Pennsylvania Social Studies Curriculum for Grades K–12
Explore social studies resources designed to support Pennsylvania classrooms. Our latest Pennsylvania state history titles are developed with state standards in mind, while our broader offerings include national history, civics, and diversity studies. With engaging, inquiry-based print and digital resources, Gibbs Smith Education helps students build knowledge, strengthen critical thinking, and connect learning to the world around them.



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Everything You Need for Pennsylvania Social Studies
Gibbs Smith Education offers a comprehensive social studies program for Pennsylvania classrooms, bringing together Student Editions, Teacher Guides, Student Activities, assessments, standards correlations, Pennsylvania Companion Guides, PowerPoints, student support materials, teacher tools, and digital resources through GSE Bookshelf+. Available resources vary by grade level and program.
Comprehensive Program
Pennsylvania Social Studies Curriculum by Grade
Building Social Studies Foundations | Grades K–3
Help young learners build a strong foundation in social studies through engaging, inquiry-based instruction. Our Social Studies Foundations series introduces history, geography, civics, economics, and community connections while supporting literacy development and critical thinking.
Kindergarten
Exploring My Place in the World
Introduce young learners to geography, history, economics, and civics through engaging, inquiry-based instruction. With literacy scaffolding and teacher-led exploration, students begin building an understanding of their communities and the world around them.
1st Grade
Exploring My Communities
Build on foundational social studies concepts through engaging explorations of communities and places. Literacy scaffolding, language development, and inquiry-based learning encourage curiosity while helping students strengthen their understanding of the people and communities around them.
2nd grade
Exploring Near and Far
Expand students' understanding of geography, history, economics, and civics through engaging, inquiry-based learning. This spiral-bound edition incorporates multimodal strategies, literacy support, and opportunities for language development, helping students strengthen essential skills while exploring communities and the world around them.

3rd Grade
Exploring Time and Place
Prepare students for deeper exploration of Pennsylvania history through engaging, inquiry-based social studies instruction. With literacy support and student-driven learning opportunities, this Pennsylvania edition helps students develop foundational knowledge and essential skills in preparation for fourth-grade state history.
Elementary Social Studies | Grades 4–5
Pennsylvania History, US History & World Geography
Build on foundational social studies skills with engaging explorations of Pennsylvania history, US history, and world geography. Through inquiry-based learning, historical thinking, and literacy-supported instruction, students develop a deeper understanding of the people, places, and events that have shaped our state, nation, and world.
4th Grade
Pennsylvania: Our Home
Explore Pennsylvania's rich history through an engaging, comprehensive fourth-grade state history program. This third edition combines accessible storytelling, inquiry-based learning, and literacy support with multimodal resources and teacher tools that help students connect with the people, places, and events that shaped Pennsylvania.

5th Grade
Bridges and Boundaries: World Geography
Explore world geography through engaging lessons that connect people, places, and environments. With an emphasis on spatial thinking and global understanding, this program combines student and teacher resources to strengthen critical thinking and help students understand the relationship between humans and the world around them.
5th Grade
Shaping a Nation: A History of the United States From 1450 to 1865
Explore early American history, from the nation's beginnings through the Civil War. Through engaging historical narratives, maps, illustrations, and primary sources, students develop historical thinking skills, strengthen critical thinking, and build an understanding of the people and events that shaped the United States.
5th Grade
Building a Promise: A History of the United States From 1865 to Present
Continue the journey through American history, from Reconstruction to the present. Through historical narratives, source analysis, and opportunities to explore continuity and change, students strengthen historical thinking skills while making meaningful connections between the past, present, and future.
Middle School Social Studies
US History, World History & Civics | Grades 6–8
Explore US history, world history, and civics through engaging middle school social studies resources. With inquiry-based learning, diverse historical perspectives, and literacy support, students strengthen critical thinking, develop historical understanding, and build knowledge of government, citizenship, and the world around them.
6th Grade
Eras: World History to 500 CE
Explore the beginnings of human civilization, from early societies to the rise of ancient empires in India and China. Through engaging historical narratives, maps, illustrations, and diverse perspectives, students develop historical understanding and critical thinking skills. Multimodal instructional resources support a variety of learning needs.
7th Grade
Eras: World History From 300 CE to 1770 CE
Continue exploring world history from the rise of early empires through the Age of Exploration. With engaging historical narratives, maps, charts, photographs, and illustrations, students investigate civilizations across the world while developing historical understanding and critical thinking skills through diverse perspectives.
6th Grade
Beyond Borders: World History to 1500 CE
Journey through world history, from early human societies and ancient civilizations to the Age of Exploration. Through engaging narratives, maps, photographs, and diverse historical perspectives, students explore the development of civilizations while strengthening literacy, historical understanding, and critical thinking skills.
7th Grade
Beyond Borders: World History 1500 CE to Present
Explore world history from the Age of Exploration to the present, examining the people, places, and events that shaped our interconnected world. Through engaging historical narratives, maps, charts, photographs, and diverse perspectives, students develop historical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of global history.
Middle School
We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution
Help students explore the foundations of American democracy, constitutional principles, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Through engaging lessons and civic inquiry, We the People encourages students to think critically about government and discover how they can participate in civic life.
8th Grade
An American Odyssey
Explore US history from the experiences of Indigenous peoples and early encounters among cultures through the Civil War, Reconstruction, and industrialization. With engaging primary sources, maps, and illustrations, students build historical understanding while developing literacy, inquiry, and critical thinking skills.

