Unit Plan 25 (Grade 1 Social Studies): Our Families and Heritage

Focus: Help students explore their families, heritage, and traditions by learning about family trees, special celebrations, and how stories and customs are passed down over time.

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: Social Studies (History • Inquiry • Culture/Community)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students learn that families can look many different ways and that each family has its own heritage and traditions. Through read-alouds, photos, and simple interviews, they explore how families share stories, foods, songs, and celebrations across generations. Students begin to see their families as part of a bigger story that moves from past to present, and they create a simple family tree or family web plus a “My Family Tradition” page to show something special that has been passed down.

Essential Questions

• What is a family, and how can families look similar and different from each other?
• What is a tradition, and how do families share traditions over time?
• How do stories, photos, and interviews help us learn about our family history and heritage?
• Why is it important to learn about and respect our own traditions and the traditions of others?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Describe what a family is and recognize that families can have different members and structures.
2. Explain what a tradition is and give at least one example of a family tradition (food, song, story, celebration).
3. Use simple sources (photos, short texts, or an interview) to learn one fact about their family history or heritage.
4. Create a simple family tree or family web showing themselves and important family members (grown-ups may help with names).
5. Make a “My Family Tradition” page that shows and labels one tradition passed down in their family.

Standards Alignment — 1st Grade (C3-based custom)

• 1.C3.Hist.4 — Describe family and cultural traditions; note similarities and differences.
  • Example: Share foods or songs from a family celebration.
• 1.C3.Inq.2 — Gather information from simple sources (photos, maps, short texts, interviews).
  • Example: Use a picture book and a class interview with the custodian to learn about school jobs.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can tell what a family is and name some people in my family.
• I can explain what a tradition is and share one family tradition.
• I can use a photo, book, or interview to learn something new about my family or heritage.
• I can draw a simple family tree or family web and label some family members.
• I can make a page that shows one tradition and explain how it is passed down.