NYCPS Passport to Social Studies

The Passport to Social Studies program is the New York City Public Schools’ official K–12 social studies curriculum. In elementary school, it helps children learn about their community, their city, and the wider world through engaging stories, hands‑on activities, maps, primary sources, and discussions. The goal is to help students understand how people, places, and events shape the world—and how they can make a positive impact in their own communities.

Passport to Social Studies is built around meaningful, age‑appropriate topics that help children explore history, geography, culture, and civics. Units typically include:

• Community & Identity — Understanding families, neighborhoods, and what makes a community work.
• New York City & New York State — Learning about local history, landmarks, and the people who shaped our city and state.
• World Cultures — Exploring traditions, celebrations, and daily life around the globe.
• Geography Skills — Using maps, globes, and diagrams to understand places and environments.
• Civics & Citizenship — Learning about rules, fairness, leadership, and how communities make decisions.

These units help students build a strong foundation for understanding history and society as they grow.