Social Studies Learning Standards
- Standard 1:
History of the United States and New York
Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the history of the United States and New York.- Key Idea
1 - The study of New York State and United States history requires
an analysis of the development of American culture, its diversity
and multicultural context, and the ways people are unified by many
values, practices, and traditions.
- Key Idea
1 - Alternate - Students will study family, neighborhood, community,
New York State and United States history, culture, values, beliefs
and traditions and the important contribution of individuals and
groups.
- Key Idea
2 - Important ideas, social and cultural values, beliefs, and
traditions from New York State and United States history illustrate
the connections and interactions of people and events across time
and from a variety of perspectives.
- Key Idea
3
- Study about the major social, political, economic, cultural, and
religious developments in New York State and United States history
involves learning about the important roles and contributions of
individuals and groups.
- Key Idea 4 - The skills of historical analysis include the ability to: explain the significance of historical evidence; weigh the importance, reliability, and validity of evidence; understand the concept of multiple causation; understand the importance of changing and competing interpretations of different historical developments.
- Key Idea
1 - The study of New York State and United States history requires
an analysis of the development of American culture, its diversity
and multicultural context, and the ways people are unified by many
values, practices, and traditions.
- Standard 2:
World History
Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in world history and examine the broad sweep of history from a variety of perspectives.- Key Idea
1 - The study of world history requires an understanding of
world cultures and civilizations, including an analysis of important
ideas, social and cultural values, beliefs, and traditions. This
study also examines the human condition and the connections and
interactions of people across time and space and the ways different
people view the same event or issue from a variety of perspectives.
- Key Idea
1 - Alternate
- Students will study world history, cultures and civilizations
and the important contribution of individuals and groups.
- Key Idea 2
- Establishing time frames, exploring different periodizations,
examining themes across time and within cultures, and focusing on
important turning points in world history help organize the study
of world cultures and civilizations.
- Key Idea
3 - Study of the major social, political, cultural, and religious
developments in world history involves learning about the important
roles and contributions of individuals and groups.
- Key Idea 4 - The skills of historical analysis include the ability to investigate differing and competing interpretations of the theories of history, hypothesize about why interpretations change over time, explain the importance of historical evidence, and understand the concepts of change and continuity over time.
- Key Idea
1 - The study of world history requires an understanding of
world cultures and civilizations, including an analysis of important
ideas, social and cultural values, beliefs, and traditions. This
study also examines the human condition and the connections and
interactions of people across time and space and the ways different
people view the same event or issue from a variety of perspectives.
- Standard 3:
Geography
Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstratetheir understanding of the geography of the interdependent
world in which we live local, national, global-including the distribution of people, places, and environments over the Earth's surface.- Key Idea
1 - Geography can be divided into six essential elements which
can be used to analyze important historic, geographic, economic,
and environmental questions and issues. These six elements include:
the world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical settings
(inculding natural resources) and, human systems, environment and
society, and the use of geography. (Adapted from The National Geography
Standards, 1994: Geography for Life).
- Key Idea
1 - Alternate - Students will study local, State, national and
global geography. Geography can be divided into six essential elements:
The world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical settings
(including natural resources), human systems, environment and society
and the use of geography.
- Key Idea 2 - Geography requires the development and application of the skills of asking and answering geographic questions; analyzing theories of geography; and acquiring, organizing, and analyzing geographic information. (Adapted from: The National Geography Standards, 1994: Geography for Life).
- Key Idea
1 - Geography can be divided into six essential elements which
can be used to analyze important historic, geographic, economic,
and environmental questions and issues. These six elements include:
the world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical settings
(inculding natural resources) and, human systems, environment and
society, and the use of geography. (Adapted from The National Geography
Standards, 1994: Geography for Life).
- Standard 4:
Economics
Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of how the United States and other societies develop economic systems and associated institutions to allocate scarce resources, how major decision-making units function in the United States and other national economies, and how an economy solves the scarcity problem through market and nonmarket mechanisms.- Key Idea
1 - The study of economics requires an understanding of major
economic concepts and systems, the principles of economic decision
making, and the interdependence of economies and economic systems
throughout the world.
- Key Idea
1 - Alternate - Students will study major economic concepts.
- Key Idea 2 - Economics requires the development and application of the skills needed to make informed and well-reasoned economic decisions in daily and national life.
- Key Idea
1 - The study of economics requires an understanding of major
economic concepts and systems, the principles of economic decision
making, and the interdependence of economies and economic systems
throughout the world.
- Standard 5:
Civics, Citizenship, and Government
Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the necessity for establishing governments; the governmental system of the United States and other nations; the United States constitution; the basic civic values of American constitutional democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation.- Key Idea
1 - The study of civics, citizenship, and government involves
learning about political systems; the purposes of government and
civic life; and the differing assumptions held by people across
time and place regarding power, authority, and governance, and law.
(Adapted from The National Standards for Civics and Government,
1994).
- Key Idea
1 - Alternate - Students will study government, civic life and
values and citizenship.
- Key Idea
2 - The state and federal governments established by the Constitutions
of the United States and the State of New York embody basic civic
values (such as justice, honesty, self-discipline, due process,
equality, majority rule with respect for minority rights, and respect
for self, others, and property), principles, and practices and establish
a system of shared and limited government. (Adapted from The National
Standards for Civics and Government, 1994).
- Key Idea
3 - Central to civics and citizenship is an understanding of
the roles of the citizen within the American constitutional democracy,
and the scope and limitations of a citizen's rights and responsibilities.
- Key Idea 4 - The study of civics and citizenship requires the ability to probe ideas and assumptions, ask and answer analytical questions, take a skeptical attitude toward questionable arguments, evaluate evidence, formulate rational conclusions, and develop and refine participatory skills.
- Key Idea
1 - The study of civics, citizenship, and government involves
learning about political systems; the purposes of government and
civic life; and the differing assumptions held by people across
time and place regarding power, authority, and governance, and law.
(Adapted from The National Standards for Civics and Government,
1994).