Free Home Schooling
Social Studies Resources
Free Social Studies Resources
This broad topic "Social Studies" includes the study of geography, maps and
globes, countries, peoples and customs, and history.
Books
• Little House on the Prairie series (easily found in your local
library)
• G.A. Henty books (awesome historical reading!)
Resources
Many churches have members who have gone on mission trips out of the
country. Check out these folks. They’ll gladly share some unusual travel
experiences which will give your child a sense of wonder about God’s world.
Often they’ll have items from different countries to show. You can use these
learning experiences to pray for different peoples of the world to come to
know Christ.
Hearing tales from people who have “been there” create an awe and curiosity
in a child’s mind. Chances are your child will want to check out as many
books about the country as possible to learn more.
Enter maps, globes, land, customs and peoples. I have found that children
are unusually curious about people who live and act differently. They assume
that everyone around the world lives as they do. To discover the customs of
burping after a good meal (Saudi Arabia), removing one’s shoes before
entering a house (Japan), having men and women eat separately (India)
creates lots of questions and interest.
One book I find fascinating is Multicultural Manners. It’s filled
with advice for traveling to other countries - how one should behave in
order not to offend people in various cultures. My students always loved
hearing me read from the book because some of the stories were so unusual.
Did you know red ink pens are offensive in some cultures? You’ll be amazed
and fascinated at our different customs and thought.
Biographies
With the exploration of history comes reading biographies of inventors and
world-shakers. You could just have your child write a report about a famous
person, but that gets old quickly. How about trying some of these
alternative activities?
Make a set of “collectible” Hero cards. On one side of an index card draw a
picture of the famous person. On the other list accomplishments.
Make Character cards. Write the person’s name on each card and various
character qualities (admirable or not) discovered about him/her.
Make a time line of the person’s life.
Make a riddle book. On one page give some facts about a person; on the back,
tell the person’s name. These can be used for family games.
Bio Boxes – Cover an empty cereal box with paper. Write/draw/list
accomplishments of a famous person. Decorate each side differently.
Pretend you are living during the same time period as the person you’re
studying. Draft a newspaper article about the person. Or make a mini
“gazette” with several parts.
