Getting to know our community
Students learn what it means to be part of a group at school and at home. They talk about rules, taking turns, and the jobs people do to help others.
What does a student learn in
This is the year students start to see themselves as part of a bigger world. They learn what it means to be a good citizen at school, why rules and leaders matter, and how their family fits into a larger community. Students also begin using simple maps and talking about what people need versus what they want. By spring, students can name a few national symbols, point out their home on a map, and explain why we follow rules.
- Good citizenship
- Rules and leaders
- National symbols
- Simple maps
- Needs and wants
- Family and community
- Holidays and traditions
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
- 1
- 2
Where we live on the map
Students start using simple maps and a globe to find where they live. They notice what makes a place special, like rivers, roads, and buildings nearby.
- 3
Long ago and today
Students compare how families lived in the past with how they live now. They hear stories about people and holidays that shaped Texas and the country.
- 4
Wants, needs, and choices
Students learn the difference between things they need and things they want. They practice making choices about spending and saving with simple, everyday examples.
- 5
Cultures and people around us
Students share family traditions and learn about customs from other families. They notice what is the same and what is different across groups.
- 6
Being a good citizen
Students practice fairness, honesty, and caring for others at school. They talk about how people work together to solve problems and make their community better.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Kindergarten.
History
History
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Historical Eras and Themes
Students learn about important people and events from the past and talk about how those stories shaped the places and communities we live in today.
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Cause and Effect
Students look at something that happened in the past and explain why it happened and what changed because of it.
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Continuity and Change
Students look at how everyday life, rules, and work have changed over time and how some things have stayed the same. A classroom rule from long ago might still exist today, or a job like farming might look different now than it did before.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Eras and Themes | Students learn about important people and events from the past and talk about how those stories shaped the places and communities we live in today. | TX-SS.HIST.K.1 |
| Cause and Effect | Students look at something that happened in the past and explain why it happened and what changed because of it. | TX-SS.HIST.K.2 |
| Continuity and Change | Students look at how everyday life, rules, and work have changed over time and how some things have stayed the same. A classroom rule from long ago might still exist today, or a job like farming might look different now than it did before. | TX-SS.HIST.K.3 |
Geography
Geography
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Maps and Place
Students learn to read simple maps and globes to find where places are. They point out natural features like rivers and mountains alongside human-made ones like roads and buildings.
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Human-Environment Interaction
Students learn why people change the places they live, like building roads through forests or wearing warm coats in cold climates. It's about how people adjust to their surroundings and how those choices shape communities over time.
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Movement
Students learn that people, goods, and ideas move from place to place. They look at simple examples of how families travel, how food comes from other places, and how traditions spread from one community to another.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Maps and Place | Students learn to read simple maps and globes to find where places are. They point out natural features like rivers and mountains alongside human-made ones like roads and buildings. | TX-SS.GEO.K.1 |
| Human-Environment Interaction | Students learn why people change the places they live, like building roads through forests or wearing warm coats in cold climates. It's about how people adjust to their surroundings and how those choices shape communities over time. | TX-SS.GEO.K.2 |
| Movement | Students learn that people, goods, and ideas move from place to place. They look at simple examples of how families travel, how food comes from other places, and how traditions spread from one community to another. | TX-SS.GEO.K.3 |
Economics
Economics
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Goods, Services, and Markets
Producers make things and consumers buy or use them. Students learn how buyers and sellers meet in a market, and why prices can change when more or fewer people want something.
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Personal Financial Literacy
Students learn that money is earned by working, can be spent on things they want or need, and can be saved for later. This standard covers the basics of making simple choices about money.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Goods, Services, and Markets | Producers make things and consumers buy or use them. Students learn how buyers and sellers meet in a market, and why prices can change when more or fewer people want something. | TX-SS.ECON.K.1 |
| Personal Financial Literacy | Students learn that money is earned by working, can be spent on things they want or need, and can be saved for later. This standard covers the basics of making simple choices about money. | TX-SS.ECON.K.2 |
Government
Government
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Foundations of Government
Kindergartners learn that America has rules and leaders who help make decisions. They begin to see how different leaders handle different jobs, from the classroom all the way up to the country.
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Texas Government
Students learn that Texas has its own government that makes rules for the state, and that it works alongside city and national governments. Each level handles different things, from local schools and roads to national laws.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Government | Kindergartners learn that America has rules and leaders who help make decisions. They begin to see how different leaders handle different jobs, from the classroom all the way up to the country. | TX-SS.GOV.K.1 |
| Texas Government | Students learn that Texas has its own government that makes rules for the state, and that it works alongside city and national governments. Each level handles different things, from local schools and roads to national laws. | TX-SS.GOV.K.2 |
Citizenship
Citizenship
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Rights and Responsibilities
Citizens have rights (things they're allowed to do) and responsibilities (things they're expected to do). Students learn what it means to be a good citizen in a country with rules and laws that protect everyone.
