Kindergarten Social Studies: how to help at home
What your child learns in Kindergarten social studies in the New Brunswick Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Literacies and Communications: Communicative Practices. Examine how language learning is beneficial.
- Literacies and Communications: Multimodal Literacies. Refer to environmental print in multiple languages.
- Literacies and Communications: Literate Identities. Demonstrate being a reader, writer, and communicator in multiple languages.
- Well-Being: Emotional Health and Positive Identities. Explore activities that foster enjoyment and well-being.
- Well-Being: Belonging and Interconnectedness. Define and express needs, wants, and choices.
- Well-Being: Physical Health and Active Participation. Analyze personal safety and healthy practices.
- Play and Playfulness: Imagination and Creativity. Practise using flexible and fluid thinking in new and familiar situations.
- Play and Playfulness: Exploration and Problem Solving. Negotiate, compromise, and work together.
- Play and Playfulness: Play and Inquiry. Engage in activities that introduce elements of risk, novelty, and the unknown.
- Diversity and Social Responsibility: Inclusiveness and Equity. Honour differences and uniqueness.
- Diversity and Social Responsibility: Democratic Practices. Act as responsible and responsive community members.
- Diversity and Social Responsibility: Sustainable Futures. Recognize patterns in nature.
Easy ways to practise social studies at home
- Talk about your family, your neighbourhood 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.
- Practise 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.
We Belong
Seeing that everyone belongs to several groups (family, class, team, community), how each person helps, and respecting ideas that differ from our own.
Needs & Wants
Sorting needs (food, water, a home, warm clothes) from wants (toys and treats), and how families meet their needs.
Fair & Kind
Noticing fair and unfair choices, using kind words, standing up for ourselves and others, and getting a grown-up to help.
Helpers & Rules
Community helpers and places, classroom rules like taking turns, being responsible, and learning that Indigenous peoples were the first people of this land.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Working below
- 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 practising the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Excelling
- 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 New Brunswick report card guide.
Common questions
Talk about your family, your neighbourhood 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 New Brunswick Curriculum Kindergarten social studies units include all about me, families, we belong, needs & wants, fair & kind, helpers & rules.
Free printable Kindergarten social studies practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.