Social Studies

Exploration and Discovery

Welcome to adventure and exploration! This is the place where children in third through sixth grade love to come to learn about the rest of their world.

Globes, maps and books about history and geography surround the students. Excitement is almost tangible as young, curious minds debate issues and ideas, research events and leaders, write reports and travel the seven continents.

When students walk out of social studies at graduation time, they carry with them skills, information and a depth of understanding of history and geography that goes far beyond the expected sixth grade norms.

Teachers
view the faculty page

Allison Dieffenbach (Grade 3)
Mary Jane Carissimi (Grades 4, 5 and 6)

Grades Taught and Length of Class Periods

Grade 3 – 2 hours and 15 minutes per week 
Grades 4, 5 and 6 – 3 hours and 45 minutes per week

Grade 3

U.S. Regions and Geography
Missouri
Rivers

Grade 4

History – American Studies with an emphasis on:
• Exploration
• Colonization
• The Presidents

Grade 5

History – American Studies with an emphasis on:
• American Heroes from the Revolution to the Present
• Symbols of our Great Nation
• The American Civil War Era

Grade 6

World History with an emphasis on the Ancient World
• Egypt
• Mesopotamia
• Canaan
• India
• China
• Greece

U.S. Constitution

In-depth study of geography is emphasized throughout the fourth, fifth and sixth grades. The program focuses on thinking processes, research and problem solving. Students learn to appreciate the importance of social studies as a way of thinking and as a global perspective on life.

Special Projects and Activities

• Reader’s theater
• Hand Islands
• Explorer mini-books
• Mock trial
• Monologues
• Research and writing projects in conjunction with language arts instruction
• “Around the World” maps and journals
• National Geographic Geography Bee
• National Geography Challenge
• Grade 5 Field Trip to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum

Facilities

• Classroom library
• Maps and globes
• SMART Board