Designate a curriculum committee. The committee members should include at least one adminstrator such as the principal or vice principal, teachers with specialized knowledge of certifications in social studies areas and (if applicable in your district) an elementary curriculum coordinator. Depending on the make-up of your committee, some members may be better suited to working on early education goals for children in kindergarten through third grade, while others may have more knowledge of educational practices for fourth- through sixth-graders.
Create specific goals or objectives for your social studies curriculum planning process. Set up a timeframe with deadlines for a rough draft and final product and delegate tasks such as incorporating standards or choosing textbooks to certain members of the committee.
Review applicable state and national standards for social studies instruction. Individual states will have slightly varying standards for learning that schools must follow. The national standards are not necessary requirements, but are more of suggested practices to improve your elementary's overall social studies curriculum. For example, the national standards have 10 social studies themes ranging from culture to civic ideals and practices, and even science, technology and society. These areas include learning expectations for students by grade level, as well as examples of how the standards in practice look in the classroom. State standards will typically follow closely to the national guide in terms of content and appearance.
Write a list of goals and objectives for your school's social studies students. This, of course, will be routed in the standards, but should also incorporate educational ideals or policies that are distinct to your district or individual elementary. Draft a blanket mission state and objective for social studies learning at the elementary level that incorporates concepts such as understanding culture, appreciating America's history and governance and utilizing understandable and meaningful modes of instruction. Break down more intricate goals into grade level objectives. For example, fourth-graders will understand and be able to list the contributions that different cultures have made to American society.
Choose a text book system for either the school or by grade. This should include material that fulfills your objectives and learning goals, as well as state and national standards. Some districts may have a pre-selected textbook vendor. In this case, review the books for matches to your curricular goals.
Write out a chronological schedule for learning by grade for the entire school year. Break this down into units by week or month. Include the objectives and goals for learning as well as specific lessons and evaluation measures such as tests and graded assignments.
If needed, have your district's administration approve your social studies curriculum.