First Grade Social Studies Curriculum

Research shows that building a strong foundation in social skills and personal responsibility helps first graders engage meaningfully with social studies. Developing communication, cooperation, and critical thinking early on supports both academic success and social awareness. Before exploring topics like communities, cultures, and history, children benefit from understanding their roles within their families, schools, and neighborhoods. 

Miacademy’s first grade social studies curriculum introduces students to these key concepts through engaging lessons and real-world connections, creating thoughtful, responsible, and curious learners.

Sample Lesson

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Is my student ready for 1st grade social studies?

There are no prerequisites for Beginning Social Studies 1. Your child may be ready to learn about social studies topics if they show these signs: 

1. Understands basic rules and responsibilities at home or in a classroom setting
2. Recognizes community roles (e.g., teacher, firefighter, doctor) and their purposes
3. Shows curiosity about the world, asking questions about places, people, or events
4. Can identify personal information like their name, address, and the city or state they live in
5. Understands basic time concepts, such as yesterday, today, and tomorrow
6. Recognizes common symbols, such as stop signs or the American flag
7. Has experience with sharing and taking turns, showing an understanding of community cooperation
8. Can recall simple stories about historical figures or traditions from books or discussions

1st Grade Social Studies Worksheets – PDF Download

Each video lesson has an accompanying PDF with fun social studies practices to extend learning beyond the screen with a hands-on approach!

Click here to download a free sample PDF of our first grade social studies activities:

What are the 1st grade social studies standards?

First grade social studies lessons should introduce young learners to fundamental concepts about where they live and what it means to be a part of a community. At the end of the year, students will learn:

• About rules, responsibilities, and good citizenship in the community
• The days of the week and months of the year
• About timelines and how to use a calendar
• About local community helpers, such as firefighters, police officers, farmers, doctors, and more
• About United States symbols and important people
• How to use maps, globes, and compasses

Scope and Sequence

Beginning Social Studies 1 – Social Studies for 1st Grade

Young children often learn best through memorable games and songs about important concepts, such as the days of the week, months of the year, and how to use a calendar. In social studies, first graders enjoy engaging stories and dialogue between fun characters that help them understand rules, responsibilities, and good citizenship within their community. 

Additionally, activities that introduce U.S. symbols, historical figures, and basic map skills lay the foundation for history and geography courses in second grade and beyond.

Choosing the Best Homeschool Social Studies Curriculum

With our social studies curriculum, children have fun while learning and can practice new skills in real-world situations. Through hands-on activities and engaging lessons, children learn to use tools like maps and calendars, learn more about where they live, and understand how to be a responsible and respectful member of their community.

One of the best things about our social studies curriculum for homeschool is its flexibility! You get full customization over your lesson plans and assignments to fit your child’s unique learning needs. They can skip what they already know and dive right into new challenges!

Miacademy offers a comprehensive, accredited curriculum for K-12, providing the right level of challenge for your child at every stage. From learning the days of the week to government and citizenship, our curriculum grows with your child to continually meet their educational needs.
Whether you homeschool full time or are looking to supplement a public school education, we’re here to support you! Wondering if Miacademy can be a good fit for your student? Start a chat with one of our friendly customer service agents below! They’ll be happy to help you with any questions you may have.