Grade 1 Social Studies: Caring for Our Environment
Free Grade 1 Social Studies unit on Caring for Our Environment: 10 lessons in order. Includes practice questions and answer keys.
10 lessons in this unit
Our surroundings
Notice and describe our surroundings (home, school, street, market, fields, forests, rivers, sea), say what living and non-living things are in them, and appreciate how our surroundings affect how we live.
Lesson 2Natural and built environments
Distinguish natural environments (forests, rivers, mountains, sea) from built environments (houses, roads, towns), appreciate that many places mix both, and discuss how to keep both safe and pleasant.
Lesson 3Keeping places clean
Learn why clean places matter for health and pride, describe ways to keep home, school and public places clean (sweeping, washing hands, bins, drains), and take responsibility in safe ways.
Lesson 4Waste and litter
Understand the difference between waste (things we throw away) and litter (rubbish left in the wrong place), see how waste harms animals and water, and begin to reduce, reuse and recycle in simple ways.
Lesson 5Saving water
Learn that water is precious, find out where water comes from (rain, rivers, wells, taps), explain why we should save it, and practise simple water-saving habits at home and school.
Lesson 6Caring for plants
Learn that plants give us food, shade, air and homes for animals, observe what plants need to grow (water, light, air, soil), and practise gentle ways to look after plants at school and home.
Lesson 7Caring for animals
Learn that animals are living things with needs (food, water, shelter, space, care), that pets and farm animals depend on people, and that wild animals should be respected and not harmed, with safe behaviour near animals.
Lesson 8Shared spaces
Identify shared spaces (classroom, playground, parks, markets, roads, buses, wells), understand that these belong to everyone and need care and rules, and plan simple ways to share and look after them.
Lesson 9Working together
Understand that big jobs are easier when people work together, practise teamwork roles (planner, helper, checker), listen and share ideas, and see how many hands make care of the environment quicker.
Lesson 10Community care project
Plan and carry out a simple class community care project (planting a tree or flowers, a litter-free week, a water-saving poster campaign, making a school garden bed), with supervision, roles and safety, and reflect on what was achieved.