Pennsylvania Social Studies Curriculum
Aligned to Pennsylvania Core Standards and built for state assessments.
Browse by school level
Elementary School Social Studies
Community, geography, history, and civics basics, one course per grade.
Kindergarten Social Studies
American symbols, maps and globes, and needs and wants for kindergarten.
1st Grade Social Studies
Community rules, American symbols, and maps for 1st grade social studies.
2nd Grade Social Studies
Branches of government, landforms, and colonial life for 2nd grade.
3rd Grade Social Studies
U.S. regions, colonial history, and market economy in PA 3rd grade.
4th Grade Social Studies
Colonial life, the Constitution, and branches of government in PA 4th grade.
5th Grade Social Studies
Colonial government, the Constitutional Convention, and the Bill of Rights in PA 5th grade social studies.
Middle School Social Studies
World cultures, US history, and the bridge into high school social studies.
6th Grade Social Studies
Early humans, Mesopotamia, and ancient river civilizations.
7th Grade Social Studies
Ancient Rome, medieval feudalism, and Tang and Song dynasties in Grade 7 social studies.
8th Grade Social Studies
Colonial resistance, the Continental Congress, and early American government in PA 8th grade.
High School Social Studies
Civics and Government, Economics, Geography, and History as separate courses.
Civics and Government
Constitutional foundations, branches of government, and civil rights in PA high school civics.
Economics
Scarcity and choice, market forces, and fiscal policy in PA high school economics.
Geography
Geosphere, demographics, and global development in PA high school geography.
History
Colonial development, Jacksonian Era, and U.S. expansion in PA high school history.
Aligned with the Pennsylvania Core Standards
Organized around Pennsylvania Core Standards and typical classroom pacing, so students find the exact skill their teacher covered and work through it step by step.
- Mapped to Pennsylvania Core Standards, grade by grade
- Review built in for Pennsylvania state assessments
- Unlimited practice problems with worked solutions
Social Studies Curriculum by State
Select any state to see its social studies courses across the United States.
State Standards
CURRICULUM GUIDE
About the Pennsylvania Social Studies Curriculum
How Pennsylvania Core Standards Works
Pennsylvania sets its own social studies expectations through the Pennsylvania Core Standards, organizing content by civics, economics, geography, and history at each grade.
How Pennsylvania Differs
Pennsylvania separates high school social studies into four distinct named courses - Civics and Government, Economics, Geography, and History - rather than a single survey sequence.
How Pennsylvania Social Studies Progresses
Students move from community and map basics in the early grades through US and world history in middle school, then into separate high school courses aligned to Pennsylvania Core Standards.
How Pennsylvania Assesses Social Studies
Pennsylvania uses state assessments to measure social studies knowledge, with Civics and Government and other high school courses supporting college readiness for Pennsylvania students.
Common Questions from Pennsylvania Parents
We've got answers to some popular questions.
Which grades does StudyPug cover for Pennsylvania social studies?
StudyPug covers Pennsylvania social studies from Kindergarten through high school, including elementary, middle school, and the four named high school courses.
How do I find the course that matches my child's class?
Browse by grade band and select the course name that matches your child's current class - each course follows Pennsylvania Core Standards and typical classroom pacing.
Does StudyPug help with Pennsylvania state assessments?
Yes. Practice problems and lessons are built around Pennsylvania Core Standards content, based on real exams, so students review the same material tested in Pennsylvania state assessments.
Does the course order match what Pennsylvania schools teach?
Yes. Each course follows the sequence and topics set by Pennsylvania Core Standards, so the lessons match what students are working on in their classroom.
Can I use StudyPug for homeschooling?
Yes. Lessons are organized by grade and Pennsylvania Core Standards and can be worked at the student's own pace, making it a practical fit for homeschool families.
Reviewed by the StudyPug Curriculum Team
Last updated June 5, 2026
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