Social Studies
The Social Studies program is designed to help children discover and better understand the world around them. Beginning with self, family and community in Pre-K and Kindergarten, students move beyond their own experiences to explore other times and cultures in the older grades. We encourage children to share their ideas, listen to others, and develop a spirit of inquiry as they broaden their perspective. Hands-on projects, field trips, dramatizations, and class discussions bring to life specific areas of study. Our students engage in a wide range of historical and social issues at increasing levels of complexity as they progress through our program. Students gain perspective on the diverse heritage of their own society while developing an understanding of themselves in the larger world. Social Studies is divided into broad areas including geography, economics, anthropology, sociology, political science, and history.
Pre-K and Kindergarten focus on families, community helpers, holidays, the presidents of the United States, our country and state, American history, transportation, exploring the world, and preserving the earth. The program's emphasis is on developing the process skills, including listening, speaking and critical thinking. Past monthly visitors have included storytellers, puppet shows and educators from The Southern Museum. Past field trips have included The Atlanta History Center and The High Museum of Art.
First and Second Grades explore subjects in greater depth while actively engaged in discussions, field trips and hand-on projects. They explore topics such as living in a community, in and around the land, my country and my heroes, my world near and far, we belong to many groups, people make history, civil rights, being a good citizen and our land. While the amount of time spent on a specific topic may vary by classroom, children learn about the experiences of early European settlers meeting indigenous peoples, colonial life and the struggle for independence, and the westward expansion. Past field trips have included The King Center, the DOT and a local bank. Students are involved in learning through active, hands-on projects, simulations, discussions, readings, videos, and computer and library resources.