Social Studies

Explore world civilisations, Islamic and Pakistani history, and geography through storytelling, discovery and reflection.

Our Social Studies course takes students in Grades 1–7 on a journey through the people, places and events that shaped our world. Students explore ancient civilisations, Islamic history, the Mughal and Ottoman empires, Pakistan’s past, and the lasting influence of other major empires. They encounter the stories of leaders, scholars, travellers and humanitarians, considering their achievements, decisions and impact on everyday lives. Each grade combines a central historical focus with broader topics in culture, discoveries and geography. Students learn to read maps, trace journeys, explore landscapes and understand how places connect. Through age-appropriate stories, historical evidence, discussion and creative activities, they develop curiosity, empathy and the ability to think carefully about the past and its connections to life today.

Grade 1 - Stories of Ancient Daily Life

The topics we cover

Understanding the past: Past and present, sequencing stories, archaeology, historical objects and evidence.
Ancient civilisations: Egypt and the Nile, Egyptian builders, Indus settlements, Mohenjo-daro, Harappan toys, Mesopotamian writing and objects from ancient China.
Islamic history and leaders: Simple introductions to Khalid ibn al-Walid, Salahuddin Ayyubi and Osman I.
South Asian and Pakistani history: Mughal gardens, Tipu Sultan and Mysore, and an introduction to Pakistan’s creation.
Empires: Roman roads, books in Abbasid Baghdad and Ottoman buildings.
Culture and everyday life: Homes, food, clothing, crafts, markets, boats and carts.
Discoveries, travel and service: Ibn Battuta, Al-Khwarizmi and Abdul Sattar Edhi.
Geography: Picture maps, symbols, simple keys, land and water, rivers, mountains, locating Pakistan and following routes.

Grade 2 - Early Cities and Civilizations

The topics we cover

Early settlements: Mehrgarh, the growth of villages into cities, Uruk and reasons settlements change.
Ancient civilisations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Kush, Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Shang China and the Maya.
Writing and trade: Clay tablets, Enheduanna, Hatshepsut’s trading expedition, seals, weights and the movement of goods and ideas.
Islamic history and leaders: Khalid ibn al-Walid, Salahuddin and Osman I.
South Asian history and empires: Babur and the Mughals, Tipu Sultan, Pakistan’s historical sites, Roman roads, Abbasid cities and Ottoman architecture.
Culture and everyday life: Farming, food, homes, water, crafts and what objects reveal about people.
Discoveries, travel and service: Ibn Battuta, Al-Khwarizmi, Abdul Sattar Edhi and Bilquis Edhi.
Geography: Four compass directions, continents, oceans, neighboring countries, map keys, simple grids, landforms and introductory scale bars.

Grade 3 - Empires, Journeys and Cultural Exchange

The topics we cover

Ancient empires and leaders: Cyrus, Darius, Persian roads, Greek cities, Alexander and Porus, Ashoka and the Mauryan Empire.
Connected civilisations: Taxila, Gandhara, the Kushans, Rome, Byzantium, Han China and Great Zimbabwe.
Trade and exchange: Indian Ocean journeys, long-distance routes, markets, languages and the movement of knowledge.
Islamic history and leaders: Khalid ibn al-Walid, Osman I, Salahuddin and Abbasid translation networks.
South Asian and Pakistani history: Babur and Mughal beginnings, Tipu Sultan’s resistance and historical versus modern borders.
Empire and society: Mongol expansion, consequences of conquest, women, artisans and ordinary workers.
Discoveries, travel and service: Ibn Battuta, Ibn al-Haytham and Abdul Sattar Edhi.
Geography: Physical and political maps, grids, scale bars, trade routes, hemispheres and introductory latitude and longitude.

