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Parent Helper
Using the
Social Studies
Office of Curriculum and Instruction
echapin-pinotti@amadorcoe.12.ca.us
The Importance of Parent Involvement
What you say matters!
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Parents what you say to your child matters.
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90% of all learning takes place at home
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Comments such as: “I
was never good at math (spelling, reading…etc.)” should be avoided.
Statements like this gives your child permission to fail.
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Positive reinforcement:
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We can work on this for five minutes everyday
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We can learn it together
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We can make it fun and simple
How to Study and Get Results
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Environment that allows the student to focus
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This is individual to each student
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Study should be in regular, doable intervals
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Model: Half hour of work – ten minute break
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Frustration yields no results!
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Avoid emotional conflict – Step away from the work!
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Take a walk
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Have a snack
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Get out and get moving
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Then come back and try a different approach
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Learning is
active!
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Reading – out loud
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Math – work it out on paper and verbally
Sample Study Schedule
Snack
After School Activity
10 to 30 Minutes of Math
Take a Break
Finish out remaining work
Take a Break
10 to 30 Minutes of
*Incorporate Handbook
Activities throughout the day
For More Tips go to
www.chapinpinottilearningcenter.com
Kindergarten – Learning and Working Now and Long Ago
Students in kindergarten are introduced to basic spatial, temporal, and causal
relationships, emphasizing the geographic and historical connections between the
world today and the world long ago. The stories of ordinary and extraordinary
people help describe the range and continuity of human experience and introduce
the concepts of courage, self-control, justice, heroism, leadership,
deliberation, and individual responsibility. Historical empathy for how people
lived and worked long ago reinforces the concept of civic behavior: how we
interact respectfully with each other, following rules, and respecting the
rights of others.
First Grade Social Studies – A Child’s Place in Time and Space
Students in grade one continue a more detailed treatment of the broad concepts
of rights and responsibilities in the contemporary world. The classroom serves
as a microcosm of society in which decisions are made with respect for
individual responsibility, for other people, and for the rules by which we all
must live: fair play, good sportsmanship, and respect for the rights and
opinions of others. Students examine the geographic and economic aspects of life
in their own neighborhoods and compare them to those of people long ago.
Students explore the varied backgrounds of American citizens and learn about the
symbols, icons, and songs that reflect our common heritage.
Second Grade Social Studies – People Who Make a Difference
Students in
grade two explore the lives of actual people who make a difference in their
everyday lives and learn the stories of extraordinary people from history whose
achievements have touched them, directly or indirectly. The study of
contemporary people who supply goods and services aids in understanding the
complex interdependence in our free-market system.
Third Grade
Social Studies – Continuity and Change
While Driving
Go to your local AAA and pick up maps from your community or work
together to draw a map of your community.
Trace the routes you usually travel with your child and have him/her
follow along with the map.
Talk about the special places around your community.
Stop and read the monuments along the roads and visit the parks and
museums in your towns and county.
Explore the people and places in your region with your child.
You can do this as you are driving, at dinner or anytime.
On Vacation
When you are on vacation, or even in your own community, talk about the
weather and how the clothes your child wears changes with the seasons.
Scan the television for shows about other climates and places.
Talk about what you would have to wear if you lived in one of those
climates…or what you would have to wear or what you could do for fun.
Do this with favorite stories as well.
At Play
Use Play-Doh or modeling clay to copy maps out of books.
Or make up your own land.
Pick a favorite book or use your imagination…or that of your child…and make up
roads and waterways and houses and businesses.
Be sure to mark them in a uniform fashion and make a legend.
Use all directions and add a compass rose.
First Grade Social Studies
1.2 Students compare and
contrast the absolute and relative locations of places and people and
describe the physical and/or human characteristics of places.
1.
Locate on maps and globes their local community,
2.
Compare the information that can be derived from a three-dimensional model
to the information that can be derived from a picture of the same location.
3.
Construct a simple map, using cardinal directions and map symbols.
4.
Describe how location, weather, and physical environment affect the way
people live, including the effects on their food, clothing, shelter,
transportation, and recreation.
At Play
Use Play-Doh or modeling clay to copy maps out of books.
Or make up your own land.
