Elementary Social Studies
The Network Social Studies series is published by McGraw-Hill Education. It enables students to gain building blocks for critical thinking and analysis as they use inquiry to learn about history, geography, economics, and civics. It is purposefully designed to easily meet social studies goals and state standards for each grade. It has a flexible design that facilitates learning in the classroom or remotely.
Kindergarten through 3rd grade studies communities and some United States History.
4th grade studies the history, geography, government, and economy of the state of Indiana. All of the field trips relate to Indiana history. In late September, students visit Vincennes, which was the capital of Indiana Territory, home of William Henry Harrison, the 23rd President of the US, the first Basilica in Indiana Territory, and the entombment of Bishop Simon Bruté, who brought St. Mother Theodore Guerin from France. We also visit the George Roger Clark Memorial, an old French fur trader’s home, and the original government offices of Indiana Territory. We also learn about early schools at that time and watch how early newspapers were printed.
On December 11th every year, we have a standing invitation to celebrate Indiana’s birthday at the State House in Indianapolis. We cast votes in the House and the Senate, visit the Supreme Court, where we get to try on Supreme Court justices’ robes. We end our trip with a presentation from our Governor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and someone from the House or Senate.
In April, we make a trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We learn about the drivers’ suits, how the drivers physically train, and the necessary nutrition to enable them to be the best and strongest they can be. We learn what each flag means. We learn about the cars and their tires. Lastly, we learn about the history of the track and visit the museum.
In May, we visit Spring Mill State Park. We spend time in the Village, which is frozen in time to the 1880’s. We also see the Grist Mill, watching corn meal being ground, and the museum in the upper level of that structure. We get to watch the village blacksmith and a leather worker. As we leave the park, we stop by the Gus Grissom Memorial. There, we see one of Grissom’s space suits, an actual space capsule, and other various artifacts. We end that trip with a 5 minute video about his life.
On December 11th every year, we have a standing invitation to celebrate Indiana’s birthday at the State House in Indianapolis. We cast votes in the House and the Senate, visit the Supreme Court, where we get to try on Supreme Court justices’ robes. We end our trip with a presentation from our Governor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and someone from the House or Senate.
In April, we make a trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We learn about the drivers’ suits, how the drivers physically train, and the necessary nutrition to enable them to be the best and strongest they can be. We learn what each flag means. We learn about the cars and their tires. Lastly, we learn about the history of the track and visit the museum.
In May, we visit Spring Mill State Park. We spend time in the Village, which is frozen in time to the 1880’s. We also see the Grist Mill, watching corn meal being ground, and the museum in the upper level of that structure. We get to watch the village blacksmith and a leather worker. As we leave the park, we stop by the Gus Grissom Memorial. There, we see one of Grissom’s space suits, an actual space capsule, and other various artifacts. We end that trip with a 5 minute video about his life.
5th grade studies United States History through the Civil War.