Social Studies

Introduction to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Social Studies

In third grade, students will develop a more sophisticated understanding of how communities are linked to form larger political units and how there are cultural, geographic and economic connections.  The curriculum is divided into the following strands:

  • Civics and Government
  • Culture
  • Economics and Financial Literacy
  • Geography and Environmental Literacy
  • History

 


1st Quarter – Local and Regional History / Culture

  • 3.H.1 Understand how events, individuals and ideas have influenced the history of local and regional communities. (Leadership, Values and Beliefs, Settlement Patterns, Resources)NCHistory
    • 3.H.1.1 Explain key historical events that occurred in the local community and regions over time.
    • 3.H.1.2 Analyze the impact of contributions made by diverse historical figures in local communities and regions over time.
    • 3.H.1.3 Exemplify the ideas that were significant in the development of local communities and regions.
  • 3.H.2 Use historical thinking skills to understand the context of events, people, and places. (Change, Perspective)
    • 3.H.2.1 Explain change over time through historical narratives events, people and places).
    • 3.H.2.2 Explain how multiple perspectives are portrayed through historical narratives.
  • 3.C.1 Understand how diverse cultures are visible in local and regional communities. (Language, Diversity, Culture, Values and Beliefs)
    • 3.C.1.1 Compare languages, foods and traditions of various groups living in local and regional communities.
    • 3.C.1.2 Exemplify how various groups show artistic expression within the local and regional communities.
    • 3.C.1.3 Use non-fiction texts to explore how cultures borrow and share from each other (foods, languages, rules, traditions and behaviors).

  


2nd Quarter – Civics and Government / Culture

  • 3.C & G.1 Understand the development, structure and funBranchesOfGovernmentction of local government. (Government, Citizenship)
    • 3.C & G.1.1 Summarize the historical development of local government.
    • 3.C & G.1.2 Describe the structure of local government and how it functions to serve citizens.
    • 3.C & G.1.3 Understand the three branches of government, with an emphasis on local government.
  • 3.C & G.2 Understand how citizens participate in their communities. (Citizenship, Community)
    • 3.C & G.2.1 Exemplify how citizens contribute politically, socially and economically to their community.
  • 3.C.1 Understand how diverse cultures are visible in local and regional communities. (Language, Diversity, Values and Beliefs)
    • 3.C.1.1 Compare languages, foods and traditions of various groups living in local and regional communities.
    • 3.C.1.2 Exemplify how various groups show artistic expression within the local and regional communities.
    • 3.C.1.3 Use non-fiction texts to explore how cultures borrow and share from each other (foods, languages, rules, traditions and behaviors).

 


3rd Quarter – Geography and Environmental Literacy / Culture

  • 3.G.1 Understand the earth’s patterns by using the 5 themes of geography. (Location, Place, Human-Environment, Regions)Globe
    • 3.G.1.1 Find absolute and relative locations of places within the local community and region.

    • 3.G.1.2 Compare the human and physical characteristics of places.
    • 3.G.1.3 Exemplify how people adapt to, change and protect the environment to meet their needs.
    • 3.G.1.4 Explain how the movement of goods, people, and ideas, impact the community.
    • 3.G.1.5 Summarize the elements (cultural, demographic, economic and geographic) that define regions, community, state, nation and world.
    • 3.G.1.6 Compare various regions according to their characteristics.
  • 3.C.1 Understand how diverse cultures are visible in local and regional communities. (Language, Diversity, Values and Beliefs)
    • 3.C.1.1Compare languages, foods and traditions of various groups living in local and regional communities.
    • 3.C.1.2 Exemplify how various groups show artistic expression within the local and regional communities.
    • 3.C.1.3 Use non-fiction texts to explore how cultures borrow and share from each other (foods, languages, rules, traditions and behaviors).

 


4th Quarter – Economics and Financial Literacy / Culture

  • 3.E.1 Understand how the location of regions affects activity in a market economy. (Supply and Demand, Location, Resources)
    Inflation
    • 3.E.1.1 Explain how location impacts supply and demand.
    • 3.E.1.2 Explain how locations of regions and natural resources influence economic development (industries developed around natural resources, rivers and coastal towns).
  • 3.E.2 Understand entrepreneurship in a market economy. (Entrepreneurs, Innovation, Opportunity, Resources)
    • 3.E.2.1 Explain why people become entrepreneurs.
    • 3.E.2.2 Give examples of entrepreneurship in various regions of our state.
  • 3.C.1 Understand how diverse cultures are visible in local and regional communities. (Language, Diversity, Culture, Values and Beliefs)
    • 3.C.1.1 Compare languages, foods and traditions of various groups living in local and regional communities
    • 3.C.1.2 Exemplify how various groups show artistic expression within the local and regional communities.
    • 3.C.1.3 Use non-fiction texts to explore how cultures borrow and share from each other (foods, languages, rules, traditions and behaviors).