Social Studies — Kindergarten

Kindergarten Walk

This is an introductory lesson in a series of lessons on our community and community helpers. Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins will be used as the pattern to plan our own walk around our school playground. Students will then create a simple map of our school playground.

Format: lesson plan (grade K Information Skills, Social Studies, and Mathematics)

By Michelle Hensley.

Story Map: The Gingerbread Manhunt

The purpose of this lesson is to present a fun, memorable way for children to learn where the secretary, principal, nurse, janitor, cafeteria, playground, and other grade levels are located while matching a face and job with each of these locations and its importance to the functioning of the school.

Format: lesson plan (grade K Social Studies)

By Tina Baker.

Lesson plans on the web

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)

Provider: 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 Social Studies and Science)

Provider: National Geographic

Community buildings

Students take a neighborhood tour, identifying the functions of the buildings within it. (Learn more)

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

Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

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 Social Studies and Science)

Provider: National Geographic

Elephant seals on the beach

Introduces students to the habitat and life patterns of Elephant Seals. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, and Social Studies)

Provider: National Geographic

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)

Provider: National Geographic

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)

Provider: 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 Social Studies and Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

How's the weather today?

Students examine maps, record temperatures, and draw pictures showing different weather conditions as an introduction to weather and temperature trends in different latitudes of the United States. (Learn more)

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

Provider: 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)

Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Into the ocean

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

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

Provider: 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 Social Studies and Science)

Provider: National Geographic

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)

Provider: National Geographic

Mapping what matters

In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore the idea that everyone has mental maps they use to store and recover information. Students come to realize that certain places on these maps are more important to us than others. (Learn more)

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

Provider: National Geographic

Marco Polo takes a trip

Students learn about the travels of Venetian adventurer Marco Polo. (Learn more)

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

Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities

Mars mobiles

Students compare the landscapes of Mars and Earth and create mobiles showcasing some of the features of the Martian landscape. (Learn more)

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

Provider: National Geographic

The Middle East region: Flags and facts

Students will learn basic facts about the Middle East by exploring maps of the region. (Learn more)

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

Provider: National Geographic

Modeling Shadows

Students observe the daytime and nighttime sky regularly to identify sequences of changes and to look for patterns in these changes. (Learn more)

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

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science