Grade 1 • Social Studies Overview
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) PreK-12 social studies program has changed considerably over the past 20 years, and has been influenced by national standards documents in multiple disciplines within the social studies (History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Peoples of the Nation and World, and Social Studies Skills and Processes), by the Maryland State Department of Education Social Studies Standards Links to an external site., by The College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Inquiry in Social Studies, Links to an external site. by research findings, and by the changing nature of standardized assessments.
Social Studies skills and content are interwoven throughout the program. Exemplar lessons are designed to actively engage students in the content of social studies by interacting with a variety of resources and then showing what they have learned through various performance-based assessments. This approach has an internal support structure for students with various learning strengths and provides natural opportunities for differentiated instruction and assessments that are guided by the principles of Universal Design for Learning. In addition, lessons have been designed with the purposeful integration of English Language Arts standards in order to allow students to reinforce and practice these skills in an authentic setting.
Beyond the goals and objectives of the curriculum lies the true mission of social studies, to provide those experiences that develop in students the knowledge, concepts, strategies, and skills needed to promote citizenship in a diverse and changing world. Good social studies instruction is meaningful, engaging, and challenging.
Primary Social Studies Units
Students in the primary grades begin their exposure to social studies by first observing and examining the world around them. Each quarter, students participate in a different unit. Throughout each unit, students will examine their responsibilities in their home, school and community. They will learn how to use maps and globes to guide their discovery of the various characteristics of their community, country, and world. This includes learning about human and physical or natural features.
Throughout their study, students will learn about important people such as historical figures, innovators, and leaders from the past and present. Students will also be introduced to economic principles that guide the world around them. Students will learn about buyers and sellers; distinguish between goods and services; identify how goods are produced; and make economic decisions. Furthermore, students build on their civic knowledge by learning about topics that range from American symbols to their role as citizens in their community.
Intermediate Social Studies Units
Third grade is a transitional year when students build on the content standards from the primary grades by applying them to their community and the world. Students begin by analyzing local cities such as Ellicott City and Columbia, and students then expand to economic principles such as the impact of technology on production to global trade. Students will also analyze how the environment of a place impacts humans there and how humans impact the environment.
Fourth grade begins with a historical focus on the early Native American societies and the goals of the early European explorers. The focus then moves chronologically from the study of early settlements such as Roanoke, Jamestown. Plymouth and St. Mary’s city. Students study the motives of early settlers and colonists. They then complete a study in the early forms of colonial governments, economics of the colonies and the dilemma of slavery. The year is topped off with a unit on financial literacy.
Fifth grade continues the chronological progression by picking up with the causes of the American Revolution. Students use their historical thinking skills to analyze the multiple principles and positions of colonists during the revolution. This includes delving into Maryland’s role during the revolutionary war, the establishment of slavery and contributions of individuals in Maryland’s history. Students then focus on the growth and changes during the nineteenth century. The units also include an emphasis on the political and civic concepts that outline and guide our country. Fifth grade students end the year with a summative performance-based assessment called the Simulated Congressional Hearings
Simulated Congressional Hearings
The Simulated Congressional Hearing (SCH) is a culminating activity for fifth grade social studies. The SCH is an authentic, performance-based assessment where students demonstrate their understanding of the U.S. Constitution. Students display their expertise on topics ranging from colonial life and government to the contemporary rights and responsibilities of citizens in our country. The students present prepared oral statements before a panel of simulated congressional committee members (“judges”). Following the formal presentations, students respond to follow-up questions from the panel. For more information about this program, visit: sch.hcpss.org Links to an external site.
Social Studies Advisory Board
The mission of the Social Studies Advisory Board is to:
- Serve as a community sounding board for issues related to Social Studies education in Howard County.
- Serve as an advisory group for the adoption of new Social Studies textbooks and curricula.
- Advocate for the Social Studies program in a wide range of arenas, both public and private.
The purpose of this committee is to offer staff advice from multiple perspectives on social studies decisions and future directions aligned with the Bridge to Excellence Master Plan. Committee members will review curriculum and new textbooks, participate in long range planning and goal setting, provide support for the social studies budget, and receive updates on professional development and student programs.
The Social Studies Advisory Committee meets three times during the school year. Anyone interested in service on this committee should contact Kim Eggborn, Coordinator of Elementary Social Studies or Robert Coffman, Instructional Facilitator of Secondary Social Studies.
Contact: Kim Eggborn, Elementary Social Studies Coordinator