Pick a favorite book or use your imagination…or that of your child…and make up
roads and waterways and houses and businesses.
Be sure to mark them in a uniform fashion and make a legend.
Use all directions and add a compass rose.
Weather and Climate
When you are on vacation, or even in your own community, talk about the weather
and how the clothes your child wears changes with the seasons.
Scan the television for shows about other climates and places.
Talk about what you would have to wear if you lived in one of those
climates…or what you would have to wear or what you could do for fun.
Do this with favorite stories as well.
The “Country Game”
Play the “Country Game”. Say a
country’s name and have your child locate it on a map or a globe.
Singing and Saying
Practice the Pledge of Allegiance and patriotic songs in the car, in the
bathtub, while doing the dishes.
Most kids love to belt out a tune.
Have her make up hand and body motions to demonstrate that she truly
understands the words.
Use patriotic holidays to add to your song list.
Also, use the Fourth of July, Veteran’s Day, President’s Day, and the
like, to discuss what the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are.
Writing to a Historical Figure
English/Language Arts Crossover:
On Washington’s birthday, help your student write old George a letter
asking any questions your child might have about the part George played in our
history. Make sure you write him
back (in character) with the answers.
This works with Lincoln,
First Grade Social Studies
Look for Stories
Look in the local newspapers for stories about days gone by.
Go to the library and look through old periodicals and books.
Talk about how people used to get around vs. how they get around now.
School
When Little House on the Praire is on television -
catch a rerun or two with your child.
Talk about how life and school were back then.
Surf the Web
There are some great sites out there that you can explore with your child:
http://www.ggrm.org/;
http://webpages.marshall.edu/~irby1/laura.htmlx:
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/foot_to_flight/
Museum Visits
Visiting local museums is a great way to get information.
It is also a fun way to travel.
Instead of going to Disneyland next summer – or on the way to
First Grade Social Studies
1.
Recognize the ways in which they are all part of the same community, sharing
principles, goals, and traditions despite their varied ancestry; the forms
of diversity in their school and community; and the benefits and challenges
of a diverse population.
2.
Understand the ways in which American Indians and immigrants have helped
define Californian and American culture.
3.
Compare the beliefs, customs, ceremonies, traditions, and social practices
of the varied cultures, drawing from folklore.
Holidays for All Seasons
Listen to the news for cultural festivals and holidays and celebrate them in
traditional ways.
Native Americans
Research what tribes of Native Americans were indigenous to your community.
Don’t forget local museums!
Culture in the Kitchen
Math Crossover:
Have your student help you research the food of a country or culture he
is studying in class. Plan a meal
together and budget for the groceries.
Make a list and go to the store.
Have your child calculate the total of the products and see how close he
can get to the total. Cook the meal
and enjoy. Don’t forget the
dessert.
Stories from Around the World
English/Language Arts Crossover:
Go to the library and check out story books about other countries.
Read them together.
After you read the story…have your child make up his or her own story about kids
living in the same culture as the book.
This can be through pictures, orally or in writing.
My personal favorites are all of the “Cinderellas”.
There are many available at amazon.com as well.
First Grade Social Studies
Identify
the specialized work that people do to manufacture, transport, and market
goods and services and the contributions of those who work in the home.
Play Story
Math Crossover:
Have your child set up a store.
Use play money, game money or homemade money to buy and sell goods.
Household Expenses
Talk about how much consumer goods cost.
When you are in a restaurant – discuss the prices on the menu and ask
questions like: “how much do you think this would cost to make a home?”
Banking
Set up a bank account with your child.
Have her deposit part of birthday money and allowance and watch it grow.
Save for a big item – when she reaches her goal – ask her if she wants to
part with her money to purchase what she wants.
Surf the Web
Explore the US Mint online. Talk
about how the government makes money and how we use it.
www.moneyfactory.com/newmoney/main.cfm/currency/aboutNotes is also a cool
website for exploring money.
Second Grade Social Studies – People Who Make a Difference
1.
Trace the history of a family through the use of primary and secondary
sources, including artifacts, photographs, interviews, and documents.
2.
Compare and contrast their daily lives with those of their parents,
grandparents, and/ or guardians.
3.
Place important events in their lives in the order in which they occurred
(e.g., on a time line or storyboard).
