ENGAGING SOCIAL STUDIES RESOURCES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.👐

Discover a variety of standards-based social studies resources designed to engage and empower your 3rd-5th grade students!

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Social Studies Resources on types of communities, thirteen colonies, and cultural celebrations

Spark curiosity and encourage critical thinking with engaging resources designed to make social studies come alive for your students.

DO ANY OF THESE SOUND LIKE YOU?

  • It’s really hard to find quality social studies resources.
  • You’re told to teach social studies but are given very few, if any, resources to make it happen consistently.
  • You’re struggling to keep your students engaged and interested in the social studies topics you DO end up teaching.
  • Planning for social studies takes up a lot of your time and you find it to be not worth the output. 

MY MISSION IS TO HELP YOU TAKE SOCIAL STUDIES OFF THE BACK BURNER.

Social studies is crucial for helping kids understand the world. When they learn about history and cultures, they develop critical thinking skills and become informed citizens.

If we don’t prioritize social studies, students miss out on key knowledge and skills. They might struggle with understanding current events and engaging in civic life.

Neglecting social studies can lead to:

  • Poor critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Lack of historical and cultural awareness
  • Unpreparedness for active citizenship

I’m here to help you bring social studies front and center! The goal is to make prep time short and sweet while packing in maximum learning, whether you have 5 minutes or 55.

Let’s make social studies engaging and essential for your students! 🌟

JOIN TODAY
INTRODUCING

A subscription packed with a variety of fun and easy-to-use resources for teaching social studies.

This membership is ideal for upper elementary teachers who want to spice up their social studies lessons. You’ll get tools and activities to make social studies lessons fun and meaningful for both you and your students!

  • Feel more confident and prepared with ready-to-use resources
  • Improve student understanding of historical & cultural concepts
  • Experience less stress with minimized prep time
  • Have students more engaged and excited about social studies!
Join TODAY

“I love the resources and that there is something new each month!”

Melissa K.

“I have never had an easier time planning. It is all there!!! I am able to take time to add more things if needed.”

Heather

“Most lessons have activities or notes and I can use them quickly.”

Kelly

HERE’S WHAT’S INCLUDED:

All-Access Resource Library

Choose from a variety lessons and activities, including guided curriculum units for 3rd – 5th grade, WebQuests, daily passages, projects, guided notes, mini-lessons, task cards, and more!

Pacing Guides and Lesson Plans

Make planning easy with year-long curriculum maps, pacing guides, and teacher guides for every activity.

Trainings and Workshops

Get access to a host of pre-recorded and live workshops and trainings that will support your social studies teaching needs.

Monthly S+S Surprises

Enjoy monthly bonus social studies resources that are fun to have in the classroom – digital games, classroom posters, and more! The bonus resources can be used to increase student engagement and are useful for your social studies block!

Tutorials and Support

When you join the membership, you’ll have access to membership support videos, tutorials, and content to help you best implement social studies resources effectively.

Search Hub

Use the membership search hub to help you find social studies resources. Choose from a specific domain, topic, type of resource or grade level in the resource library!

WATCH THE VIDEO

Take a look at what’s inside the membership!

What current members are saying about the membership 🙌

Current members were asked, “What are three words you’d use to describe the Smart and Simple Social Studies Membership to a friend?” Here’s what they had to say:

easy – informative – creative
thorough – organized – amazing
simple – engaging – usable
fun – student-friendly – easy-to-follow

Is the Smart and Simple Social Studies Membership Right for You? 🤔

This is a fit for you if:

✅ You’re looking for access to a complete curriculum AND engaging, supplemental social studies resources for Grades 3-5 to enhance your social studies block.

✅ You want additional tools like WebQuests, daily passages, and task cards to enrich your lessons.

✅ You struggle with finding high-quality, standards-based resources that keep your students interested and engaged.

✅ You’d love access to workshops and monthly surprises to keep things fresh and exciting in your classroom.

WORK AND IMPACT

At Smart and Simple Social Studies, we are committed to delivering high-quality curriculum and social studies resources for teachers and students that make a positive impact on upper elementary social studies education.

of members use the resource library on a daily or weekly basis.*
supplemental resources that are low-prep, engaging, and standards-based.
of elementary education experience and expertise.

*Self-reported by members in an annual survey.

WHAT MEMBERS ARE SAYING

“My students enjoy the things I have given them and they are loving social studies!”
Melissa
Happy Teacher
“I’m loving my experience with the Smart and Simple Social Studies membership. The resources are perfect for my fifth graders and they are engaging.”
Nichole
Happy Teacher
“This resource is comprehensive and there are no worries of having to search all over for bits and pieces. I have it all in one spot.”
Heather F.
Happy Teacher

Choose a Subscription Option!

Choose the plan that fits you best – monthly, quarterly, or annual – for the 2025-2026 school year. This is an ongoing subscription, but you’re never locked in. You can cancel anytime, and you’ll continue to have access through the end of your current billing period. If it’s still a great fit for your classroom, just keep it going! Simple, flexible, and made with teachers in mind!

monthly ($324/YEAR)

*PAY A MONTH AT A TIME*

$27

  • Guided Curriculum Units for 3rd-5th grade
  • Access to Social Studies Resources, Workshops, and Trainings
  • Monthly Social Studies Surprises
  • 1 Personal Use License for classroom use
  • Month to month – cancel at any time.

QUARTERLY ($264/year)

*MOST POPULAR!*

$66

  • Guided Curriculum Units for 3rd-5th grade
  • Access to Social Studies Resources, Workshops, and Trainings
  • Monthly Social Studies Surprises
  • 1 Personal Use License for classroom use
  • Pay 3 months at a time – cancel at anytime.

