Social Studies is the study of our world and its history, geography and
people.
In the elementary curriculum, the study of social studies is connected to
language arts. Many of the social studies content goals are enhanced through
the use of social studies based literature.
Students in second grade will begin the year with a study of communities.
They will analyze images of urban, rural and suburban communities to learn
about the advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of communities.
They will learn to read maps and to locate important geographic features on
a physical map. They will continue using these skills to explore how people
use natural resources and discover how pollution is caused by misuse of the
environment.
Second grade students will learn about the production and distribution of
goods. They will learn to distinguish between needs and wants and learn how
to be a wise consumer.
Later in the year, students will learn why communities grow and decline.
They will take a look at how one community changed and how one person can
make a difference in a community. They will take part in a mock city council
and learn how to participate as a good citizen. Students will also study the
interdependence of communities and the social connections among U.S.
communities.
