Social Studies Activities for Preschool
It’s Wednesday, and here at Preschool Ponderings, that means time to focus on the standards. Every Wednesday I choose an Early Learning Standard and share a number of activities that can be aligned with that particular standard. Remember, the Standards that I use every day, and am most comfortable with are Ohio’s Early Learning Development Standards – you can review them here, however I’ve found that even if your State’s standards differ, many of these activities can still be aligned similarly. I’ve rounded up some great ideas today!
Domain: Social Studies
Strand: Government
Topic: Rules and Laws
Domain: Social Studies
Strand: Government
Topic: Rules and Laws
This standard really focuses on rules, why we need them, and how they keep us safe. You can align this standard with discussion of your own classroom rules (which is often needed at this point in the school year), or with safety rules that are important within the community. Here are some great activities for promoting rules and safety.
Make a classroom rules contract, come up with the rules together and have each member of the class sign it, or in this case, sign it with their handprint. From Teach with me.
Learn about road signs during car play, then take a walk and see what signs your class can identify. From Melissa and Doug.
Download my free rules charts to start a conversation about the different rules we follow throughout the day, and how these keep us safe.
Talk about rules in the kitchen as you make something for snack. From Creative Family Fun.
Go on a safety scavenger hunt – can you find the stop light? The crosswalk? The fire hydrant? What are all of these things for? This one if from my Community Scavenger Hunt Pack.
All of these activities are great for encouraging children to think about rules and why they are important. Children are much more likely to follow rules that will keep them safe if they understand the reasoning behind the rules.