WALPOLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SOCIAL STUDIES
GRADES K-5
Curriculum Summary
These curriculum summaries have been developed by teachers and administrators to serve as another way of communicating with parents. They highlight the core curriculum and expectations for student learning at each grade level.
The curriculum summaries describe what most students at a grade level are expected to know and be able to do by the end of the school year. They also reflect the goals of the various Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. It is important to note that although children may learn and grow at different rates and through varied styles, all should make regular progress.
While we have high expectations for all students and encourage each student to work to their capacity, parents and teachers recognize that some students have more difficulty in school. Others will progress more rapidly and move well beyond these core expectations. It is the joint responsibility of school and home to provide support, challenge, and encouragement for all students.
Grade K
Students will answer the questions:
What is a map, what is a globe?
What does it mean to be a responsible citizen?
Why do people need to work?
Why do we celebrate national holidays
What is your address, school, country?
Who is in your family?
What is in your neighborhood?
Who keeps you safe in Walpole?
What are national symbols, songs, pledges?
Grade 1
Students will
identify American national symbols (flag, White House, Statue of Liberty, pledge, and songs).
understand that stories are an important part of our heritage.
understand temporal concepts (past, present, future, yesterday, today, and tomorrow).
use maps and globes to identify land and water.
identify the US on a map and its’ capital.
identify individuals who have made significant contributions to U.S.
understand that we are all part of a family.
discover different families’ customs and traditions for holidays.
Grade 2
Students will
use correctly temporal words and phrases (now, in the past, in the future).
read historical time lines and put in chronological order events in their lives.
describe the difference between maps and globes and use them following historical narratives.
define qualities that make a good leader.
demonstrate the rights and responsibilities of a good student and citizen.
give examples of producers and consumers in school and in the community.
identify buyers and sellers in the community and the goods and services bought and sold.
on a world map locate seven continents, five major oceans, five major rivers and major mountain or mountain ranges.
locate boundaries of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
explain the difference between a continent and country.
read about their families’ traditions or customs and traditions and customs from different countries.
describe and compare different ways people have achieved great distinction.
Grade 3
Students will
learn about the history of Massachusetts from the arrival of the Pilgrims.
explain how the Puritans and Pilgrims differed.
explain important political, economic and military developments in Boston leading up to the American Revolution.
learn about famous people and events in Massachusetts history.
use cardinal directions, map scales, legends, and titles to locate places on maps of New England, Massachusetts, and Walpole.
use the word “decade” and “century” correctly.
explain a tax and purposes of taxes.
explain why we have governments and discover ways we can influence local government.
Grade 4
Students will
use maps and globes to determine latitude and longitude of locations.
use title, compass rose, scale, and legend to read a map.
provide examples of the US natural resources.
give examples of limited and unlimited resources and the effect on the economy.
locate the regions of the US.
identify the states, state capitals, and major cities of the US.
describe the climate, major physical features, and natural resources of each US region.
identify and describe unique features of the US.
identify major monuments and historical sites in and around Washington, D.C.
describe the diverse nature of the American people.
investigate Canada and Mexico- climate, physical characteristics, people, language, major religion, natural resources, and geographic location.
Grade 5
Students will
investigate the pre-Columbian civilizations in the New World.
trace the voyages of the 15th and 16th century European explorers.
explain why the Aztec and Inca civilizations declined in the 16th century.
describe the goals and extent of the Dutch settlement in New York, French settlements in Canada, and Spanish settlements in Florida, Southwest, and California.
explain the relationship between the English settlers and the Native Americans.
identify the major leaders and groups responsible for the founding of the original colonies.
explain the reasons that the language and political principles of what became the US were shaped by English colonists.
explain the causes of the establishment of slavery.
identify the founders and reasons for the establishment of our educational institutions.
explain the development of the colonial governments and how these contributed to the Revolutionary War.
describe the major battles of the Revolution.
describe the achievements of the important leaders in the early years of the US.
identify and describe the events leading to the Constitutional Convention.
describe the basic political principles of American democracy.
identify the rights in the Bill of Rights.
describe and explain the growth of the United States to 1820.
Contacts
Brendan Dearborn, Boyden School Principal
Carrie Ruggiero, Elm Street School Principal
Brian Bemiss, Fisher School Principal
David Barner, Old Post Road School Principal