SOCIAL STUDIES

The focus of the Social Studies curriculum for third grade targets geography, economics, history, government and character and citizenship.  Social Studies is integrated into all curriculum areas. The third grade Social Studies curriculum encompasses the following:

·        Government: Students will learn the need for classroom, school and family rules.  Students will also learn about community government, and discuss and relate these topics to current events.  

·        Economics: Students will learn basic monetary systems such as the value of the United States coins and currency, bartering and systems from other cultures.    Students will also explore the concept of supply and demand.

·        Geography: Students will learn basic map skills, make connections between human settlements and geography, identify physical geography of the United States, understand the effect of climate on life within a region, and the cultural geography of various Native American tribes.  

·        History: Students will explore the history of various Native American tribes across the United States.  Through this study students will learn about characteristics, lifestyles, location, and culture of five tribes.

·        Character and Citizenship: Respect, responsibility, honesty, manners, cooperation, fairness, kindness, tolerance and conflict resolution are taught, practiced and reinforced by students, and staff.  These are integrated into our daily routine.

 Students have opportunities to expand these concepts through such activities as stories, discussions, field trips, guest speakers, music, theme units, dramatics and art.