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Kindergarten learners will demonstrate understanding that their world is made up of many different groups and places, and that these groups and places can change over time. Kindergartners will also understand how people in their lives, including their class, and they themselves can make positive contributions as group members and/or citizens. Learners will participate in decision making related to wants and needs. Finally, learners will discuss the importance of rules and appropriate behaviors in and out of the classroom, with opportunities to practice their decision-making skills.
First grade learners will study their own families, past and present. They will compare present-day families and schools to ones of recent and distant past. Through the discussion of civic issues that arise in school, the learners will understand rules, fairness, and collective decision-making. Learners will also make and use simple maps and timelines.
Learners in second grade will develop a conceptual understanding of community. They will be introduced to the domains of social studies (history, geography, culture, civics, economics, and government) through the lens of their local community. Learners will explore how people, places, geography, and events have shaped their Fairbanks area communities, historically. In addition, they will become acquainted with local government and current issues.
Learners will focus on Alaska: past, present, and future. Learners will compare and contrast various cultures and regions within the state. They will also focus on the study of Alaska’s history, geography, culture, civics, economics, and government. Learners will explore the Indigenous cultures of Alaska, including why and how the first Alaska Natives and other people came to the area, the United States’ purchase of Alaska, and how Alaska became a state. The learners will also explain the history and importance of natural resources to Alaska’s people and economies.
This yearlong study helps develop knowledge of the geography of the United States, continents, and oceans to lay the foundation for further social studies explorations. The learners will examine the factors, both physical and cultural, that help define regions in the United States. Learners will explore the idea of financial and civic responsibility. Throughout their social studies exploration, learners will focus on developing questions and planning inquiries, applying disciplinary concepts and tools, evaluating sources and using evidence, and communicating conclusions and taking informed action.[1]
In fifth grade, learners will continue to build their understanding of the location of the United States in the context of the world, learn the history of our current governmental system, and learn how they can further explore their economic and civic responsibilities. It is important to note that U.S. history will be re-visited in depth in eighth grade, so learners should leave fifth grade with a strong foundation in the following four topics:
Geography - continents and oceans (relative and absolute location of each), Polar region perspectives, and our place in the world.
How our government works and opportunities for civic engagement.
History of the United States, focusing on European colonization, positive and negative interactions with Indigenous peoples, and the foundations of the United States government, as it relates to today.
Understanding of economics, how money works, and how that integrates with society, culture, and the environment.
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[1] “College, Career, & Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards.” National Council for the Social Studies, < https://www.socialstudies.org/sites/default/files/c3/C3-Framework-for-Social-Studies.pdf>. Accessed 9 Aug. 2019.
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