Grade 1 Social Studies

In Grade 1 Social Studies, our students will explore the roles, relationships, and responsibilities they have as well as those of the important people in their life. Stepping out of the home, they will also investigate their local community, studying natural and built features, and the different areas and services that can be found. They will then start to understand maps and how they can be used to provide directions around where they live. This course is designed to be 50-75 instructional hours.

Curriculum Information: Social Studies (2018)

Over the next year, the VES team will be working on updating some of our social studies courses to align with changes to the curriculum released by the Ontario Ministry of Education in August 2023.

Developed by: D2L

Development Date: 2021

Please note that elementary courses do not have prerequisites, and Ontario schools do not issue transcript credits at the elementary level. All courses are available in the facilitated and independent pathways.

Facilitated

Independent

Course Outline

Our Changing Roles and Responsibilities

In the Our Changing Roles and Responsibilities unit, students will discuss some of the ways people’s roles, relationships, and responsibilities relate to who they are and what their situation is. They are able to identify how and why changes in circumstances might affect a person’s roles, relationships, and responsibilities as well as their sense of self. They will also learn that all people should be treated with respect, regardless of their roles, relationships, and responsibilities. Further, they will use the social studies inquiry process to investigate aspects of their sense of self, as well as their own roles, relationships, and responsibilities in various situations in their daily lives.

The Local Community

In the Local Community unit, students will describe the relationship between people and the natural and built features of their community, focusing on the services that people in the community provide to meet people’s needs. They will use the social studies inquiry process to investigate short- and long-term effects of natural and built features, and will describe significant aspects of their own community. Further, they will reference a variety of areas, services, and features of their community using location and distance.

Required Resources

This course is entirely online and does not require nor rely on any textbook. Students will require the following resources:

A scanner, smartphone camera, or similar device to digitize handwritten or hand-drawn work
A device to record audio
A printer
A physical binder, folder, or notebook for offline activities
Various household items to complete offline activities
Play dough, Lego, building blocks

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Through a balance of problem-solving and direct instruction, students develop a strong foundation of social studies processes, knowledge, and skills to apply in real-world contexts. The course utilizes a combination of technology and offline activities, providing opportunities to develop an understanding of skills and concepts in interactive and concrete ways and engage multiple learning styles. The lessons feature a variety of intriguing storylines, characters, videos, storybooks, and interactive games to reinforce students’ learning. These activities also build a foundation of social studies-related terms that students will use throughout the elementary grades.

The course relies on the assistance of a teacher to support young students through the content. The teacher will be involved in facilitating the course content, and participating in discussion-based activities to assist students in developing communication skills.

Have a question about Grade 1 Social Studies? Contact us!