"History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality,

vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity."

                                                                                                                                             -Cicero 

---

To access all District public curricular documents, please click here.

---

Why Study Social Studies?

What is Social Studies?

Constitution Day Resources  

Curriculum Rationale:

The National Council for the Social Studies (2016) reminds us that “our global community owes children opportunities to explore the variety and complexity of human experience through a dynamic and meaningful education. When children are grounded in democratic principles, immersed in age-appropriate democratic strategies, and engaged in meaningful inquiry, they construct the foundational skills that prepare them to participate respectfully and intelligently in a nation and world marked by globalization, interdependence, human diversity, and societal change.”

Course Description:  The Flemington-Raritan Regional School District believes that the purpose of a social studies education in elementary school is to enable students to understand, participate in, and make informed decisions that can impact their world. Our elementary curricula are designed to allow learners to explain relationships with other people, institutions, and the environment, and equips them with knowledge and understanding of the past. It provides them with opportunities to develop inquiry skills so that they can develop into productive problem solvers and decision-makers who are able to assess issues and make thoughtful contributions.  

In the middle grades, students build upon the foundational concepts of government, citizenship, geography, economics, culture, and history that they acquired in elementary school. They begin to analyze the implications of government structures and economic policies for individuals, communities, and nations. Through the study of migratory patterns, human-environment interaction, and belief systems (that in the past led to both cooperation and conflict among people), students come to understand the significance of cultural transmission in today’s global society. (Adapted from NJCCCS for Social Studies)

 

Scope and Sequence:  

• K-4 Social Studies 

  • Three units for each grade-level

  • Each unit requires 6-7 weeks of instruction

  • Classes meet for 50 minutes daily for approximately 20 weeks of instruction

• Grade 5 Social Studies

  • Four units of study

  • Each unit requires 6-7 weeks of instruction

  • Classes are 64 minutes and meet every other day for the full school year

• Grades 6 Social Studies

  • Eight units of study

  • Each unit requires 6-7 weeks of instruction

  • Classes are 64 minutes and meet every other day for the full school year

• Grades 7-8 Social Studies

  • Five units of study (7th Grade)

  • Seven units of study with embedded Civics (8th Grade)

  • Classes are 83 minutes and meet every other day for the full school year

**Current events and biographies that inspire are read, studied, and discussed at all grade levels throughout the school year.