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Social Studies K-5

Elementary School Social Studies

Personal and civic responsibility, love of learning, and empathy for others: these are the qualities that Wayland‟s K-12 social studies teachers seek to instill in our students. At its core, we believe in providing age-appropriate, rigorous, and supportive academic environments that promote the acquisition of knowledge and skills. To this end, we draw from the multiple disciplines that fall under the social studies umbrella while placing a particular emphasis on our national and world histories.

Over time, social studies teachers seek to ensure that each child gains an understanding of important current issues in proper cultural and historical contexts from a diversity of perspectives. Ultimately, our goal is to advance our students' growth into principled, informed, and capable citizens who will help guide a democracy that follows humanitarian principles in the global forum, and shape a just society where individuals may reach their full potential.

Content Highlights

    • Civics: Classroom Citizenship
    • Families
    • Geography: Connections among places
    • History: Shared Traditions
    • Civics: Communities, Elections, and Leadership
    • Geography: Places to Explore
    • History: Unity and Diversity in the United States (including Family/US Traditions, American Symbols, National Holidays, Landmarks, Famous Americans, etc.)
    • Reading and Making Maps
    • Geography and Its Effect on People
    • Economics: Resources and Choices
    • History: Migrations and Cultures
    • Massachusetts Cities: Now and in History
    • Geography and Native Peoples of Massachusetts
    • Europeans First Contact with Native Peoples
    • Massachusetts through the American Revolution
    • North American Geography and Map Skills
    • Early European Exploration of North America
    • U.S. Regions
    • Early Colonization and Growth of Colonies
    • Reasons for Revolution, Revolutionary War and Formation of Government
    • Principles of the United States Government
    • Slavery, the Legacy of the Civil War and Civil Rights for all