Family Tree
Gather together family pictures and have your child help you map out who is who.
Make a family tree. If your
pictures are scattered about – create a scrap book and have your child help.
Let him or her interview family members and write up narratives for your
book. What a great piece of family
history you will have when you are finished.
This is a fun activity to do pieces of at holidays when cousins, aunts, uncles
and grandparents are gathered together.
Don’t forget great-aunts and uncles and extended cousins…the more history
your child can gather the more chance he has of uncovering exciting things.
My Life
Have your child either timeline or storyboard his or her life… highlighting
important events.
Second/Third Grade Social Studies
1.
Locate on a simple letter-number grid system the specific locations and
geographic features in their neighborhood or community (e.g., map of the
classroom, the school).
2.
Label from memory a simple map of the North American continent, including
the countries, oceans,
3.
Locate on a map where their ancestors live(d), telling when the family moved
to the local community and how and why they made the trip.
4.
Compare and contrast basic land use in urban, suburban, and rural
environments in
3rd Grade: Students describe the physical and human geography and
use maps, tables, graphs, photographs, and charts to organize information
about people, places, and environments in a spatial context.
Trip to Your Roots
Take a trip to
your family’s place of origin and map out a day in their life.
If they were part of the Oregon Trail or came over on
Map it Out
Reading maps is
fun. Finding places on a map can
occupy many rainy hours – or time when you are doing chores and your child is
board. Get a
map – labeled or unlabeled – call out places and have your child locate them.
Surf the Web
Learn about
people and places online. A good
place to start is:
www.harcourtschool.com/activity/cities/.
Pen Pals
Locate a relative
or friend in an area that is different from yours.
If you live in the country – look to the urban setting.
If you live in a tourist community – find someone in an industrial area.
Encourage your child to write to this person and exchange information
about where each lives. The local
Chamber of Commences can help with brochures etc.
Second/Third Grade Social Studies
1.
Explain how the
2.
Describe the ways in which groups and nations interact with one another to
try to resolve problems in such areas as trade, cultural contacts, treaties,
diplomacy, and military force.
1.
Determine the reasons for rules, laws, and the U.S. Constitution; the role
of citizenship in the promotion of rules and laws; and the consequences for
people who violate rules and laws.
2.
Discuss the importance of public virtue and the role of citizens, including
how to participate in a classroom, in the community, and in civic life.
3.
Know the histories of important local and national landmarks, symbols, and
essential documents that create a sense of community among citizens and
exemplify cherished ideals (e.g., the
4.
Understand the three branches of government, with an emphasis on local
government.
5.
Describe the ways in which
In the Car
Have your child read street signs to you.
Talk about what they mean and the laws behind them.
Discuss what would happen if someone breaks the law.
Also, discuss consequences of breaking laws and advantages of abiding by
laws.
Second/Third Grade Social Studies
1.
Describe food production and consumption long ago and today, including the
roles of farmers, processors, distributors, weather, and land and water
resources.
2.
Understand the role and interdependence of buyers (consumers) and sellers
(producers) of goods and services.
3.
Understand how limits on resources affect production and consumption (what
to produce and what to consume).
1.
Describe the ways in which local producers have used and are using natural
resources, human resources, and capital resources to produce goods and
services in the past and the present.
2.
Understand that some goods are made locally, some elsewhere in the
3.
Understand that individual economic choices involve trade-offs and the
evaluation of benefits and costs.
Visit a Farm or a Factory
Take a real or a virtual trip to a farm and/or a factory.
Talk about what is produced and the steps necessary from that product to
make it into the store. Talk about
causes and effects of good production seasons vs. bad productions seasons.
Great websites:
www.kidsfarm.com/farm.htm
www.howstuffworks.com/house.htm
www.howstuffworks.com/house.htm
www.theodoretugboat.com/start
Television, Movies and Books
Watch a PBS or cable special where actors portray people in history.
Check out a Dear America book, read with your child and discuss
the content. The library usually
has copies of these movies as well.
In the back of these books is a mini-history lesson that talks about the region
and its economics.
Following the Dear America model – have your child “portray” a child who
may have settled in your area and write a journal about what life would have
been like. Have her add her own
history lesson when she is through.
Notes