At Lopez Elementary, our social studies instruction is built on the Colorado Academic Standards, which emphasize understanding human interactions, historical context, and civic responsibility.

Core Focus Areas:

• Community & Traditions: Students explore local and global communities, cultural traditions, and how people live and work together.
• Geography & Environment: Lessons include map skills, landforms, and how geography influences human activity.
• History & Civics: Students learn about Fort Collins and Colorado history, foundational U.S. history, and the principles of democracy and citizenship.

Instructional Approach:

• Social studies is taught through storytelling, inquiry, and hands-on projects that help students connect past events to present-day issues.

This curriculum helps students build a strong foundation in civic knowledge, cultural awareness, and historical thinking—skills essential for active participation in a diverse and democratic society.

All four areas of social studies standards are required learning for all students at all grade levels Pre-K through 12:

History                          Geography                                Civics                                 Economics

Kindergarten—Community, World, and Traditions Family

•     School
•    Community
•    Maps
•    Seasons/Weather
•    Holidays/Celebrations
•    Earth Resources
•    Civic Participation
•    Global Issues
•    Economics
•    Careers

First Grade—Community, World, and Traditions School

•     Neighborhood
•    Community at Work
•    Maps/Geography
•    Weather/Calendar
•    Historical Figures
•    National Symbols
•    Native Americans
•    Holidays/Celebrations
•    Civic Participation
•    Global Issues
•    Economics
•    Careers

Second Grade—Fort Collins History Civic Participation in School

•     Maps/Geography
•    Fort Collins and You
•    Early People
•    Native Americans
•    Trappers and Traders
•    Holidays/Celebrations in Fort Collins and the World
•    Camp Collins
•    Early Settlement
•    Fort Collins Grows Up
•    Fort Collins Today
•    Civic Participation
•    Global Issues
•    Economics
•    Careers

Third Grade—World Communities: A Tour of the Continents Geographic Tools

•     The World’s Land and Water
•    The World’s Countries
•    World Land Use
•    World Climate
•    The Continents
•    Country Case Studies: Japan, Zambia, Brazil, Spain, Australia, U.S.
•    Civic Participation
•    Global Issues
•    Economics
•    Careers

Fourth Grade—Colorado History: A Land of Great Variety Geographic Features

•     Flora and Fauna
•    Immigrants and Settlers
•    Famous Coloradoans
•    National Parks and Monuments
•    Rural and Urban Colorado
•    Lifestyles of Coloradoans
•    Sports, Recreation, and Culture
•    State Government
•    Colorado Road Trip
•    Colorado Rendezvous
•    Civic Participation
•    Global Issues
•    Economics
•    Careers

Fifth Grade—U.S. History U.S. Geography

•     Contact and Exploration
•    Colonization and Conflict*
•    Independence and New Government
•    Civic Participation
•    Global Issues
•    Economics
•    Careers

*The Civil War is not part of the fifth grade curriculum