Social Studies

  • Quarter 1

    • Recognize how language affects our culture
    • Identify the roles of people in a group
    • Explain how families meet basic human needs
    • Define culture
    • Understand the importance of beliefs and traditions in families
    • Discuss how the environment affects the food people eat
    • Use scale to measure distance on a map
    • Describe how holidays and celebrations preserve family culture
    • Understand the diverse backgrounds of Americans
    • Discuss how people share their customs and traditions
    • Understand the role African Americans have played in the history of Philadelphia
  • Quarter 2

    • Discuss the significance of the US Constitution and its framework
    • Study the US economy and its importance of a free enterprise system
    • Understand the human and physical characteristics of Canada
    • Describe the geographic features and ancient cultures of Latin America
    • Examine how historic events influenced the development of the Mexican government, economy and culture
    • Describe the location, climate and landforms of Central America and the Caribbean Islands
    • Explore the histories and governments of South America and the effects of both on its economy and culture today
    • Discuss the immigration trends of the Irish, Jewish, Italian and Latino during the 1800s to Philadelphia
    • Understand how peer influences can be negative or positive
    • Understand how profit is made
    • Understand the contributions to the Arts of the Cambodian community in Philadelphia
  • Quarter 3

    • Learn and locate the physical and political features of Europe, Russia and the Independent Republics
    • Discuss Greece’s achievements and influence on culture, science and politics in the world today
    • Describe Ancient Rome
    • Discuss Ancient Rome’s accomplishments, governments and the rise of Christianity
    • Explore the Middle Ages and why it was a time of great change in Western Europe
    • Explore the political and social changes in Europe resulting from the Renaissance
    • Learn how European trade and exploration changed the lives of many people on both sides of the Atlantic
    • Understand how the scientific, industrial and political revolutions transformed European society
    • Discuss Russia’s influence on world politics during the 20th century
    • Recognize that bullying should be taken seriously
    • Examine the opportunity cost of community and personal choices
    • Examine risk and risk tolerance
  • Quarter 4

    • Examine how the development of nationalism in Europe led to two World Wars and a Cold War during the 20th century
    • Discuss how following World War II, the Soviet Union was the most powerful country in Europe
    • Examine the political, economic and cultural aspects of life in Eastern Europe before and after the breakup of the Soviet Union
    • Realize that nations once under Soviet rule are now taking steps towards establishing new economies and democratic governments
    • Describe the reasons for the formation of the European Union
    • Study the governments, economies and cultures of the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, German and Poland
    • Discuss terrorism and life in the United States after 9/11/01
    • Describe the steps the US government has taken to make our lives more secure
    • Understand how incentives influence people’s behavior
    • Recognize that incentives can be positive or negative
    • Understand and discuss how people can and should embrace diversity.
    • Discuss an Action Plan that teaches people how to embrace diversity