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Winfield SD 34 outlines new 5th- and 6th-grade social studies curriculum and civic simulations
Summary
District teachers described a project-based 5th-grade social studies curriculum focused on individual contributions to society and a sixth-grade U.S. History (Part I) sequence stressing research skills, primary sources and civic simulations such as mock elections and the Cantigny Speech Contest.
Teachers presented details of revised social studies instruction for upper elementary and middle grades, explaining the sequence of projects, assessment routines and enrichment opportunities.
Kaitlin Freundt and Delaney Doell described the 5th-grade curriculum as centered on "how individuals contribute to society," with trimester project-based units that require students to evaluate sources, write newspaper-style profiles of influential individuals, create collaborative concept maps and produce a culminating "Who Am I?" project linking student learning to community contributions. The presentation notes 42 minutes of social-studies instruction per day during unit blocks.
Steve Kahlfeldt outlined the sixth-grade transition to U.S. History (Part I), highlighting research skills, the Road to Independence, Constitution study and primary-source analysis; the Civil War unit will be taught in seventh grade as Part II. Enrichment offerings include a March field trip to the First Division Museum and extracurricular competitions such as the Geography Bee and Cantigny Speech Contest.
