Accelerated High School

Standardized Curriculum of Social Studies-III

In our world today, many amazing things are happening because of science and technology. It's important for everyone to learn about them, even kids in Grade 3. When we understand how things work and how to solve problems using evidence, we can think better about the world around us. Then we can help make decisions about important things like how to take care of the Earth, how to stay healthy, and how to fix problems in our communities.

Mission:

All students will acquire the knowledge and skills to think analytically about how past and present interactions of people, cultures, and the environment shape the American heritage. Such knowledge and skills enable students to make informed decisions that reflect fundamental rights and core democratic values as productive citizens in local, national, and global communities.

Vision:

This course is designed to spark curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of the world we live in. Through engaging lessons and activities, students will;

• Explore fundamental concepts such as family dynamics, the roles of community helpers.
• Discuss the significance of various geographical features.
• Understanding the importance of civic rules and laws to mastering the basics of mapping, including cardinal directions.
• Gain valuable knowledge about their surroundings. 
• Discover the rich diversity of our planet, from the towering mountains to the vast oceans, with a special emphasis on the majestic Pacific Ocean. 
• Learn about the production of goods, the provision of services, and the concepts of needs, wants, buying, trading, and saving.

Spirit and Intent:

The Grade 1 social studies curriculum at AHS is designed in alignment with The New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Social Studies (NJSLS-SS), providing a comprehensive framework for student learning. Our curriculum emphasizes the exploration of fundamental concepts such as community, family, and citizenship, while also fostering critical thinking and inquiry skills.

At its core, the NJSLS-SS emphasizes three essential dimensions: inquiry, concepts, and content. Throughout the curriculum, students are actively engaged in asking questions, conducting investigations, and making connections between key social studies concepts. This inquiry-based approach encourages students to develop a deeper understanding of the world around them and to become active participants in their communities.

Three Dimensions of AHS Science Curriculum:

The performance expectations in social studies reflect the three dimensions and describe what students should know and be able to do. In layman’s terms, they are “the standards.” They are written as statements that can be used to guide assessment and allow for flexibility in the way that students can demonstrate proficiency. The example below is provided to illustrate the interconnected nature of the NJSLS-SS components.

Social Studies Core Idea

Understanding the key concepts of civic engagement and the roles of citizens in a democratic society.

Explain the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and describe how individuals and groups can influence and participate in their communities and government.

Historical Thinking and Analysis Practice

Analyzing Historical Events and their Impact

Use historical evidence to evaluate the impact of significant events and individuals on society and governance.

Crosscutting Concept

Cause and Effect

Analyze the causes and effects of historical events and their impact on societies.

 

For students to develop proficiency in the NJSLS-SS (New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Social Studies), they will need to engage in learning experiences that are meaningful, cumulative, and progressive. Becoming familiar with social studies practices and cross-cutting concepts is a critically important first step in designing learning experiences reflective of the three dimensions. A description of each of the social studies practices and the cross-cutting concepts can be found in the next sections. Students will engage in activities that connect with real-world contexts and promote a deeper understanding of social, historical, economic, and geographical concepts. By connecting new learning with prior knowledge, students develop a more coherent and integrated understanding of social studies content and skills. Through progressive learning, students develop the ability to critically analyze and evaluate information, form well-supported arguments, and propose solutions to complex social issues.

Curriculum for Grade-III Social Studies:

Standard 1: Geography, People and Environment.

Learning Objectives:

• Use maps to identify physical features (e.g., continents, oceans, rivers, lakes, mountains).
• Analyze the world in spatial terms, using historical maps to determine what led to the exploration of new water and land routes.
• Explain the different physical and human characteristics that might make a location a good place to live (e.g., landforms, climate and weather, resource availability).
• Identify and describe the properties of a variety of maps and globes (e.g., title, legend, cardinal directions, scale, symbols,) and purposes (wayfinding, thematic).
• Compare and contrast information that can be found on different types of maps and determine how the information may be useful.
• Identify major cities in New Jersey, as well as in the United States, and the world, and explain how geographic and demographic tools (e.g., maps, globes, data visualizations) can be used to understand cultural differences.
• Use maps to explain the impact of location and place on the relationships between places in New Jersey, the United States, and other countries.

Topics of AHS-SS:

Basic Geography

• Identify oceans and continents
• Select oceans and continents
• Name oceans and continents

Basic Map Skills

• Reading maps and understanding symbols
• Identifying and locating different types of land
• Recognizing the cardinal directions.

Greetings

• Recognize greeting as a way of showing respect 
• Perform various types of greeting 
• Formal & Informal Greetings
• Casual & Polite Greetings
• Traditional Greetings

Major Cities of USA

• New York
• Los Angeles, California
• Chicago, Illinois
• Houston, Texas
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• San Antonio, Texas
• San Diego, California

Standard 2: Economics, Innovation, and Technology.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify examples of the variety of resources that are used to produce goods and services (i.e., human capital, physical capital, natural resources).
• Compare different regions of New Jersey to determine the role that geography, natural resources, climate, transportation, technology, and/or the labor force play in economic opportunities.
• Explain why individuals and societies trade, how trade functions, and the role of trade.

Topics of AHS-SS:

Natural resources

• What are Natural resources?
• How should we use our resources?
• Getting food to market
• Producer and consumer 

Standard 3: History, Culture, and Perspectives.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain how national symbols reflect American values and principles.
• Use evidence to describe how democratic principles such as equality, fairness, and respect for legitimate authority and rules have impacted individuals and communities.
• Explain how historical symbols, monuments, and holidays reflect the shared values, principles, and beliefs of the American identity.
• Evaluate the impact of different interpretations of experiences and events by people with different cultural or individual perspectives.
• Describe why it is important to understand the perspectives of other cultures in an interconnected world.
• Explain how an individual’s beliefs, values, and traditions may reflect more than one culture.

Topics of AHS-SS:

History

• Exploring historical figures 
• Explore historical events
• The Golden Gate Bridge
• Mount Rushmore

Family and Community Traditions

• Exploring family traditions and their cultural significance
• Día de los Muertos
• Thanksgiving
• Hanukkah