Central Bucks School District Elementary Social Studies Curriculum

Social Studies

Central Bucks recognizes that students today have many experiences which bring the distant world into their lives. In response to the current needs of our society, this teacher-developed, hands-on curriculum moves more quickly, has a global focus, and introduces the students to civics, economics, and geography, in addition to history.

Kindergarten	Grade 1	Grade 2	Grade 3	Grade 4	Grade 5	Grade 6

	Kindergarten § Recognize self as an individual with abilities and feelings. § Learn to recite personal information such as birthday, address, and phone number. § Recognize the role that each family member plays to provide for family needs. § Identify community helpers. § Explain the rules that are important for school and community environments. § Demonstrate cooperation in the classroom setting. § Identify similarities and differences among people. § Describe holidays that are celebrated in the U.S. and in different cultures. § Identify some patriotic symbols and important historical figures. § Demonstrate an understanding of beginning map and globe skills. § Identify farms and farm animals as sources of goods. § Become aware of local and world events appropriate to this level.
	Grade 1 § Recognize similarities and differences among cultures. § Compare and contrast life in the U.S. with that in China and Mexico. § Discuss the need for rules and laws. § Explain the differences between wants and needs. § Recognize that individuals perform tasks to earn money to purchase goods and services. § Explain how globes and maps represent the earth. § Use a key and symbols on a simple map. § Describe the accomplishments of some famous Americans. § Develop an awareness of events happening in the world today. § Use social skills in cooperating with others.
	Grade 2 § Locate four oceans and seven continents. § Describe various landforms. § Demonstrate the understanding of symbols, legends, scale, and directions on a map. § Analyze similarities and differences between Woodland and Plains Native American Indians. § Discuss the contributions of the Native American Indians to U.S. culture. § Recognize the need for authority, rules, and laws. § Make informed decisions about needs and wants, goods and services. § Use communication, negotiation, and decision-making processes. § Cooperate with others in group projects. § Discuss current events.
	Grade 3 § Describe the cultures of Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome as roots of Western culture. § Compare the representational governments of Ancient Rome and the United States. § Identify the three major strands of the United States government. § Discuss differences among class groups in ancient civilizations. § Analyze the relationship of geography to the economic and social development of cultures. § Identify hemispheres and major latitudes and longitudes. § Recognize different types of bodies of water. § Identify barter, trade, and opportunity costs. § Use problem-solving techniques to resolve social problems in the classroom. § Discuss current events throughout the year.
	Grade 4 § Identify major explorers of the Americas and locate their countries. § Recognize the influence of geography on the economic and culture growth. § Differentiate between the economy and civic structure of the Native American Indians and that of the Colonists. § Compare and contrast the cultural groups of the Northeast and the Southeast colonies. § Discuss major events leading to the American Revolution. § Demonstrate an understanding of the geography and history of Pennsylvania and Bucks County. § Identify current events which impact upon Pennsylvania.
	Grade 5 § Discuss major events of the Revolutionary War. § Describe the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the structure of the U. S. government. § Identify landforms and bodies of water in the U. S. § Explain the differences among the middle, northwest, and southwest regions. § Analyze reasons for and results of the westward expansion. § Explain the essential role of elections and voting in our changing society. § Identify current events that impact upon the United States.
	Grade 6 § Describe the cultural and current status of Europe, Latin America, sub-Sahara Africa, or Southern and Eastern Asia, concentrating on three of the four areas. § Analyze the economies of the above areas and the relationships to the United States. § Recognize the interaction of world communities. § Use latitude, longitude, meridians, and time zones in locating areas. § Identify landmasses, landforms, and bodies of water in the countries studied. § Explain citizens’ rights and responsibilities. § Become informed on issues and candidates, and the importance of voting. § Use communicating and negotiating skills in working cooperatively with others. § Discuss international current events.

CBSD Social Studies Website

Central Bucks School District
20 Welden Drive Doylestown, PA 18901
(267) 893-2000 Contact Us.