Social Studies for Kindergarten

[maciascl]

I am lost as to how to do this subject (world cultures/maps/history) in Kindergarten. History was never my favorite subject because it was so much just memorization of dates. Can anyone suggest a curriculum (secular) or a method of teaching this? I really need ideas! Dia de los Muertos saved us this month as we have to meet with our charter school Friday & I had nothing to turn in for Social studies.

[CariOfOz]

Well.. in most places in the states (your location doesn't show, sorry if I'm assuming!) social studies in K is usually things like the local community, community services and helpers, all about families, seasons and celebrations and that sort of thing. Most US public schools don't (or didn't when I lived there) start formal history/ world cultures stuff till much later

Soo... this month if you cover Thanksgiving a little you should be somewhat covered Next month things like world Christmas/winter holiday tradtions would be good, and winter in general even. I am not sure the charter would agree.. but to me social studies at 5 should be all about what is going on around them. If you read stories about firefighters and such, just try to remember to do something that you can put in the folio to turn in

[elizawill]

when my dd was in grade k, we used "galloping the globe". however, you don't need that to implement the same concept. we studied countries around the world, discussed what continent they were on, what foods they ate, how they dressed, spoke, etc. with each country we used the book "children just like me". http://www.amazon.com/Children-Just-...7424390&sr=8-1

at christmas, we studied "christmas around the world", followed by the chinese new year, etc. it was a lot of fun & there were a lot of free resources online.

this year, i use this for ideas: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/holid...y_specials.php

hth.

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by CariOfOz

Well.. in most places in the states (your location doesn't show, sorry if I'm assuming!) social studies in K is usually things like the local community, community services and helpers, all about families, seasons and celebrations and that sort of thing. Most US public schools don't (or didn't when I lived there) start formal history/ world cultures stuff till much later

Soo... this month if you cover Thanksgiving a little you should be somewhat covered Next month things like world Christmas/winter holiday tradtions would be good, and winter in general even. I am not sure the charter would agree.. but to me social studies at 5 should be all about what is going on around them. If you read stories about firefighters and such, just try to remember to do something that you can put in the folio to turn in

This is what I was thinking too I guess. I just needed to have someone else say it to clarify it for me.

Elizawill- Thanks for the suggestions this is also the sort of thing I was concidering. I will take a look at that book.

[kgianforti]

We do a Community Worker of the month. Last month was a Police Officer and we went to the police station!

[CParker]

We have made maps of our neighborhood (go for a walk, map it out).

We also have a globe and point out areas whenever we see something on TV, read a book, etc.

We are starting a gratitude journal this month for Thanksgiving.

Go visit your local police station, fire station, library, etc.

[craft_media_hero]

I would count getting involved in community service as well, so working in a community garden, visiting a nursing home or any other kind of civic involvement.

Calendar time and seasonal activities (like if you do "Fall" activities or rhymes).

Songs from around the world. My DD likes reading children's stories from around the world.

We did an "I am me!" block, where we just made a booklet for a couple of weeks with different "me and where I am" stuff, like my handprints, simple family tree, drawing of where I live, etc. I got this idea from a former public school teacher's yard sale, so it's legit

It can be very simple at this age. Making rock people families after reading about world families. Look at indigenous art or dig up native stories from your area.

We also note the full moon and read full moon stories from different cultures. So we're getting at least one day a month that's devoted to calendar activities and cultures.

[elanorh]

We're doing k12 virtual academy, and it does actually do geography/history stuff. We've so far learned the continents, the difference between continents and countries, something about each continent, and now are going into more detail about selected countries on each continent. Along the way we've learned directions (N, S, E, W) and what "legends" are on maps .... We've also been working on address, city/state/country location for US. Memorizing our phone number, that sort of thing.

I think if I were doing this on my own, I'd probably be doing the "address etc." information and teaching much of what we've done so far (continents were easy to learn/teach) .... you could pick countries to focus on each month, or continents, and tailor it around seasonal things (Ireland in March for St. Patrick's Day; China in January for Chinese New Year) -- you can find good story books about various regions at the library, if you tell the librarian what you're looking for she can help you find some fun books to read. Making foods from various cultures would also be fun to do.

I don't think it has to be as in-depth as we're doing, but Ina does enjoy History. This may be because I also enjoy History, and it's certainly helped by the fact that she's got aunts in Asia and Africa right now, and a friend working in Antarctica, so the world probably seems more accessible to her.

