ENGAGING SOCIAL STUDIES RESOURCES AT YOUR School or district’s FINGERTIPS.👐

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

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 for your school or district to find quality social studies resources.
  • You’re struggling to keep your student population engaged and interested in the social studies topics that DO end up getting taught.
  • Planning for social studies takes up a lot of 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 your school or district 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! 🌟

INTRODUCING

A subscription packed with a variety of fun and easy-to-use resources for teaching social studies in Grades 3-5.

This membership is ideal for upper elementary teachers who want to spice up their social studies lessons. Teachers will receive 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!

“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

All-Access Resource Library 🌟

Guided Curriculum Units

These are complete, ready-to-teach units that cover essential social studies standards in depth. Each unit includes structured lessons, slideshows, guided notes, practice activities, projects, and assessments, giving teachers everything they need to deliver meaningful instruction without the overwhelm of planning from scratch.

Mini-Lessons

The mini-lessons are short, focused lessons that target a single concept or skill. Designed for 15–20 minute time blocks, they help teachers deliver impactful instruction even when class time is limited, making it easier to stay consistent with social studies throughout the week.

Daily Passages

These short reading texts are designed for quick implementation as part of a daily routine. Use for warmups or bellringers! They support literacy while also reinforcing key social studies concepts, helping students build background knowledge and comprehension skills.

Biography Passage Activities

These activities introduce students to significant historical figures in a student-friendly format. These resources help teachers bring history to life by showing real people behind major events, making content more relatable and memorable for students.

Task Cards

In the membership, you’ll find task cards that are printable or digital sets of questions that review specific concepts or vocabulary. They’re flexible and easy to use, providing you with an engaging way to reinforce learning, assess understanding, or add variety to their instruction.

WebQuests

You’ll find over 45 WebQuests – guided digital scavenger hunts where students investigate topics using pre-selected online sources. They promote critical thinking and inquiry skills, which allows you to introduce research-based learning in a structured and student-friendly way.

Writing Prompts

These prompts are designed to encourage student reflection and critical thinking about key topics. They can give you meaningful ways to check for understanding through written expression.

Guided Notes

Over 50 guided note topics are included! You’ll find filled in, partially completed, or blank options that help students focus on key ideas. These can be used as anchor charts, graphic organizers, etc. and are especially helpful for differentiating instruction.

Assessments

These ready-to-go quizzes and tests can help you check for understanding without the last-minute scramble. They’re aligned to standards and give you quick insight into what your students know – whether you’re doing a mid-unit check or wrapping things up.

Projects

The projects give your students a chance to dig deeper and show what they’ve learned in creative ways. These hands-on tasks build ownership, boost engagement, and give you an authentic way to assess learning beyond a worksheet or multiple-choice test.

Mini Audio Lessons

These quick, student-friendly audio podcast clips break down key concepts in just a few minutes. Perfect for introducing a topic or reinforcing what you’ve already taught, they’re a helpful option for reaching your auditory learners without adding to your prep load.

Vocabulary Cards and Quizzes

These visual cards and simple quizzes help your students lock in key terms as they move through each unit. They make it easy to reinforce vocabulary throughout your lessons – and give students the tools to talk about social studies with confidence.

and There’s Always More on the Way!


I’m constantly adding fresh resources, updating existing ones, and listening to member feedback to make sure you have exactly what you need. This membership grows with you – so you’ll always have something new to support your social studies block.

Additional Bonuses You’ll LOVE ❤️

Bonus 1: Lesson Planner GPT

Stuck on what to teach or how to break it down? Lesson Planner GPT is your AI-powered planning assistant that helps you map out social studies lessons in minutes. Just tell it your topic or standard, and it’ll suggest lesson ideas, activities, and pacing—all tailored to upper elementary. It’s like having a planning partner at your fingertips, anytime you need it!

Bonus 2: Pacing Guides and Lesson Plans

No more guessing what to teach and when! The pacing guides and done-for-you lesson plans take the stress out of long-term planning. Everything is laid out in a clear, easy-to-follow format so you can stay on track, cover your standards, and spend more time teaching—not planning.

Bonus 3: Tutorials and Support

Need help navigating the membership or using a resource? The collection of step-by-step tutorials and support is are here for you! Whether you’re brand new or just need a refresher, you’ll find quick topic overview videos, walkthrough videos, and answers to help you make the most of everything inside – no tech stress required.

WATCH THE DEMO VIDEO

Take a look at what’s inside the Texas school subscriptions 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 your school or district if:

✅ You’re looking for access to a complete curriculum AND engaging, supplemental 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 students interested and engaged.

WORK AND IMPACT

At Smart and Simple Social Studies, we are committed to delivering high-quality curriculum and 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


FOR GRADE LEVEL TEAMS, SCHOOLS, AND DISTRICTS

*SPECIAL OFFER*

Annual Texas School Subscriptions

Are you a school or district? Pay by credit card or make a purchase order, select a grade level, and get SCHOOL-WIDE access to engaging TEKS-Aligned Social Studies resources! Access begins after successful purchase and lasts through June 30, 2026.

PAY BY CREDIT CARD
$599 / per grade level
  • School-wide licenses (per grade level)
  • Guided Curriculum Units
  • WebQuests
  • Daily Passages
  • Guided Notes
  • Biography Passages
  • Task Cards
  • Vocabulary Cards and Quizzes
  • Assessments and Writing Prompts
  • Mini-Lessons
  • Projects
  • Teacher Topic Overview Videos
  • Curriculum Maps and Planning Guides
  • Individual Teacher Accounts
MAKE A PURCHASE ORDER
Custom Pricing
  • School-wide licenses (per grade level)
  • Guided Curriculum Units
  • WebQuests
  • Daily Passages
  • Guided Notes
  • Biography Passages
  • Task Cards
  • Vocabulary Cards and Quizzes
  • Assessments and Writing Prompts
  • Mini-Lessons
  • Projects
  • Teacher Topic Overview Videos
  • Curriculum Maps and Planning Guides
  • Individual Teacher Accounts

Transform Your Social Studies Block 💫

Improve your Social Studies class with fun activities and interactive lessons!
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 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!

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.

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.

Access for your school begins as soon as a purchase order is received. I will ask for additional information about the teachers needing access including name and school email address. From there, teachers needing access can create individual accounts in the membership platform.

Once access is granted, an invoice will be sent with the option to pay via check or online via credit card. Payment is due 30 days after invoice is sent.

If you are paying by credit card, you can make a secure payment online via Thrivecart. You’ll receive instructions to create an administrator account. I will also ask for additional information about the teachers needing access including name and school email address. From there, teachers needing access can create individual accounts in the membership platform.

Access for the 2025-2026 school year will end on June 30, 2026.

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.

Please note that if you choose to cancel the membership at any time, you revoke your school 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.