In first grade, students will study “My Family and Other Families, Now and Long Ago” 

Our First Graders engage in structured inquiry to learn about: 

• Individual Development and Cultural Identity 
• Civic Ideals and Practices
• Geography, Humans and the Environment
• Time, Continuity, and Change 
• Economic Systems 

These units represent five of the unifying themes of social studies.  Each unit includes inquiries that help students examine families and develop an awareness of cultural diversity within the American culture. Responsible citizenship is introduced, as well as the role of authority in making rules and laws. The students will increase their geography skills through the use of maps and directions. Family history provides the basis for examining sources of information and organizing that information. Economic terminology and principles are introduced in the context of family resources, as well as in making economic decisions.