For students the world over, Social Studies means rote learning, long answers and boring lessons. At Walnut, it’s the exact opposite.
In primary school, Social Studies is actually the most favourite subject! There are no exams till Std. 5 — students spend their time listening, watching, debating and forming opinions. Exercises are built around analysis, map work, and “what if” discussions.
This way, students understand the world better — and enjoy the process.
Core Social Studies Program at-a-Glance
Where Walnut Goes Beyond NCERT
Core Social Studies Program at-a-Glance
- Starts from Std. 1 with concepts in History, Geography and Political Science.
- Economics from Std. 3 → financial literacy from an early age.
- Practical, discussion-based approach → debates, perspectives, “what if” scenarios.
- Sequenced curriculum → every year builds on the last, well before NCERT requires it.
- Exams introduced gradually → no exams in Std. 1–5, open-book formats in Std. 6–7, board pattern from Std. 8 onwards.
Where Walnut Goes Beyond NCERT
Walnut students are a year ahead of their expected grade in Social Studies too. Alongside NCERT, they study topics most schools never touch. We believe that to make our students proud of our country, they must know of our glorious past through history and also of the tremendous strides we have made after independence via modern history.
Social studies has four main parts
Std 2 : The story of man : from apes to what we are today.
Std. 3 : The full story of Shivaji Maharaj.
Std 4 : The Peshwas and the British takeover.
Std. 5 : World history → Renaissance, Revolutions, World Wars, Cold War, 9/11, Russia–Ukraine conflict.
Std. 6–7 : Modern Indian history post-1947 → wars, Pokhran tests, Emergency, scams, terrorist attacks, demonetization.
These topics might seem obvious to be taught to students, but they are not given as much importance as they should get in the textbooks. We take on the responsibility to teach each topic in detail at Walnut.
Std 1 : The Sun and the Stars, The Moon, Our Solar System, The Universe, The Big Bang, Stars – birth and death, Our Sun and Galaxies, The Earth is Born, Continental Drift, Life on Earth, Climate Change, Ice Age Animals.
Std 2 : Directions, Where We Are, Maps, Landforms, Water Cycle, Water Bodies, Climate Zones, Seasons, Climate.
Std 3 : Spheres of the earth, landforms, climate, earthquakes & volcanoes.
Std 4 : Earth’s rotation & revolution, latitudes & longitudes, climate & landforms, food chains & ecosystems.
Again, these are topics which are basics of financial literacy, and “should be taught in schools”, according to experts. Well, we do that at Walnut, and that too in great detail.
Std 3 : Demand & supply, budgets, taxes, producers & consumers.
Std 4 : Pricing, budgeting, types of expenses, assets & liabilities.
Std 5 : Types of economic activities, Taxes, Inflation, Investing, Insurance.
Std 6 : Insurance – 4 Main Types and how it works, Paychecks and Taxes, Banking etc.
Std 7 : Economics: Stocks, IPOs, global trade, central banks, FDI, UPI, ESG & carbon credits.
Being responsible citizens requires knowledge about how governments work, how to have civic responsibility and how to be empathetic towards fellow citizens. This is not just about politics. This is about being a responsible future generation. And we believe that we are the shapers of that generation at Walnut.
Std 1 : Daily Routine, Helping, Good Habits, Basic behaviour, Pets, Hygiene, Food, Disabilities, Being Blind, Being Deaf Mute etc.
Std 3 : Citizenship, society, voting, government, laws & rights.
Std 4 : Farmers’ lives, landless laborers, migration, problems of dams, child marriage, dowry.
By the time they reach Std. 8, Walnut students have already covered ground that others only start seeing in Std. 9 or 10.
“The other day my 7th standard daughter came home and asked her father what investments he had and whether he was earning any passive income. I was quite surprised to hear such a thoughtful question from her at this age!.”
Mrs. Paruli Rana
Shivane Campus
“TMy 5th standard son overheard us talking about buying a car. He immediately asked whether we were planning to go for financing and what the terms would be. I was amazed at the maturity of his question at such a young age”
Mrs. Vedavati Limaye
Shivane Campus
“My 6th standard daughter came up to us one evening and wanted to know what kind of insurance we had taken cover for. It was quite surprising to see her show such awareness at this stage.”
Naresh Tak
Wakad Campus