Social Studies — Grade 1

Resources on the web

The land of the Inca

Students learn basic facts about the Inca and show where they lived on a map. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Introduction to the Grand Canyon

Students look at photographs of three canyons and then focus on the Grand Canyon, discussing how the Colorado River carved it into its present form. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Into the ocean

Students learn about the special adaptations of familiar ocean animals. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Immigrating to America

Students learn about what it was like for new immigrants to come through Ellis Island at the turn of the century. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–4 Social Studies)

Provided by: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Handy Map

The teacher draws an outline of his or her hands and begins mapping them using words the students suggest. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The great migration

Students learn about the migration of African Americans to Harlem, beginning with the original migration of blacks to North America. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–3 Social Studies)

Provided by: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Getting lost

Students practice their knowledge of the cardinal directions by describing the directions in their classroom. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Information Skills and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

El Niño: More Than Just Hot Air?

Students are introduced to the El Niño phenomenon by doing a brief experiment and looking at pictures of El Niño. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Designing a native plants garden

Students compare native vegetation in different parts of the United States. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Caribou migration

Students will learn some basic facts about caribou and map the migration route of the Porcupine caribou herd of Alaska and northwestern Canada. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Big island pool: Igneous rocks and the anatomy of a volcano

Students will learn about the rocks that are formed when a volcano erupts: igneous rocks. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Beautiful Blue Nile

Students learn about the Blue Nile and compare it to a river in the United States. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Barbaloot suits: Preserving biodiversity

Students learn about how and why National Geographic Emerging Explorer Mark Olson studies plants. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Back in the olden days

In this Xpeditions lesson, students discuss what it might have been like when, and where, their parents and grandparents grew up. The students conduct interviews to see if their guesses were right. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Arctic terns from north to south

Students map the arctic tern's migration route and consider why it migrates so far. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic