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Social Studies Alive!

Our Community and Beyond

The world stretches well past the end of the block. Students compare how communities near and far meet their needs, analyzing what connects people and shapes where they live.

What Students Will Explore

Unit 1

Geography

Develop an understanding of map skills, learn how geographers use tools, examine the physical features of North America, and discover how Indigenous groups adapted to their environments.

Unit 2

History

Explore immigration, culture, and leadership in your community and beyond. Discover how history and culture shape the world around you.

Unit 3

Economics

Step into the world of buying, selling, and trading. Discover how our choices shape the economy and how scarcity affects our community.

Unit 4

Civics

Explore how active citizens help their communities. Learn about government, public services, and how your actions can make a difference for others.

Explore the Program

Choices in a Free Market

A colorful fruit stand at a market with apples, berries, and price signs displayed on the produce. LESSON

In this lesson, students learn how supply and demand affect prices in a free market economy.

Experience the Lesson

  • View the Scope and Sequence

    See every unit and lesson at a glance — compelling questions, objectives, and how content builds across History, Geography, Civics, and Economics.

    View the Scope and Sequence

  • View the Brochure

    Get a quick, visual snapshot of the program — key features, components, and what makes learning come alive in the classroom.

    Download the Brochure

  • Review Correlations

    See exactly how the program aligns to your state standards.

    Review the Correlations
See TCI in action

Request Sample

Request access to digital samples of the student and teacher materials.

One Program. Every Resource You Need.

From an interactive digital platform to hands-on print materials and teacher tools, see everything included to help you teach and your students learn.
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Student Materials

  • Children in a group lift a large inflatable globe, smiling, on the cover of a Social Studies student journal.

    Student Journal

    The colorful, easy-to-use, print consumable Student Journal combines standards-based content and rich activities to support student learning. Students will make personal connections that allow them to develop a deep understanding of key social studies content while building critical social studies and ELA skills. Also available in Spanish.

  • Five photos of diverse people in historical and modern settings, set on an orange background with text about social studies.

    Social Studies Stories

    The Social Studies Stories collection contains short, high-interest readings from four different disciplines — Geography, History, Economics, and Civics — to further engage and deepen students' understanding of content. Also available in Spanish.

  • Interactive Desk Maps

    A class set of large, colorful, laminated maps that students can write on and use in hands-on ways during activities.

Teacher Materials

  • Children lifting a large globe together, with Social Studies Alive! Teachers Guide text displayed on a white background.

    Teacher's Guide

    Teacher's Guide supports everything from lesson planning to grading — step-by-step procedures, time estimates, differentiation strategies, and answer keys, ready to use offline or as a quick reference while teaching. Also available in Spanish.

  • Orange cover of Social Studies Alive! Our Community and Beyond Activity Cards, third edition, with a globe image.

    Activity Cards

    The Activity Cards are laminated, reusable cards that contain vibrant, interactive content for students. The cards include large maps, game boards, and manipulatives that can be cut out and be reused year after year. Also available in Spanish.

  • Vocabulary Wall Cards

    Vocabulary Wall Cards pair key terms with clear definitions on durable, laminated posters — ready to display on a word wall or use as manipulatives.

Reviews & Recognition

At TCI, we don't just say our programs work — we invite independent reviewers to put them to the test. Our social studies and science programs are reviewed by respected third-party organizations that analyze our resources for quality, effectiveness, and alignment with standards.

In addition to national recognition, our programs are reviewed and approved by individual states to ensure they meet specific requirements and standards. We also participate in landscape analyses that compare our offerings with those of other leading programs, so educators and districts can make informed choices.

Explore Reviews
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