Grade 4 - Baghdad and the Worlds of Islamic Learning

The topics we cover

Islamic civilisation: Early caliphates, Umayyad Damascus, Abbasid Baghdad and the meaning of the Islamic Golden Age.
Scholars and discoveries: Hunayn ibn Ishaq, Al-Khwarizmi, the Banu Musa brothers, Thabit ibn Qurra, Al-Razi, Ibn Sina, Ibn al-Haytham and Al-Biruni.
Knowledge and learning: Translation, mathematics, engineering, astronomy, medicine, light, paper, books and libraries.
Historical connections: Mesopotamia, Greek learning, Indus heritage and knowledge exchanged with China.
Leaders and empires: Khalid ibn al-Walid, Osman I, Salahuddin, and comparisons of Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal societies.
South Asian and Pakistani history: Mughal patronage, Tipu Sultan, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and scientific teamwork.
Culture, travel and service: Baghdad households, craftspeople, patrons, Ibn Battuta, Abdul Sattar Edhi and Bilquis Edhi.
Geography: Coordinates, scale, rivers, climate, capitals, land and sea routes, and maps showing connections between centers of learning.

Grade 5 - Medieval Worlds, Leadership and Turning Points

The topics we cover

Centres of civilisation: Al-Andalus and Cordoba, Cairo, Jerusalem, Mali, Byzantium and Constantinople.
Salahuddin and the Crusades: Causes and viewpoints, Salahuddin’s life, Hattin, Jerusalem in 1187, surrender, civilian experiences and diplomacy.
Major turning points: Mongol expansion, Baghdad in 1258 and Constantinople in 1453.
Ottoman history: Osman I, Mehmed II, Suleiman I, life after conquest and Sinan’s architecture.
Other leaders and empires: Khalid ibn al-Walid, Mansa Musa, Safavid Iran, Babur, Akbar and the Mughal Empire.
South Asian and Pakistani connections: Tipu Sultan, Mysore, alliances, resistance and Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.
Culture, discovery and service: Medieval work, women’s lives, food, clothing, Ibn Battuta, Ibn al-Haytham and Edhi.
Geography: Coordinates, distances, seas, straits, strategic locations, trade routes and comparisons of historical maps.

Grade 6 - South Asian History and the Lands of Pakistan

The topics we cover

Early regional history: Indus cities, Gandhara, Muhammad bin Qasim and Sindh, ports and cultural exchange.
Sultanates and society: Ghaznavids, Ghurids, the Delhi Sultanate, Razia Sultan, Sufi traditions and regional languages.
Mughal history: Babur, Humayun, Sher Shah Suri, Akbar, Jahangir, Nur Jahan, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.
Mughal society and legacy: Administration, alliances, art, architecture, patronage, artisans, farming and everyday life.
Changing power: Lahore after Mughal dominance, Sikh rule, trading companies, British expansion and the events of 1857.
Leaders and wider empires: Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, Khalid ibn al-Walid, Osman I, Salahuddin, and Ottoman, Safavid, Roman, Mauryan, Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese comparisons.
Knowledge and service: Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Al-Biruni, Ibn Battuta, Abdul Sattar Edhi and Bilquis Edhi.
Geography: Rivers, tributaries, passes, terrain, monsoons, ports, resources, changing borders, scale and map projections.

Grade 7 - Pakistan, Global Legacies and Historical Interpretation

The topics we cover

Colonial change: British rule, railways, cotton, global industry, education, print and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
Pakistan Movement: Political movements, Allama Iqbal, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Lahore Resolution and negotiations leading to independence.
Pakistan’s history: Partition in 1947, migration, rebuilding lives, the early decades and the emergence of Bangladesh in 1971.
Influential empires: Mughal, British, Ottoman, Mongol, Roman, Persian, Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese legacies.
Leadership and remembrance: Khalid ibn al-Walid, Osman I, Suleiman I, Salahuddin and Tipu Sultan.
Science, learning and service: Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan’s contribution and controversies, Abdus Salam, Al-Khwarizmi, Ibn al-Haytham, Abdul Sattar Edhi and Bilquis Edhi.
Anthropology and historical inquiry: Regional cultures, language, memory, oral testimony, heritage ownership, competing accounts and evaluating evidence.
Geography: Coordinates, scale, projections, thematic maps, colonial trade, migration, changing boundaries and evaluating a map’s purpose and limitations.