1. Presentation
K-2 Social Studies

2. Grade K Overview of Monthly Unit And Activities
September - October: Kindergarten Curriculum Connections center around the school and classroom. Many children have not had as much exposer to a large school setting so many our classrooms "trips" take place introducing the children to the various teachers, support personal and various classrooms that they will be utilizing throughout the school year. We discuss the roles both children and adults play in making our school and class community work efficiently and civic responsibility of all citizens
October - December : Many classes take neighborhood walks that compact parts of the science study in tree's with our community and we incorporate in our discussions the diversity that we see within the people of our community as a way to launch our essential question about how are people the same and different . We incorporate the many holidays or festivities that are reflected in store fronts, within our own classroom and school traditions as well as in our individual homes.
Trips: Walking Trips, Trips to local stores, farmers markets and local libraries are a large part of this work as it helps draw common connections and conversations as well as shared experiences. Multicultural traditions are shared and explored through family read alouds, songs, music foods crafts or invitations into the respective classrooms
January - March : What Makes a Community - Our instructional focus during this unit is to help children grow in their understanding that their small class is apart of a school community , which is a part of a larger one (the borough, then the state the country , world and globe. As the children grow in their understanding of the interrelatedness , they too come to understand that they play a part in the bigger picture. The use of maps and globes are relied upon heavily as are discussions about cause and effect. Within this unit we also incorporate the topic and concept of individual and communal wants and needs as well as goods and services within a community, a class and a home.
Trips include but are not limited to NYC Museum for workshops on the origins and evolution of Manhattan’s street grid system and how it changed over time. Children construct a model neighborhoods that conforms to this 200-year-old plan using contemporary zoning and land use regulations and incorporate what they have learned about meeting and satisfying a communities wants and needs.
April - June Within this time frame, students explore How Families are the same and different, and how families, children and communities change over time. We use our common experiences from previous units to delve deeper into how families are diverse and have a variety of structures, how some may or may not live in the same home but how a family works to serve all the members so that each can be successful. How families work together to solve problems and how they grow, change or adapt to change all the time.

3. Grade 1 - Overview of Monthly Unit And Activities
September - October: 1st grade Curriculum Connections center in the beginning around why families are important and how they influence who we are? We will examine as a class: Family Values, rules, and routines. We will look at how families pass on customs, traditions and languages through many special occasions. We will create a family tree showing diversity and similarities through exploring different types of family structures. Our class will look at Needs and Wants of a family and how that impacts their community. We will examine how families share work and leisure time, so they can learn the balance daily life.
November - December : Our instructional focus continues: We continue to discuss how families use traditions to reflect their culture. We will compare and contrast the diversity of different communities in terms of their celebrations, family structures, and how they function. We will look at past and present celebrations of history, and explore how people commemorate and celebrate holidays. We will analyze symbols that are important to American communities. e.g. Our flag.
Our instructional focus will change to: How do families grow and change over time? We will examine and analyze photographs from the past. We will discuss similarities and differences with families long ago compared to today. We will look at historical sources from the past as well as artifacts. We will examine transportation long ago vs. today as well as technology and communication and how it has changed. Students will look at how children from long ago were different from children's lives today. e.g. schools. Students will identify ways in which a family can change and grow and we will create family timelines that show these changes. We will discuss retelling a family memory, exploring the meaning of culture and heritage, and we will discuss and read folktales and legends.
January - March : Our instructional focus during this unit is: What is a community? Students will describe a community, its leaders, citizens and laws. We will look at maps, map tools, symbols and locations to help understand moving from one place to another. We will explore a citizen's community, nation, and the world. Students will understand natural and human resources in their community. We will discuss how communities have needs and wants for their communities. We are also visited by Landmark West. We visit our neighborhood, discuss architecture, maps and create a mural of our community.
April - June: Our instructional focus during this unit is: How do communities provide for families?
We will learn about rules and laws that protect our communities. Students will learn about the local, state and national government levels as well as their roles and responsibilities. Students will discuss the right to vote and that this will create a change. We will discuss protecting the environment even when human development can negatively affect the environment. We will be discussing the role of restaurants within our community. This will include the roles in a restaurant, food, uniforms, and individual jobs. Students will apply for a job and see the job through real experiences.
Trips:
Sept - Library
Nov- Cultural Museum of Native American
Dec- Off Broadway show and the Family Interview
Jan- MOMA
Feb- Museum of Chinese in the Americas & Post Office
March- Transit Museum & Landmark West
April- Bronx Zoo
May-Museum of Natural History: Butterflies & Restaurant Visits
June- Swedish Cottage Theatre & Restaurant Visits
Trips: Trips help draw common connections and conversations as well as shared experiences. Multicultural traditions and family interviews help us share and explore through family read alouds, songs, music food, crafts or invitations into the respective classrooms

4. Second Grade Social Studies
Trips
Mount Vernon - Our City Now and Then
Through an exploration of period objects like lighting technology and furniture, as well as reproductions like kitchen tools and clothing, students reflect on the daily routines and experiences of people that might have been at the Mount Vernon Hotel, and compare these with their own.
New York Historical Society : New York-Then and Now Find clues about how life was different in the past through close observation of paintings and objects. Compare and contrast then and now to trace how New York became the city it is today.
Landmark West : Building Detectives
The goals of this workshop is that the students will gain knowledge of architectural vocabulary, including various building parts and their functions; students will be able to identify these parts on actual buildings; students will use their knowledge of building parts and ornament to create a brownstone facade with a cohesive design; students will display an understanding of the importance of architecture and its preservation