1. Curriculum Planning:
Social Studies

2. Importance of social studies
Enables children to better understand their world, their place in it, and ways to respect the rights of others
Helps children acquire skills for living
Respect, self-control, sharing

3. Concepts to teach during social studies lessons
Multicultural
Intergenerational
Democracy
Ecology
Change
Geography
Community
Current events
Holidays
Friendship

4. Multicultural concepts
Children are more likely to focus on differences than similarities; help them focus on similarities
When planning lessons, select materials that reflect the ethnic heritage and backgrounds of all children
If possible, involve children’s families to learn their needs and customs

5. Intergenerational concepts
Meant to provide children with a positive view of aging and older adults
Themes that can contain concepts of older adults:
Families, friends, helpers, games, nursery rhymes, neighbors, hobbies, holidays, music, me/myself, etc.

6. Democracy concepts Helping children learn governmental concepts
Pointing out the flag, pictures of the president, recognizing the national anthem or Pledge of Allegiance
Activities can include:
Voting on a new class pet’s name
Voting on a snack
Letting children outline rules for use for a new toy
Let children plan types of sandwiches for a picnic
Let children vote on plans for classroom celebrations

7. Ecology concepts Study of the chain of life Activities can include:
Focus on water, land, air, grass, trees, birds, and insects
Activities can include:
Nature walk pointing out plants, trees, flower, gardens, shrubs, or birds
Plants/animals in the classroom
Making bird feeders
Building a terrarium
A recycling center in dramatic play

8. Change Concepts
Children need to learn that change is constant and affects their lives in many ways
To help them understand, include change they’ve experienced
Video about babies
Record height at beginning, middle and end of year and discuss how they changed
Explore baby clothes or toys

9. Geography concepts
Children need to understand that the earth provides them with food, shelter, and raw materials
Activities include:
Digging in sand or a garden area
Helping children read symbols on maps
Making a map of the
classroom/neighborhood

10. Community Living
Helping children learn about the community in which they live
Introduce children to places in the community
Library, museum, police station, fire station, bus depot, post office, train station, radio or television station
Discuss the community helpers
Police officer, firefighters, postal workers, dentist, musician, chef, banker and librarians

11. Current Events
Children are usually unaware of events outside their own environment
Should be encouraged to share events affecting their lives
Ex: show-n-tell
News bulletin board can allow children to display cards, picture, invitations, drawings, etc.

12. Holiday Concepts
Holiday celebrations teach children about their own culture and other cultures
Try to teach children the social importance of the holiday
Avoid introducing a holiday more than one week before it occurs
Choose holidays that represent many cultural groups

13. Friendship Concepts
Friendship success is dependent on the child’s ability to share, communicate, take turns, and cooperate
Your job is to coach children by helping them see what they are doing and how their actions affect others
If a child grabs another child’s toy, say, “Ask Mike if you can play with some clay.”
If a child is working in the dress up area and asks another child if she wants to play, say, “You made Kimmy happy when you asked her to play.”

14. Activity: As a class, choose a theme
With a partner, brainstorm activities that could be used in various social studies areas to fit the theme
Compile a list of at least 5 activities
Have each group share one activity & write it on the board - without repeats! Then, as a group, decide which activity could most smoothly be integrated into the theme