted on signs and read them together. Ask your grandchild about possible reasons for the rules. At the end of your visit, ask the child to suggest a new rule.

Community Discoveries. Join your grandchild on a scavenger hunt around your community. Use the list provided here.

Editor’s Note: Audra Wallace is a former elementary school teacher. She currently works as an associate editor for Scholastic’s classroom magazines.

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Source: Grandparants