Many teachers like to incorporate fun and interactive 1st grade social studies worksheets into their lesson plans to help students practice concepts and work independently on key concepts. Social studies lessons ask students to develop important skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and participation. As you plan you social studies lessons, it is helpful to keep the following things in mind:
- How to connect the past with the present to give student an idea of time as well as cause and effect
- How to read aloud or use drama
- How to let students work on lots of projects, preferably in teams
- How to put the textbook aside sometimes to engage in interactive storytelling and other fun learning activities
- How to use lots of visuals, hands-on activities, and multimedia
- How to incorporate fun, music, and movement
Table of Contents
- So What Are First Graders Learning in Social Studies?
- 17 Best 1st Grade Social Studies Worksheets
- Check Out These Additional 1st Grade Resources
So What Are First Graders Learning in Social Studies?
Here is a list of what 1st graders typically learn throughout the year in social studies class.
Under the five main pillars—geography, history, culture and society, civics and government, and economics—they will learn:
- Various roles, relationships, and responsibilities
- Time, continuity, and change
- Individual development and identity
- Science, technology, and society
- Power, authority, and governance
- People, places, and environments
- Production, distribution, consumption
In partnership with Teach Simple, whose marketplace is full of educational materials created by actual teachers (plus 50% of all revenues go to them), I’ve gathered 17 totally-awesome grade 1 social studies worksheets to help inspire your students and reinforce the social studies concepts listed above.
17 Best 1st Grade Social Studies Worksheets
Best Geography Worksheets for 1st Grade
- The 7 Continents: Africa Interactive Foldable Booklets By Knowledge Box Central
Students can explore the continent of Africa as they create these interactive foldables, which cover basic facts about and major geographical features of Africa.
- Mapping Skills With Google Earth By Classroom Complete Press
Teach your students how to read a map with this engaging resource. Start with the elements found on a map, such as symbols, legends, and the compass rose. Students can then apply what they’ve learned by mapping their classroom and route to school.
Extend the activity by asking them to move onto larger regions, such as the Great Lakes of North America, the seven continents, or the four oceans of the world. This resource is also comprised of reading passages, map activities, crosswords, word searches, and comprehension quizzes.
- The Volcano Theme Book By Ready-Ed Publications
This fun workbook is meant to enhance students’ knowledge about volcanoes. It is a 57-page download that includes worksheets that allow students to explore the earth, recreate a model of the earth, make a model volcano, label different types of eruptions, practice their math, and more.
- Arctic Ocean Adapted Book / Google Slides By My Kind Of Crazy
Here’s a fun and interactive way to teach your science lesson on the Arctic Ocean! This bundle has 8 slides of an adapted book that is filled with lots of information about the Arctic Ocean as well as vocabulary, and ‘wh’ reading comprehension questions. It includes the Google Slide presentation, accompanying worksheets, and classroom activities.
Best History Worksheets for 1st Grade
- 180 Days Of Social Studies: Grade 1 By Kathy Flynn
This comprehensive workbook focuses on the history of the U.S., including a look at American Indians, holidays and celebrations that reflect our history, and comparisons of political figures from the past and present. There are practice sheets and diagnostic assessments. Plus, supplemental topics in civics, economics, and geography are also available in the book and build on the history topics.
- Colonial America: The 13 Colonies Interactive Foldable Booklets By Knowledge Box Central
The United States was formed when 13 British colonies revolted against British rule and formed their own nation. As students learn about these 13 colonies, they can create 3 interactive foldable booklets.
- Moon Walk History Hands-On By Classroom Complete Press
What could be more exciting than learning about people walking on the moon? How about experiencing it for yourself? With this worksheet bundle students can relive the historical moment how and when the first U.S. people flew to and walked on the moon.
- Women Who Changed History By Fiddleticks Education
This is a collection of famous Women in History who contributed greatly to their community and the world. These flashcards and worksheets are suitable for use in the classroom and at home.
Best Culture and Society Worksheets for 1st Grade
- Careers Now and Then: Community Workers By Anyone Can Learn
This resource is a set of lesson plans and guides that teach students about community workers. From fact fluency to inductive math and close reads, students will do a little bit of everything from every subject as they learn about workers in the community. This resource comes with detailed lesson plans, worksheets, checklists, and more.
- Discover Ancient Civilizations eBook By Anyone Can Learn
This resource is a social studies ebook titled Discovering Ancient Civilizations in History. There is a focus on India, China and Japan. Students will learn about the culture, the food, war, and so much more about these civilizations through reading and accompanying comprehension question worksheets.
- Day Of The Dead Interactive Notebook By Teacher’s Clipart
This activity is a great way to introduce foreign cultures to your students. Using the Day of the Dead as a colorful and joyful celebration in Mexico, you can work on writing and spelling while teaching cultural lessons about different celebrations around the world.
- Kids Love Canada: Spring & Summer Gr. K-2 By Classroom Complete Press
This unit is complete with fun and engaging activities all about Canada. Activities include making big books, art lessons, artist studies, patterns to make game board, and storyboard stories.
Students will learn about Canada and reinforce skills like reading, math, and critical and creative thinking while learning about culture and society in a different country.
Best Civics & Government Worksheets for 1st Grade
- United States Flag Worksheet By Have Fun Teaching
This worksheet will help students learn the history and aesthetic attributes of the American flag and its history.
- Our Freedoms Worksheet By Have Fun Teaching
This worksheet helps students understand what people’s fundamental freedoms and human rights are and why they are important to uphold.
- Democracy Worksheet By Have Fun Teaching
Ask your students to do a deep dive into a democratic government (specifically the U.S. government) with this worksheet. Students will learn about democracy and then answer some questions about their knowledge.
Best Economics Worksheets for Grade 1
- Gold Rush History: Hands-On By Classroom Complete Press
This exciting series is designed to bring a combination of history and economics into your classroom! Children will have the opportunity to become a part of the exciting gold rush adventure as they experience firsthand the lure of gold and the harsh realities of mining life.
Fascinating “nuggets” of information about this rare and precious metal, active explorations of the Californian and Alaskan gold rushes, and role-playing investigations of the mining life are included in this worksheet and reference bundle.
- Careers Worksheet By Have Fun Teaching
This worksheet helps students learn about different careers across time. Extend the lesson by asking students to think about how the different careers influence a country’s economy.
Diving into any of these 1st grade social studies worksheets will ensure that your lessons are covering the five pillars of elementary social studies lessons and that they are gaining multiple perspectives about social studies through hands-on and unique activities.
Check Out These Additional 1st Grade Resources
About the Author
Jen Skolsky has a background in English, Psychology, and Creative Writing. She has taught for many years in international education, including ESL for all ages, middle school literature, speech and debate; high school AP Psychology, AP Language, AP Literature; university level Academic Writing, and Chinese Medicine Theory. She now works in marketing and book
