Social Studies starts in preschool by learning about jobs around town, to exploring identity in
terms of family, community and holidays. In preschool we start to explore our families
and the community we live in. We start with having large group
discussions about things that we see in our town, different jobs that we know and
places we have been. These conversations spark interest in the child and we
carry that over into their play. We include different pictures of our community
around the classroom, we add books and maps about different places to our
library and we add environmental print to our block centers. In the block
center we can build towns, street, or a new town. Within our play we use
directional words, and we elaborate at what we see around us. 
Using what the students already know
helps us get a start on their understanding; where we live, knowledge about themselves and understanding of how people live. Which are all social studies standards. Preschoolers are already very curious about
the world around them, we just need to tune into it with more depth and
purpose. At home there are many different ways to incorporate more social studies:
o
Create a map with your child next time you
go to the store
o
Draw a family picture and include
grandparents and aunts
o
Read environmental print wherever you go
o
Discuss different jobs people have within
you family
o
Visit different places within our
community, library, park, fire station, etc.
o
When playing outside observe and explore
the location, environment, and discuss what season it may be.
o
Make a puzzle out of a map and put it
together. Discuss different things you see on the map, rivers, lakes, roads and
etc.
This
article was provided by Hilary Butler, a Great Start Readiness Preschool
Teacher with the Ionia ISD.
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