Draft Social Studies Kindergarten Curriculum

Social Studies Overview

What Is Social Studies?

Social studies is an interdisciplinary, content-rich subject that empowers students to be lifelong learners. It draws from history, geography, civics, economics, and other disciplines. Social studies provides opportunities for students to learn about and appreciate
ideas that have shaped Alberta, Canada, and the world over time. Students acquire foundational knowledge and build understandings of relationships between people, places, and environments. They acquire a growing body of essential knowledge on historical
and contemporary controversial issues. Students revisit content as knowledge builds from grade to grade. In social studies, students develop skills that will prepare them to lead fulfilling lives and play a significant role in our democratic society.

Why Is Social Studies Important?

In social studies, students learn about
diverse events, people, places, and ideas related to local communities, Alberta, Canada, and the world
the nature of work, economies, and financial literacy
the connections between people, places, and environments
the origins of ideas, viewpoints, religions, and cultures to foster understanding and tolerance
By examining events, people, developments, and ideas in a sequential historical context, students build foundational knowledge of shared culture, tradition, and history. In this way, social studies fosters respect for people of diverse backgrounds that transcends
differences and unites us in a pluralistic society.

In the examination of the history of Alberta, Canada, and the world, social studies addresses various perspectives that reflect Canada’s diversity. Social studies promotes pluralism so that we may live together in a democratic society that values inclusion,
freedom, and justice. Students explore the histories, contributions, and perspectives of Indigenous peoples, including treaty rights and the importance of reconciliation. Students also examine the histories, contributions, and perspectives of Francophone
communities in Alberta.

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 Draft Social Studies Kindergarten Curriculum

Kindergarten

History: Understanding the history of our province, nation, and world and developing cultural literacy allow us to appreciate the varied richness of our shared human inheritance of original writings, artifacts, stories, beliefs, ideas and
Organizing Idea
great cultural and artistic achievements from different times and places. Lessons of the past and knowledge of diverse experiences help us overcome ignorance and prejudice and recognize our common humanity and dignity.

Guiding Question How do stories, fables, and personal experience help us explore and understand our world?

Learning Outcome Children recognize a timeline as a chronological narrative that includes stories, significant dates, and personal experiences.

Knowledge Understanding Skills & Procedures

about me and my community: where and when we were born and languages spoken at home Know birth date (day, month, year) and famous people with that birth date.
birth date
place of birth A personal timeline helps us to organize past events in a proper sequence
spoken language(s) over time.
kinship ties
family tree
personal timeline
stories and fables that illustrate personal identities, reflecting a diversity of Experience the sense of wonder awakened by timeless stories, fables, Listen to short readings of timeless stories or fables and develop the
gender, language, race, and ethnicity and rhymes featuring childhood experiences or legends from the past. confidence to share and exchange personal stories.

vocabulary used to describe time: simple personal timelines from birth to age five (going to school) how to read a timeline and sketch a personal example
long ago
before
after
now (present)
next
then

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 Draft Social Studies Kindergarten Curriculum

Kindergarten

History: Understanding the history of our province, nation, and world and developing cultural literacy allow us to appreciate the varied richness of our shared human inheritance of original writings, artifacts, stories, beliefs, ideas and
Organizing Idea
great cultural and artistic achievements from different times and places. Lessons of the past and knowledge of diverse experiences help us overcome ignorance and prejudice and recognize our common humanity and dignity.
Guiding Question How do our personal stories compare with those from other times?

Learning Outcome Children explore personal stories in relation to the experiences of others, particularly those in earlier times.

Knowledge Understanding Skills & Procedures

my family and community, now and in the past (olden days) Families and communities change, over time (now and back then). Discuss how families and communities have changed over time.

seeing the world through your eyes and that of others We can have different perspectives but we also share a common Explore cultural and ethnic diversity in your classroom, school, and
humanity. community.

Identify differences and similarities.

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 Draft Social Studies Kindergarten Curriculum

Kindergarten

Organizing Idea Civics: Canada’s constitutional monarchy, democracy, rule of law, and citizenship are understood through knowledge of the origins and development of various contrasting political traditions and ideas.

