Social Studies Overview
Adopted: September 2016
The curriculum and instruction for Social Studies have changed over the years. Just learning facts and figures of historical events in chronological order is not enough for our students to become the productive and involved citizens we need. Our Social Studies curriculum is based on the curriculum standards of the C3 Frameworks for Social Studies. These standards require students to think and process historical events like a historian. They are asked to question, research primary sources, understand different perspectives of the same event, and determine cause and effect. They will learn about broader themes and principles of civics, geography, economics, and history.
Students will be learning and demonstrating the standards through specific content. The Social Studies teachers from SAU 50 determined the content that is most important for all students to learn with an emphasis on US History.
Kindergarten Me and My World
1st My School and Family
2nd My Community: Specific to the town of residence
3rd Our Community and Beyond: Types of communities and those around the world
4th Regions of the US
New Hampshire
5th US History I: Explorers to American Revolution
6th World Cultures and Geography
7th US History II: Building a Nation (New Government to Gilded Age)
8th US History III: A World Power (WW I to present day)
Within each course, teachers will make decisions about the focus and specific topics as it is impossible for students to learn every fact and figure. Students will also be using reading, writing, and research as they learn and demonstrate their understanding of Social Studies.
More information can be found at: National Council for the Social Studies
http://www.socialstudies.org/