Social Studies Practices PK-12

1 Engage in Democratic Processes – Students will understand the principles of government, the benefits of democratic systems, and their responsibilities as citizens.

1.A. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the virtues that citizens should use when interacting with each other and the virtues that guide official government institutions.

1.B. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the important institutions of their society and the principles that these institutions are intended to reflect.

1.C. Students will demonstrate understanding of the processes and rules by which groups of people make decisions, govern themselves, and address public problems.

3 Acquire, Apply, and Evaluate Evidence – Students will utilize interdisciplinary tools and master the basic concepts of the social studies in order to acquire and apply content understanding in all related fields of study.

3.B. Students will demonstrate an understanding of geographic concepts and develop mastery of geographic tools and ways of thinking in order to become geographically informed.

3.C. Students will analyze the principles of economic systems and develop an understanding of the benefits of a market system in local, national, and global settings.

4 Read Critically and Interpret Informational Sources – Students will engage in critical, active reading of grade-level appropriate primary and secondary sources related to key social studies concepts, including frequent analysis and interpretation of informational sources.

4.A. Students will comprehend, evaluate, and synthesize textual sources to acquire and refine knowledge in the social studies.

4.B. Students will apply critical reading and thinking skills to interpret, evaluate, and respond to a variety of complex texts from historical, ethnic, and global perspectives.

2nd Grade Content Standards

2.1. The student will explain the importance of the basic principles that provide the foundation of the American system of government.

2.1.1. Describe the Constitution of the United States as the structure for our national government.

2.1.3. Explain how active citizens participate in the government by voting to elect officials that represent them.

2.1.4. Identify the basic roles of national leaders including the President of the United States, the members of the United States Congress, and the justices of the Supreme Court.

2.2. The student will describe the physical and human characteristics of their environment.

2.2.2. Describe absolute and relative location using latitude, longitude, and hemispheres on basic maps and globes.

2.2.4. Identify and locate basic landforms, bodies of water, continents, and oceans on a map.

2.3. The student will examine the lives of notable Americans who expanded peoples’ rights and freedoms through our history.

2.3.1. Analyze the contributions of people and groups who have shaped our history and who are honored by holidays and commemorative months.

2.3.2. Compare perspectives of people in the past to people in the present.

2.3.3. Compare different accounts of the same historical event using primary and secondary sources.

2.3.4. Explain possible reasons for events in the past.

2.4. The student will understand basic economic concepts in the American economy.

2.4.1. Explain the importance of supply and demand in the consumer and producer relationship.

2.4.2. Explain how barter and trade can lead to interdependence among communities.

2.4.4. Describe how setting goals and creating a budget helps people pay for things they need and want.