Social Studies

Textbook: Houghton-Mifflin-Ginn'sWork Together Besides using the textbook, students learn experientially, and listen to presentations from people in the community. Topics include:

Neighborhoods and Communities- In Neighborhoods and Communities students learn about neighborhood changes and the three types of communities: city (urban) suburban, and rural. Emphasis is given to Bloomington, past and present, and we take a neighborhood field trip to highlight features in our suburban community. Map skills covered are map legends, map directions, and the compass rose.

Government - The Government unit covers rules and laws, some famous presidents, and the function of the three branches of the government. Students also learn about symbols of the United States, and our country's historical landmarks.

Economics -In Economics the students learn about needs and wants. They learn that work provides for us, and that work can provide a service or produce a good. Students learn about goods that are grown, and goods that are produced. They learn about currency, checking accounts, credit cards, and banking. They learn about the free enterprise system firsthand by making a product and selling it. The Lemonade Stand is an interactive site that helps calculate the cost of production.