Kindergarten - Grade 3 Social Studies Lesson Plans

1. 101 Things Friends Do- Each group brainstorms (for designated period of time) a list of things friends do (share ice cream, laugh at each other's jokes, go places together, etc.)
2. A Celebration Timeline- Students identify our national holidays, make and use a timeline, and appreciate the unique nature and shared values of family celebrations.
3. A Special Classroom Quilt- Have children share a special event from their lives with their classmates by making a classroom quilt.
4. Adapting to the Land- Students will consider how the environment affects how people live, identify examples of human adaptation, and appreciate human-environment interaction.
5. And the Winner Is...- Children will use their artistic skills to create an award for a fabulous family member.

1. Assembly Lines- In this activity students form an assembly line to make a picture.
2. Australia- Students will create a travel brochure for Australia.
3. Being Treated Equally- To let children experience prejudice first hand, in reference to Martin Luther King Day.
4. Career Collage- The goal of this activity is to expose students to the numerous careers that exist in this world.
5. Chain of Compliments- Students will give and receive compliments to and from their classmates. This activity can promote self-esteem as well as classroom cooperation.
6. City, Suburb, or Country?- Students discuss the characteristics of life in the country, in a suburb, and in a city. Students compare and contrast general environmental differences, and explore their immediate environment.
7. Creating an Edible Map- Students will create a map and examine the physical geography, borders, and/or cities/towns of an area.
8. Disaster Drill Guide- In this activity, students will create an emergency drill guide that will help them know what to do in the event of an emergency at school.
9. Family Crest- Children can begin to think about their family histories and their own lives by making a family crest.
10. Honor Special People- Students design a postage stamp to honor a special person. Students identify people who have made a difference, analyze why people commemorate others, and describe ways individuals can help others.
11. How Did Johnny Appleseed Help the Pioneers Move West?- The student will be able to understand how Johnny Appleseed helped the early pioneers who were moving westward to start new homes and farms.
12. Love- The students will be able to identify different ways that they can show others that they love them.
13. Made in the USA- Students map products made in the United States. Students discuss regional interdependence and identify goods the U.S. produces and trades.
14. Make a Map- Students will create a map and a map key, understand that a map shows the view from above, and use a map key to interpret symbols and locate places and objects on a map.
15. Mapping the School- Students will develop their mapping skills by creating an object map of the school.
16. Martin Luther King Jr. Was a Great Civil Rights Leader- The student will be able to understand how Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out for civil rights and led protests and marches demanding fair laws for all people.
17. My Personal Treasures- Students will learn and appreciate the "personal treasures" of their classmates as well as their own.
18. Our Flag- In this activity children make a United States flag collage. They understand that the flag is a national symbol, explain what the stars and stripes stand for, and appreciate the role national symbols play in our society.
19. Playground Map- Students will develop their map-making skills, as well as their sense of direction.
20. Presidents' Day Home Page- The virtual museums on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are designed for primary students and classroom use. Students will enjoy browsing through the respective museums individually, with a partner or as a part of a group.
21. School Rooms- As children play the School Rooms game, they reinforce their understanding of commonly used school terms in a fun, noncompetitive atmosphere.
22. Teamwork- This activity will give students the opportunity to consider what is involved in cooperative efforts and why real teamwork can be very effective.
23. The Civil Rights Movement Begins- The student will be able to understand that long after the Civil War was over many African-American people were not allowed to do things that everyone else could do.
24. Trading Cards- What better way to have children share information about themselves than to make trading cards.
25. Using Grids- Students make a map of their favorite room. They create a map, a map key, and a map index. Students use a grid to find and describe the location of specific places.
26. We All Live Together- The students will draw their house, write about their picture and will be able to read their writing to the teacher and class.
27. Where Have You Been?- Children reinforce their understanding of sense words and build their communication skills as they tell friends about a place they've been to and a place they'd like to visit. As children listen to one another, they learn about different places.
28. Where I Live- This activity will enable children to see that other neighborhoods can be different from their own, but also similar in many ways.
29. Where We Came From- In preparation for the activity, have children ask their parents and relatives to list the countries where their ancestors were born.
30. Who Helps?- Children develop their understanding of how their families function and renew their appreciation for various family members.
31. Who Was Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.?- The student will be able to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. as a great leader who worked to get equal rights for all people.
32. Wish You Were Here- Children will take a closer look at the world just outside their doors and share their experiences with their classmates.