Social Science Curriculum K-8
The goal of social science in District 97 is to create graduates who are civically engaged, socially responsible, culturally aware, and financially literate. Through the social sciences, young people develop skills critical to success in high school, college and careers. Most importantly, students will emerge with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to be informed and effective citizens.
Social Science K-5
The goal of K-5 social science in District 97 is to help students build a strong foundation for understanding themselves, their communities and the world around them. Through social science, students develop curiosity, ask questions, explore different perspectives and begin building the knowledge and skills needed to become civically engaged, socially responsible, culturally aware and financially literate. District 97 social science instruction is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards for Social Science, which guide student learning across history, civics, geography, economics, financial literacy and inquiry. These early experiences help prepare students to become informed, thoughtful and active members of their communities.
Mission Statement (K-5):
K-5 social science creates a culture that recognizes the need for our students to have the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to be informed and effective global citizens. Students will participate in experiences that recognize and appreciate diversity, varying beliefs, perspectives, and values which promote agency and change by interpreting and navigating historical and current information about relationships between individuals, communities, and societies.
Curricular Resources (K-5):
Students learn through the following thematic units:
- Kindergarten: My Social World
- First Grade: Living, Learning, and Working Together
- Second Grade: Families, Neighborhoods, and Communities
- Third Grade: Communities Near and Far
- Fourth Grade: Our State, Our Nation
- Fifth Grade: Our Nation, Our World
Social Science (6-8)
The goal of 6-8 social science in District 97 is to develop students who are civically engaged, socially responsible, culturally aware and financially literate. Through social science, students strengthen their ability to ask meaningful questions, analyze evidence, consider multiple perspectives and make connections between the past and present. District 97 social science instruction is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards for Social Science, which guide student learning across history, civics, geography, economics, financial literacy and inquiry. These experiences help prepare students for success in high school and beyond while developing the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to become informed and effective citizens.
Mission Statement (6-8):
The D97 Social Science Department is committed to helping students become independent and reflective thinkers. Students will make connections from history to the present through reading, writing and the inquiry process. As educators, we will guide students in the understanding and analysis of important issues of the past and foster a commitment to global citizenship, equity and anti-racism.
Curricular Resources (6-8):
The primary curricular resource used to teach social science in grades 6-8 is Discovery Education Social Studies Techbook, an inquiry-based, standards-aligned learning resource that uses multimedia and primary sources to develop students' literacy and critical thinking skills for college, career and civic life. The program uses the 5E instructional model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, Evaluate) to create immersive, project-based and real-world learning experiences. Throughout their middle school experience, students apply inquiry skills through the disciplinary concepts which include civics, history, geography, and economics and financial literacy.