Big-Idea Themes for Social Studies
| Big-Idea Themes for Social Studies | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme and NCSS links | Questions | Key Concepts | Activities and Strategies |
| Families 1,2,3,4,5,9 |
What is a family?
Who is in my family? Where do families live? What do families do? How do families communicate? |
Relationships
Continuity of human life The past Methods of the historian Humans are alike and different Families share language, culture, and traditions Alike and different |
Concept mapsrelationships
Interviews with family members Photographs of family members Share stories about families Journal things family does together for a week Family tree Family portraits Dramatic play Pictures of parents as children Graph number of siblings in class Grandparents’ tea Send email/make cards/write letters |
| Earth 2,3,5,8,9,10 |
What is the earth?
What is the earth made of? How big is the earth? Who lives on the earth? How do we take care of the earth? |
Earth is where we live
Direction and location Distance and measurement Maps and globes Perspective Relationships within places Regions Climate, weather, and seasons Land forms Caring for the earth Life forms Sky, earth, land, water Interdependency Ecological responsibility |
Dig/observe: “What’s in a square foot of earth?”
Earth collections: rocks, shells, etc. Field tripsobservatory, virtual tours Examine/make a globe Draw the sidewalk from the second story Cloud pictures Weather station Recycling Making maps Map puzzle Photo spot in garden at different times over the year |
| Neighborhood 1,2,3,4,5, 9,10 |
What is a neighborhood?
How big is a neighborhood? Where are neighborhoods? Who lives in neighborhoods? What is my neighborhood like? How do people in neighborhoods interact? How do neighborhoods change over time? |
Direction and location
Earth is where we live Distance/measurement Relationships within places The past Culture/traditions Continuity/change |
Field trips
Photo map of neighborhood Survey people in neighborhood Graph types of structures Old pictures of neighborhood Neighborhood events Make street signs with names of streets in neighborhood Measure distances (steps) to different places in school and neighborhood |
| The Past 1,2,3,5,8 |
People in the past
Objects in the past Places in the past |
Patterns of continuity and change
Measuring time Passage of time |
Personal/family time line
Daily class journal Party for 100th day of school Museum visit “What is it?” (old objects) Old photo gallery Stories about famous people Take pictures of classroom over the year to observe changes Sort pictures of self by age |
| Stores 3,7,8,9,10 |
What is a store?
Who works at a store? How does a store work? How do people get/buy things? |
Needs and wants
Location Relationships Distribution Production Services Consumption Supply and demand |
Visit different kinds of stores
Graph/web different stores children know about/visit Set up store Make shopping lists/clip coupons Raise money to buy something Set up trading post Make lists: I need/want . . . because . . . Sort pictures by want/need |
| Holiday Celebrations 1,2,3,4,5, 9,10 |
What is a holiday?
How do people celebrate holidays? What are the holidays we celebrate? What holidays do people far away celebrate? |
Cultures share traditions
Continuity of life Time |
Graph/track birthdays
Collect/display different kinds of flags Plan a party Read stories about celebrations in different places Invite families to share holiday traditions Make up and name a class holiday Celebrate holidays: make decorations/food, etc. Learn holiday and patriotic songs Plan/have a parade |
| Homes 1,3,4,5,7,9 |
What is a home?
Where are homes? Who lives in a home? How are homes built/made? What is in a home? |
Earth is where we live
People work together to build things Homes vary by location/culture Measurement |
Old homes/new homes
Photo document a house or building under construction Block playbuildings Photo album of children’s homes Collage of different kinds of homes Blueprintsvisit with an architect Take pictures of “For Sale” signs Furniture arranging Dramatic play |
| Work 2,3,4,5,6, 7,8,9 |
What is work?
What is a vacation? Where do people work? How do people get to work? When do people work? (shifts, weekends, vacation, lunch) What do people do at work? How do people get paid? |
Visitors
Trip logs Classroom jobs chart Time cards Planning chart for centers Work clothes for dramatic play Visitsoffice, hospital Visitorsprofessionals, trades, public services |
|
| Transportation 2,3,5,6, 7,8,9 |
How do people move?
How do “things” move? Where do people go? What is a vehicle? How have vehicles changed? What is public transportation? |
Distribution
Distance and location People build/make things The past People work together to get things done |
Collect pictures of buses, cars, trains, trucks, planes, boats, spaceships
City bus systemmap a route and take a ride Watch local traffic cam at different times during the day and count cars/trucks Carriage tour Make roads, bridges, tunnels, rivers in sand table Airports, bus/train stations Dramatic play Block play Take pictures of different kinds of traffic signs in neighborhood Collect literature about vehicles and transportation |