LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Social Studies — Grade 1

Goal 4: The learner will explain different celebrated holidays and special days in communities.

Objective 4.02. Explore and cite reasons for observing special days that recognize celebrated individuals of diverse cultures.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Multicultural cross-grade level unit plan
This unit of study integrates reading, writing, math, and social studies. It is designed to help first and third grade students relate to other cultures of the world. They will understand and compare the similarities and differences of children, families, and communities in different times and places. They will analyze religious and other cultural traditions. They will apply basic geographic concepts.
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–3 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Social Studies)
By Shirley Young.
Hanukkah: Festival of Lights
A variety of activities including games, cooking, worksheets, art projects, and stories introduce students to the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah.
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Social Studies)
By Dena Negri.

Resources on the web

Native American cultures across the U.S.
Students discuss the differences between five Native American tribes within the U.S. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Endowment for the Humanities
Martin Luther King, Jr. and me: Identifying with a hero
This lesson from ReadWriteThink explores ways to help students make connections to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities that not only provide a glimpse into Dr. King's life, but empower students to help... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Dr. King's dream
In this lesson from EDSITEment, students will learn about the life and work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Students will listen to a brief biography, view photographs of the March on Washington, hear a portion of King's “I Have a Dream”... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: EDSITEment
Culture goggles: Same holy land, different holidays
Students visit the Culture Goggles exhibit in National Geographic's Xpedition Hall, where they will select a religion to see how a Christian, a Jew, or a Muslim might view the Old City of Jerusalem in Israel. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic