Kindergarten Social Studies
Scope
How can people work together for the good of all?
Units
Unit — Myself and Others
Essential Questions
What makes me special and unique?
How can we fit in with people around us?
Enduring Understandings
Each person is unique and has special talents.
Families may be similar and different and have similar and different responsibilities.
A sense of community focuses on respect and caring.
Guiding Questions
How is each person unique and what are their special talents?
What is a birthday and when do you celebrate your birthday?
Who are different family members?
How can families be similar and different?
What does it mean to be respectful?
What is the difference between a “tattle” and a “tell”?
How/why do people need each other?
What is a community?
Available Resources
Titles may include:
Books
We Need Custodians by Jane Scoggin Bauld
Flower Garden by Eve Bunting
Friends at School by Rochelle Bunnett
Biscuit’s Birthday by Alyssa Capucilli
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Suess
All Families are Different by Sol Gordon
Fathers, Mothers, Sisters by Maryann Hoberman
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Moira's Birthday by Robert Munch
Wait and See by Robert Munsch
It’s My Birthday by Helen Oxenbury
I Show Respect by David Parker
Our Class Works Together by David Parker
I’m in Charge of Me! by David Parker
Families Are Different by Nina Pellegrini
Don’t Squeal Unless It’s A Big Deal by Jeanie Ransom
What Will the Weather be Like Today? by Paul Rogers
A Book About Respectfulness by Mary Small
Skills
Students will:
recognize and write their names.
recognize their individual talents.
draw and label.
identify when their birthday is.
participate in a discussion.
define respect.
define a “tattle” and a “tell.”
work with a partner.
make decisions.
justify reasons/ explain.
identify the members of their school community.
ask questions.
work cooperatively.
listen to others.
attend to a story.
follow multi-step directions.
think/pair/share.
New York State Social Studies Framework
Key Ideas: 1.2, 1.3, 1.4
Conceptual Understandings: K1b, K2a, K2b, K2c, K4a, K4b, K5a, K6b, K6c
Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards
RL: K.1, K.3, K.5, K.9, K.9a
RI: K1, K.2, K.3, K.4, K5, K6, K.7, K.8, K.9
W: K.1, K.2, K.3, K.8
SL: K.1, K.2, K.4, K.5
L: K.4
Unit — What Are Rules and Why Do I Need to Follow Them?
Essential Questions
How can I be a good citizen?
Enduring Understandings
Good citizens have many responsibilities throughout life.
Good school and community citizens make good choices that affect themselves and others.
Good citizens respect their flag and understand its importance.
Guiding Questions
What the American Flag represents and its importance?
What are individual responsibilities as a citizen of the classroom/school community?
How do my choices affect myself and others?
Available Resources
Titles may include:
Books
"World Holidays" Reading A-Z.
Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Mind Your Manners: In School by Arianna Candall
Red, White, and Blue by Susan Canizares
The Empty Pot by Demi
Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola
Play Fair, Have Fun: A Flap book About Making Good Choices by Tisha and Jan Hamilton
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
F is for Flag by Wendi Lewison
It’s Mine! by Leo Lionni
Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King Jr. by Jean Marzollo
Career Day by Anne Rockwell
Presidents' Day by Anne Rockwell
Cat and Dog at School by Rozanne Williams
Skills
Students will:
draw and label.
write their names.
judge appropriate responses to scenarios and videos.
work with others.
make predictions.
put together a simple puzzle.
draw a conclusion.
New York State Social Studies Framework
Key Ideas: K3, K4, K5
Conceptual Understandings: K3a, K3b, K4b, K5a, K5b, K5c
Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards
RL: K.1, K.4, K.5,K.11
RI: K.4, K.5, K.8, K.9
W: K.1, K.2
SL: K.1, K.2, K.4, K.6
L: K.4, K5a, K.6
Unit — Understanding Economics and Geography?
Essential Questions
How do economics and geography affect my life?
Enduring Understandings
All people have needs and wants that are met by goods and services.
All human beings have to deal with scarcity.
People need to work together to fulfill the needs and wants of many.
People need to respect their environment while satisfying their needs and wants.
Guiding Questions
Do all people have needs and wants?
What are goods and services? How do they help people satisfy their needs and wants?
Do people use tools to complete their jobs?
How do all human beings have to deal with scarcity?
How can people work together for the good of all?
How can people help others to fulfill their needs and wants?
What tools do people need to understand their environment and satisfy their needs and wants?
Available Resources
Titles may include:
Books
"Needs and Wants" Reading A-Z.
Dandelion by Don Freeman
The Earth and I by Frank Asch
The Mitten: A Ukrainian Folktale by Jan Brett
Skills
Students will:
complete a t-chart activity.
use unit vocabulary appropriately.
distinguish between a need and a want.
identify a tool.
draw a curriculum related image and label it appropriately.
ask a question.
complete an opinion statement and provide reason.
New York State Social Studies Framework
Key Ideas: K4, K6, K8, K9
Conceptual Understandings: K4a, K6a, K6b, K6c, K8b, K9a, K9b
Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards
RL: K.1, K3, K4, K.10, K11
RI: K1, K3, K.4, K.7
W: K.2, K.6, K.7
SL: K1, K.2, K.3, K6
L: K.4, K5a, K5b, K5c