Guiding Question How do rules or expectations contribute to a sense of belonging to family, community, or the wider world?

Learning Outcome Students identify how a sense of belonging is supported through people gathering together while following simple expectations and rules.

Knowledge Understanding Skills & Procedures

Social groups like families, classrooms, and schools have bonds and Gathering in groups involves following simple rules and expectations in Identify and explain how social groups like families and classrooms work
simple rules. order to govern ourselves. together.
Groups provide a sense of belonging: families, classes, friends, and Families, school classes, children’s groups, and neighbourhoods are Identify the bonds of connection and simple rules that help us to work
responsibilities to one another. simple examples of associations. together in groups.

Fairness and responsibility are part of being in social groups. It is important to be fair and responsible. Recognize fair rules and why we need them.

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Organizing Idea
Guiding Question
Learning Outcome
Social Studies | December 2021
Draft Social Studies Kindergarten Curriculum
Kindergarten
Geography: Understanding the world we live in, and the relationship of people and places, is supported by knowing features of the natural and political world, such as oceans, mountain ranges, and boundaries.
How can maps and globes be used to help us understand the world and where we live and travel?
Children explore maps and globes to identify where we live and how we find our way around.
Knowledge Understanding Skills & Procedures
Maps and globes represent our world. how to find your way around in school and the local community Read a map and construct a neighbourhood map.
The world is round and shaped like a globe. We live on planet Earth and it’s shaped like a globe. Identify the globe as a representation of our planet and know where we
live on that planet.
distances on maps (close, distant, and far away) in metres and kilometres
(and understand the relationship to yards and miles) Discuss the idea that the world is round like a sphere and that we are held
Maps show the location of streets, schools, communities, and cities. down by gravity.
North and South Poles, seven continents, oceans
Distances can be measured on a map.
Key features of Earth can be located on a globe.
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 Draft Social Studies Kindergarten Curriculum

Kindergarten

Organizing Idea Economics: Knowledge of basic economic concepts, such as needs, wants, resources, labour, innovation, trade, and capital, will build toward an understanding of economic systems.

Guiding Question What are basic human needs and wants?

Learning Outcome Students compare needs and wants in relation to others.

Knowledge Understanding Skills & Procedures

Basic needs can include Certain basic needs are essential and necessary for survival. Discuss which needs come first and why if you have to make choices.
food
water People have needs for one another. Imagine that you are being transported on a small boat to a desert island.
sleep What three items would you need to survive?
clean air
clothing
shelter
good health
safety and comfort/ stability
Social needs can include
love
friendship
care
learning
Human wants are what people desire and prefer according to their Wants are personal desires that are nice to have but are not required for Compare the different types of wants. Are some more desirable than
personal tastes. human survival. others?

Distinguishing between needs and wants is not always easy. Individuals can look at needs and wants differently, depending on many Discuss why different people might have different needs and wants.
factors.

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 Draft Social Studies Kindergarten Curriculum

Kindergarten

Organizing Idea Financial Literacy: Responsible choices to build a thriving life for self, family, and society are supported by knowledge, skills, and understanding of earning, investing, spending, borrowing, and financial security.

Guiding Question What’s essential for young children to know about money and managing their personal resources?

Learning Outcome Students explore the essentials of money matters and fascinating facts about money.

Knowledge Understanding Skills & Procedures

Money has value and enables you to purchase things (goods and
services).
coins, bills, and plastic forms: cents, nickel, dime, quarters, loonies,
toonies, paper bills, and credit/debit cards
Unique features of Canadian money include emblems, animals, and faces
on our money.
the story of the loonie
Money has value as a means of exchange for goods and services and it
comes in different denominations.
Our money has some uniquely Canadian features, such as types and
names, including the loonie and toonie.
Answer money questions:
Is the money Canadian or from another country?
How do you know?
What is it worth in dollars and cents?
Read aloud and retell the story of how Canada got the loonie and then the
toonie. What happened to the old one- and two-dollar bills?

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