Elementary Social Studies

In Kindergarten, the social studies standards are woven throughout four inquiry units.  Each inquiry unit lasts for about 20 days.  

Unit 1: Geography

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Explain how location makes their community special;
• Explain the unique human and environmental interactions in their school community;
• Describe how transportation and communication link people and places by the movement of goods and ideas.

Unit 2: Civics

 At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Define and explain the concept of freedom;
• Explain the roles of conflict and compromise;
• Explain how groups and people in authority use rules to promote the common good.

Unit 3: Economics

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Explain the role of scarcity in their lives;
• Understand that decision making is a process;
• Understand the concept of trade;
• Identify potential career paths.

Unit 4: History

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Describe change over time in school;
• Describe life in the past.

In first grade, the social studies standards are woven throughout four inquiry units.  Each inquiry unit lasts for about 20 days.  

Unit 1: Geography

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Explain how location makes their community unique;
• Describe the unique human and environmental interactions in their school community;
• Describe how transportation and communication link people and places by the movement of goods and ideas.

Unit 2: Civics

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Explain the importance of community;
• Explain the importance of leaders;
• Describe the importance of cooperation;
• Understand community problem solving;
• Explain the importance of civic engagement.

Unit 3: Economics

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Explain the role of scarcity in their lives;
• Understand and explain the concept of trade;
• Understand that decision making is a process;
• Compare and contrast borrowing and lending.

Unit 4: History

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Describe change over time in school;
• Describe life in the past

In second grade, the social studies standards are woven throughout four inquiry units.  Each inquiry unit lasts for about 20 days.  

Unit 1: Geography

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Explain how location makes their community unique;
• Describe the unique human and environmental interactions in their school community;
• Describe how transportation and communication link people and places by the movement of goods and ideas.

Unit 2: Civics

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Understand and explain the role of the common good;
• Understand and explain the concept of democracy;
• Understand democratic ideas;
• Identify and explain types of responsible civic engagement.

Unit 3: Economics

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Identify and explain the roles of producers and consumers;
• Describe an economy.

Unit 4: History

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Describe change over time in school;
• Describe and explain life in the past.

In third grade, the social studies standards are woven throughout three inquiry units.  Each inquiry unit lasts between 20-30 days.  

Unit 1: Civics

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Identify and explain examples of civic virtue;
• Identify and explain local, state, and national levels of government;
• Identify and explain how they can contribute to local community issues.

Unit 2: Geography/Economics

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Explain the locations of goods and services in the state of Maryland;
• Understand how economic development in Maryland impacts people;
• Identify and explain the impact of economic development on the natural environment.

Unit 3: History

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Identify and analyze early regional cultural groups;
• Identify and analyze influences of early cultural groups.

In fourth grade, the social studies standards are woven throughout three inquiry units.  Each inquiry unit lasts between 12-13 weeks.  

Unit 1: Worlds Collide (1450-1650)

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Evaluate and explain the impact of geography on cultural development and interaction;
• Identify and explain the motivations for european exploration;
• Identify and explain the impact of exploration on various groups.

Unit 2: Resistance, Colonization, and European Expansion in North America (1500 – 1650)

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Compare and contrast Maryland’s colonial experience with other colonies;
• Identify and explain how geography influenced culture and economic development throughout the colonies;
• Identify and explain the impact of slavery on the development of Maryland.

Unit 3: American Revolution (1750-1789)

At the end of the unit students should be able to:

• Identify and explain the cause of the American Revolution;
• Compare and contrast reactions to the Declaration of Independence by various groups;
• Understand Maryland’s response to British policy;
• Identify and explain the reasons for and effect of the development of a new American government.