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Civic Participation
Students learn how people get involved in their community, from voting to following rules to helping neighbors, and why those actions matter for everyone around them.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Rights and Responsibilities | Citizens have rights (things they're allowed to do) and responsibilities (things they're expected to do). Students learn what it means to be a good citizen in a country with rules and laws that protect everyone. | TX-SS.CIT.K.1 |
| Civic Participation | Students learn how people get involved in their community, from voting to following rules to helping neighbors, and why those actions matter for everyone around them. | TX-SS.CIT.K.2 |
Culture
Culture
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Cultural Contributions
Students learn about real people from different backgrounds who shaped Texas, the country, and the world through art, inventions, leadership, and everyday life.
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Comparing Cultures
Students look at how families in different places and times eat, celebrate, dress, and live, then notice what is the same and what is different.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural Contributions | Students learn about real people from different backgrounds who shaped Texas, the country, and the world through art, inventions, leadership, and everyday life. | TX-SS.CULT.K.1 |
| Comparing Cultures | Students look at how families in different places and times eat, celebrate, dress, and live, then notice what is the same and what is different. | TX-SS.CULT.K.2 |
Science, Technology, and Society
Science, Technology, and Society
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Science, Technology, and Society
Students learn how inventions and tools, like cars or phones, change the way people live, work, and get along with each other.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Science, Technology, and Society | Students learn how inventions and tools, like cars or phones, change the way people live, work, and get along with each other. | TX-SS.STS.K.1 |
Social Studies Skills
Social Studies Skills
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Source Analysis
Students look at photos, objects, and simple texts to figure out what is real and true versus what is someone's feeling or belief.
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Communicate Findings
Students share what they learned about people, places, and communities by drawing pictures, talking, or writing sentences. They back up what they say with something they saw, read, or heard.
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Problem Solving and Decision Making
Students practice thinking through a problem step by step: figuring out what's wrong, looking for clues, coming up with ideas to fix it, and guessing what might happen next.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Source Analysis | Students look at photos, objects, and simple texts to figure out what is real and true versus what is someone's feeling or belief. | TX-SS.SKILL.K.1 |
| Communicate Findings | Students share what they learned about people, places, and communities by drawing pictures, talking, or writing sentences. They back up what they say with something they saw, read, or heard. | TX-SS.SKILL.K.2 |
| Problem Solving and Decision Making | Students practice thinking through a problem step by step: figuring out what's wrong, looking for clues, coming up with ideas to fix it, and guessing what might happen next. | TX-SS.SKILL.K.3 |
No state assessments at this grade
Students take their next one in Grade 4.
NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
Federally administered sample-based assessment in reading, mathematics, science, writing, and other subjects. NAEP results inform state-by-state comparisons rather than individual student or school accountability.
- When given:
- biennial in winter
- Frequency:
- every two years
Common Questions
What does social studies look like in kindergarten?
Students learn about themselves, their families, and their communities. They start to notice maps, holidays, leaders, jobs, and rules. Most of the year is about understanding how people live together and how the past connects to today.
How can I help my child with social studies at home?
Talk about the neighborhood on short walks or drives. Point out the post office, the fire station, street signs, and flags. Ask who works there and what they do. Five minutes of real-world talk does more than a worksheet at this age.
What should students know about maps by the end of the year?
Students should know that a map is a picture of a real place from above. They can point out home, school, and a few landmarks, and use words like near, far, left, and right. A simple map of the bedroom or kitchen is great practice.
How do I sequence the year so it builds instead of jumping around?
Start with self, family, and classroom rules in the first weeks. Move out to school and neighborhood in the middle of the year. Save state, country, and wider world topics for spring, once students have the vocabulary to compare places.
What does my child need to know about money and jobs?
Students learn that people work to earn money and that money is used to buy things families need and want. Talking about choices at the grocery store helps. Try asking why one item got picked over another.
Which topics usually need the most reteaching?
Wants versus needs, and the difference between a rule and a law, trip up most students. Map directions also take repeated practice across the year. Short, frequent revisits work better than one long unit.
How do students learn about people from different backgrounds?
Students hear stories about people who shaped Texas and the country, and they share traditions from their own families. Reading picture books from different cultures at home reinforces this. Ask what was the same and what was different from your family.
How do I know my child is ready for first grade social studies?
By spring, students should name a few national symbols, explain a classroom rule and why it matters, and describe a job someone in the community does. They should also tell a short story about something that happened in the past versus today.
What counts as evidence at this age?
Pictures, short stories, and simple charts are the main sources. Students practice telling fact from opinion by looking at a photo and saying what they actually see versus what they think about it. Keep the prompts concrete and visual.