[scheelimama]

I was under the impression that at this age you'd want to teach them about their own community, doing maps of their house, neighborhood, city. Learn about your own state, etc. Also calendar work counts I believe. Having them make a calendar and documenting the moon phases once or twice a week, keeping track of their activities each week, x'ing off the days, etc. I would imagine holidays and how other cultures celebrate, or even the origins of the holiday would count. Keep it simple at this age.

[maciascl]

Thank you all so much! I am so full of ideas now I don't know where to start!! I get so overwhelmed sometimes I just don't know where to turn. Thanks for straightening me out for the moment! And keep 'em coming. I am going to start writing these all down so I can remember these the next time I start to panic

[lobster]

We're using the Enki curriculum, in which other cultures and customs are presented through folk & fairy tales. It's fabulous - my kids are always begging for more stories and have absorbed so much from the stories we've read.

Here's what we do:

We pick a story for the week. Day one, we read the story and that's it. Day two, we read the story again and draw in our workbooks anything that strikes us from the story. Day three, we read again and make a craft that has something to do with the story. Day four, we work the story into our creative play. Etc etc. but I'm sure you get the idea.

My son has internalised so many things from the stories, when we're out and about he'll point things out that he notices and refer back to the stories we've read. He's been exposed to European, African and Native cultures this way.

[AllyRae]

My DS isn't homeschooled, but he goes to a private montessori. He's in kindy this year and he was in the same school last year for preschool. I *love* the way they do social studies. Each year, they pick a different continent--last year it was Antarctica and Australia and this year it was Asia. They go on field trips related to it (this year they went to a bonsai garden, a Japanese garden, and a Japanese hibachi), they build kid-sized replicas of traditional houses, they play with traditional toys & instruments, have speakers that are from that continent or who have strong connections to it, they have a huge potluck where all families bring a dish from one of the countries in the continent study, and they read books by authors who are from or who focus on the year's continent. They learn some simple language of a country on the continent. This year, they also learned about Asian market stalls and each student created a market stall based on the lesson and sold items (using barter and pretend money) to other classmates (one sold origami, my DS sold fabric he stamped).

I love how they do it, and much of it, with a little work on your part, can be easily transferred to the home setting, especially if you get together with other homeschoolers. Actively seek out cultural experiences--festivals, attend worship services at temples, etc., go to your library where there are tons of books on various cultures, cook food from cultures, etc.

[bandgeek]

I keep maps and a globe handy for whenever DS wants to "explore". And some basic kid-friendly books on world history and stuff.

Right now, the only thing I'm actively teaching him is close to home. United states, the presidents, the flag, a bit of history, historical monuments, ect. We do crafts and look things up on the computer.

Occasionally he has a question, or something we're reading relates to another area of the world and of course we look it up and explore, but I'm trying to not overwhelm him. He showed an interest in the US map and that's why I started with that. If he showed an interest in China, I would have started there.

I'm so proud though! History was my WORST subject in school. I agree...it just seemed like a bunch of date memorization which is NOT what social studies is about. In 1st grade I couldn't have told you very much about our country at ALL, and DS is not even 5 yet and recognizes Barack Obama (and can pronounce his name ), he knows the US and Ohio flag, he can locate several states on the map, he knows some about the Native Americans and a few early presidents, he recognizes and can name the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument, I'm sure there's more. I'm just tickled pink that I've been able to follow his lead and make it fun for him. That's what was missing from my education...the FUN of learning these things! Thankfully, I'm learning it all now...and REALLY enjoying it too!

[PGTlatte]

I have three books on map study to recommend:

Me on the Map
As the Crow Flies
Miranda the Explorer

There are also some very simple books by Wil Mara on the continents and oceans.
The Four Oceans (‘Rookie Read-About Geography’ seres / Scholastic, 2004)
The Seven Continents (‘Rookie Read-About Geography’ seres / Scholastic, 2004)

[rainbowmoon]

Originally Posted by kgianforti

We do a Community Worker of the month. Last month was a Police Officer and we went to the police station!

this is a great idea!

[rainbowmoon]

we have mainly just been following DS lead and using Enki very loosely..his interests so far have included Egypt, Africa, Antacrtica and the USA. We need to get a globe ASAP. I also would like to get a map for his room as he's really into maps.

otherwise we talk about some historical events as they come up..like electricity being invented, technology,etc.

I really love the potluck idea and incorporating food! awesome!

[atreyyena]

another thought

I just saw a really neat curriculum on currclick called 1st step, or 1st steps or something like that.....they talk about the basics of history, and have little 'unit studies' on halloween and that type of thing.
If you're interested.