Kindergarten Social Studies: how to help at home
What your child learns in Kindergarten social studies in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), and simple things to try at home.
Focus areas this year
- History: national holidays and people who shaped Texas and the nation
- Geography: location words, maps and globes, weather and the land
- Economics and government: needs and wants, jobs, rules and authority figures
- Citizenship and culture: the US and Texas flags and pledges, voting and family traditions
Easy ways to practice social studies at home
- Talk about your family, your neighborhood and the people who help in it.
- Make a simple map of your home or street together.
- Share a family tradition or story and ask your child to share one back.
- Practice taking turns and sharing, and talk about why fairness matters.
What each unit covers
All About Me
Naming feelings, noticing how we are the same and different, and choosing kind actions so everyone feels respected.
Families
Seeing that families come in many shapes and sizes, growing up from baby to grandparent, family stories and traditions, and helping at home.
Needs & Wants
Sorting needs (food, water, a home, warm clothes) from wants (toys and treats), and how families meet their needs.
My Jobs, Rules & Leaders
Practices responsibilities at home and in school, respecting the rules of the classroom and playground, respecting property, sharing, helping, and who makes decisions that affect our lives.
Places Near Me
Naming places in the community (library, park, school, hospital), what they are used for, and whether they are natural or built.
Fair & Kind
Noticing fair and unfair choices, using kind words, standing up for ourselves and others, and getting a grown-up to help.
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Practices yesterday, today and tomorrow, words that describe parts of a day or order of events (first, then, last), telling events in order, and learning from stories of the past told by family and Elders.
Days, Weeks & Months
Days of the week, months of the year, yesterday and tomorrow, and putting events in order on a calendar.
Find Out & Sort
Practices finding information in spoken, picture, object and print sources, sorting things by one rule, using tools such as a ruler or magnifying glass, and comparing things by how they are alike and different.
Flags & Pledges
The United States flag and the Texas Lone Star flag, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pledge to the Texas Flag, and voting as a fair way for a group to decide.
Holidays & Heroes
National holidays (Independence Day, Veterans Day, Presidents' Day, Constitution Day) and their customs, and the people the Texas standards name for Kindergarten: Stephen F. Austin, George Washington, Christopher Columbus and José Antonio Navarro.
Near, Far & Maps
Location words (over, under, near, far, left, right), places on the school campus, and what maps and globes show.
Tools & Technology
Technology at home and school, the jobs it helps with, and how life was different before modern tools such as electric lights, cars and refrigerators.
Weather, Land & Me
Weather, land and water, natural and human-made things, and how where we live changes what we wear, eat and do, with a few Texas examples.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Beginning
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Texas report card guide.
Common questions
Talk about your family, your neighborhood and the people who help in it. Make a simple map of your home or street together. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Kindergarten social studies units include All About Me, Families, Needs & Wants, My Jobs, Rules & Leaders, Places Near Me, Fair & Kind.
Free printable Kindergarten social studies practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.