Social Studies Vocabulary
Grade 1
allegiance
loyal and faithful to a person,
group, or idea
loyalty
We pledge allegiance to the
U.S. flag every day at school.
anthem
the official song of a country
the national song
Our national anthem is played
at special events.
The Star-Spangled
Banner
calendar
a chart that shows the days,
weeks, and months in a year
chart with days and months of
the year on it
I will look for my birthday on the
calendar.
cardinal directions
the main direction to locate
something by using north,
south, east, west
north, south, east, west
I must go north which is a
cardinal direction.
community
a group of people who live and
work in the same place
neighborhood
My school is in the same
community, or area, as where
I live.
freedom
the right of people to make their
own choices
the right to choose to do
something
Americans fought for their
freedom from England.
future
the time that is to come
the time that is to come
Tomorrow and next year are
both in the future.
goods
things that can be bought and
sold
something that can be bought or
sold
Groceries at the store are
goods.
justice
fairness
fairness
Americans believe in justice,
or fairness.
landform
mountain or hill
a kind of land with a special
shape, such as a mountain or
hill
A mountain is the highest
landform.
law
a rule that people in a
community must follow
a rule that must be followed
The law says to stop at a stop
sign.
natural resource
something found in nature that
people can use to meet their
needs
something found in nature that
people can use to meet their
needs
A tree is a natural resource
that can be used to make
pencils.
past
the time before now
the time before now
The celebration of the first
Thanksgiving by the Pilgrims
happened in the past.
present
the time now
now
Today
Today is in the present.
public official
a person elected to an office
which runs a community
mayor, governor, president
The mayor is the public
official who runs Houston.
respect
to feel or show concern
to feel or show concern for
someone or something
Americans show respect for
the U.S. flag by placing their
hands over their hearts.
responsibility
something that a citizen should
do
something you should do
It is a citizen’s responsibility
to vote.
service
work done for others for money
something done for money
A dentist provides a service for
people.
symbol
a picture or object that stands
for something else
a picture that stands for
something else
The Statue of Liberty is a
symbol of freedom to
Americans.
tradition
a way of doing something that
is passed on from parents to
children
a way of doing something that is
passed on from parents to
children
Making quilts was a family
tradition for families living in
Cypress, Texas.