ANNUAL ($259/YEAR)

*BEST SAVINGS!*

$259

  • Guided Curriculum Units for 3rd-5th grade
  • Access to Social Studies Resources, Workshops, and Trainings
  • Monthly Social Studies Surprises
  • 1 Personal Use License for classroom use
  • Pay upfront for the year – cancel at anytime.

monthly ($324/YEAR)

*PAY A MONTH AT A TIME*

$27

  • Guided Curriculum Units for 3rd-5th grade
  • Access to Social Studies Resources, Workshops, and Trainings
  • Monthly Social Studies Surprises
  • 1 Personal Use License for classroom use
  • Month to month – cancel at any time.
SIGN UP TODAY

QUARTERLY ($264/year)

*MOST POPULAR!*

$66

  • Guided Curriculum Units for 3rd-5th grade
  • Access to Social Studies Resources, Workshops, and Trainings
  • Monthly Social Studies Surprises
  • 1 Personal Use License for classroom use
  • Pay 3 months at a time – cancel at anytime.
SIGN UP TODAY

ANNUAL ($259/YEAR)

*BEST SAVINGS!*

$259

  • Guided Curriculum Units for 3rd-5th grade
  • Access to Social Studies Resources, Workshops, and Trainings
  • Monthly Social Studies Surprises
  • 1 Personal Use License for classroom use
  • Pay upfront for the year – cancel at anytime.
SIGN UP TODAY
GRADE LEVEL TEAMS, SCHOOLS, AND DISTRICTS

*SPECIAL OFFER*

Annual Texas School Subscriptions

This option gives teachers at your school access to all social studies resources specific to 3rd-5th grade through June 2026. Pay with a credit card and get instant access or request a quote for a purchase order. Perfect for multiple teachers in 1 or more grade levels!

LEARN MORE ABOUT SCHOOL SUBSCRIPTIONS

Transform Your Social Studies Block 💫

Improve your Social Studies class with fun activities and interactive social studies resources!
Planning is easier because I have almost all resources in one spot!
Kelly
S&S Member
I’m not a crabby patty anymore…lol. But really it has freed me up to spend more time with the clubs I sponsor and mentoring other teachers.
Heather
S&S Member
It has made it simpler and I’m more confident.
ROBBIE
S&S Member
I feel like I have a great road map, which gives me more room to breathe.
HEIDI
S&S Member
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

Smart and Simple Social Studies is a teacher membership designed for upper elementary social studies teachers. It provides engaging and comprehensive social studies resources for 3rd-5th grade students.

Yes, all resources in the membership are standards-based. The resources primarily align to the Texas TEKS standards. The resources are organized by social studies domain and topic so that it’s easy to find and align to other states as well.

Smart and Simple Social Studies is open to upper elementary social studies teachers who are looking for high-quality resources. Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned educator, this membership can benefit you!

Upon checkout, you can select a subscription option based on whether or not you live in Texas. If you live in Texas, it is recommended to select the “Texas/TEKS” membership option to receive additional Texas-specific history resources. If you do not live in Texas, you can select the default option upon checkout. The only difference between the two options is that one has added Texas resources, and the other does not.

This membership was designed for upper elementary students. I highly recommend this membership for educators who teach social studies to students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. If you are not a teacher in 3rd-5th grade and decide to join the membership, you’ll have to make the necessary modifications to make the resources work for your students.

Yes! This membership grants you one license for personal use in the classroom or at home. You can use this as part of your homeschooling curriculum or as a supplement to what your child is learning at school.

Absolutely! The Southern Teach prides itself on being a professional, researched-based, and innovative company. I have over a decade of experience teaching in the classroom and hold an M.Ed in Elementary Education. I strive to make sure that my curricula and resources are of the highest quality, based on the latest research in social studies education. You can learn more about me here.

Once you become a member, you will receive login credentials to access the membership platform – ThriveCart Learn. From there, you can explore the videos, resources, and other exclusive features.

Absolutely! You can easily access and download the resources you need and utilize the on-demand training and workshops available.

Yes! While there are resources in my membership that are also in my TPT store, there are also a host of resources that are not sold or found anywhere else. And you’ll have unlimited access to all of them as long as you are a part of the membership!

Due to the digital nature of the content and resources, I do not offer refunds.

By signing up for the membership, you are agreeing to commit to subscribing for the 2025-2026 school year through monthly, quarterly, or annual installments.

If you join the membership and decide that it’s not the right fit for you, you can send me an email at kirsten@thesouthernteach.com to cancel payments. This means access to the membership will be revoked for the remainder of the subscription period.

Please note that if you choose to cancel the membership or wish to not renew the subscription after June 30, 2026, you revoke your personal license in the membership and the ability to use any of the resources associated with the license. 

MEET THE FOUNDER

HI, I’M KIRSTEN!

I’m a former upper elementary teacher who has taught in multiple districts in Texas. I’ve taken my 11+ years of experience along with my M.Ed in Elementary Education and applied my expertise to each resource I create. I’ve totally been there –

  • Searching all over the internet to find the right social studies resources that align with my state’s standards and weren’t too easy or boring for my students 
  • Scrambling at the last minute to come up with a lesson or activity that aligns with a current event or holiday 
  • Trying to figure out a schedule that fits social studies with all the 150 million things I had to cover before state testing

This membership is here to change that. No more fighting to fit social studies into your schedule or wasting precious time looking for activities (only to end up with bored students).

Instead, you’ll have access to high-quality social studies resources that will help you feel prepared for your next lesson. 

With these engaging resources, students will get to share in the joy of learning with you – while also retaining more information and making meaningful connections.

JOIN TODAY!