In first grade social studies, students explore the concepts of families, including the students’ own families, now and long ago.
By the end of the school year, all students should be able to:
■ Know that families have their own histories.
■ Understand the function of money (and that people make decisions about money) and how it is used to meet our needs and wants.
■ Know that laws can be made and changed by governments.
■ Share information about a topic in social studies in writing or through discussion.
■ Read and listen to fiction and nonfiction books related to history, geography, and famous people.
■ Know about people and events that are important in their community’s history.
■ Make paintings or drawings that show different cultural traditions, such as a family holiday celebration.
■ Explore and identify their own family’s history. For example, know why and how a parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle first came to New York.
■ Create simple maps of familiar places or areas (bedrooms, classrooms, school, and neighborhood), showing where desks, bookshelves, and other items are located.
■ Understand that the American flag is a symbol of the United States.
■ Understand and follow rules for their classroom, school, and community.
Learning at Home
Start a family history box. Help your child collect photos, newspaper clippings, letters, maps, and other items. Include facts about your family, such as where other family members live now.
Check out Panwapa, www.panwapa.com, an interactive, online global community for children ages 4–7 created by the Sesame Workshop. The site features a new cast of Muppet characters who help children become citizens of their world and community.
Let your child help you find and prepare a simple, traditional recipe from another country, such as picadillo (ground beef and olives) from Cuba, mofongos (plantain balls) or arroz con habichuelas (rice and beans) from Puerto Rico, or perogi (dumplings) from Russia.
Visit one of the many historical societies, museums, and children’s museums in New York City each month.