8th Grade
The Pennsylvania Journey
Explore Pennsylvania's rich history through a standards-aligned eighth-grade social studies program. Integrating history, geography, civics, and economics, this second edition examines the people, events, and developments that shaped the state. Through maps, timelines, primary sources, and inquiry-based learning, students strengthen historical understanding, literacy, and critical thinking skills.
High School Civics & Government | Pennsylvania Classrooms
Help students build a deeper understanding of American government, constitutional principles, and civic participation. We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution encourages critical thinking, cooperative learning, and meaningful discussions about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
High School
We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution
We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution gives high school students a meaningful and engaging way to explore the principles of American democracy, government institutions, and citizenship.
Through critical-thinking exercises, cooperative learning, and classroom discussions, students connect constitutional knowledge to real-world issues. The program culminates in simulated congressional hearings, where students apply their learning, defend their positions, and demonstrate their understanding of constitutional principles.
Constitutional Knowledge
Explore the foundations of American government and the Constitution.
Critical Thinking Collaboration
Engage in inquiry-based learning and meaningful classroom discussions.
Real-World Connections
Apply civics knowledge to current events and contemporary issues.

PENNSYLVANIA'S CIVICS EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Under Act 35 of 2018, Pennsylvania schools must administer a civic knowledge assessment at least once during grades 7–12, covering U.S. history, government, constitutional principles, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution supports civics instruction through engaging lessons on constitutional principles, American government, citizenship, and critical thinking.
Diversity Studies & Ethnic Studies | High School
Explore the diverse histories, cultures, and experiences that have shaped the United States. Through engaging content, primary sources, and multiple perspectives, our Diversity Studies programs help high school students build cultural understanding, strengthen critical thinking, and explore the contributions of communities throughout American history.
Diversity Studies
La Gente: Themes in Latino Studies
Explore Latino histories, cultures, and experiences through themes of migration, identity, expression, resistance, and community. Using stories, historical figures, and diverse perspectives, students examine the contributions of Latino communities while connecting historical events to contemporary issues.
Diversity Studies
Voices: An Ethnic Studies Survey
Explore the histories, experiences, and contributions of Indigenous, Black, Latino, Pacific Islander, and Asian American communities. Through diverse perspectives and engaging content, students examine how race, ethnicity, identity, and culture have shaped U.S. history and continue to influence society today.
Diversity Studies
Movement: Themes in Black and African American Studies
Explore Black and African American history through the lenses of migration, economics, inequality, leadership, and culture. Featuring research and contributions from Black scholars, this second edition provides scaffolded learning opportunities that help students analyze historical experiences, recognize significant contributions, and develop critical thinking skills.
Frequently Asked Questions About
Pennsylvania Social Studies Curriculum
What are Pennsylvania's social studies standards?
Pennsylvania's social studies standards outline what students should know and be able to do in history, geography, civics and government, and economics. These standards help schools and educators plan instruction, evaluate curriculum materials, and build students' understanding of their communities, state, nation, and world.
Does Gibbs Smith Education offer social studies curriculum developed for Pennsylvania standards?
Yes! Gibbs Smith Education offers Pennsylvania-specific social studies titles developed with state standards in mind, including programs for grades 3, 4, and 8. Schools can also explore our broader K–12 offerings in US history, world history, geography, civics, and diversity studies.
What social studies curriculum options are available for Pennsylvania students in grades K–12?
Gibbs Smith Education offers K–12 social studies resources for Pennsylvania classrooms, including national titles covering US history, world history, geography, civics, and more. Our newest Pennsylvania-specific editions for grades 3, 4, and 8 explore the state's history and were developed with Pennsylvania standards in mind. Together, these offerings give schools a range of options for supporting social studies instruction across grade levels.
What K–12 social studies programs are available for Pennsylvania schools?
Pennsylvania schools can explore Gibbs Smith Education's elementary, middle school, and high school social studies resources. Offerings include Pennsylvania history, US history, world history, geography, civics, and diversity studies, with print and digital options available for select programs.
What are Pennsylvania's civics education requirements?
Under Pennsylvania's Act 35 of 2018, schools must administer a civic knowledge assessment at least once during grades 7–12. The assessment covers U.S. history, government, constitutional principles, and citizenship. Students are not required to pass the assessment to graduate.
Gibbs Smith Education offers a variety of civics education resources, including We the People, Project Citizen, and other programs that help students explore government, constitutional principles, civic participation, and the responsibilities of citizenship.
What instructional resources are available with Gibbs Smith Education's social studies programs?
Gibbs Smith Education offers a variety of instructional resources, including student editions, teacher guides, student activities, assessments, PowerPoint presentations, teacher tools, standards correlation guides, and companion guides. Our digital learning platform, GSE Bookshelf+, provides convenient access to available program materials, helping educators plan lessons, engage students, and support flexible classroom instruction. Schools can explore print, digital, or a combination of both to meet their needs. Resources and availability vary by program.
Can Pennsylvania homeschool families use Gibbs Smith Education's social studies curriculum?
Yes! Pennsylvania homeschool families can explore Gibbs Smith Education's print and digital social studies resources, including Pennsylvania history titles for grades 3, 4, and 8. Our programs offer engaging historical content, inquiry-based learning opportunities, and instructional resources that families can review when selecting materials for their students.
Ready to Explore Pennsylvania Social Studies?
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Explore National Resources
More Resources for Pennsylvania Educators
The Journal
Discover teaching ideas, classroom activities, and free social studies lesson plans.
GSE Bookshelf+
Access digital student editions, teacher resources, and instructional tools in one convenient platform.
Professional Learning
Support educators with practical training, instructional strategies, and professional learning opportunities.