Scholastic Banners , an integrated social studies and language arts program, serves as the primary instructional tool in grades K-2. This program's literature choices, designed around a specific theme, provide hands-on activities to build language fluency as well as social studies concepts. These themes are further enriched through grade level literature choices reflecting important historical and multi-cultural topics. In Grades 3-5 the Houghton Mifflin Social Studies program serves as the primary text with literature pieces at each grade level chosen to extend and enrich historical concepts. The essential activities of a family in meeting basic needs is stressed.
Children learn that the family is the primary support group for people everywhere.
The need for rules and laws is taught as a natural extension of orderly group life. History is presented through the study of the children's own families and the study of family life in earlier times. Learning about family life in other cultures provides opportunities for comparing ways of living. The study of social functions such as education, production, consumption, communication, and transportation in a neighborhood context are studied. Students also begin to develop an awareness of the interaction between themselves and their environment.