Social Studies

Why is social studies education important to Washington State students?
Social studies are the fabric that weaves a mosaic of essential perspectives for our students in the state of Washington. Social studies involve the exploration of how people interact with their social, cultural, and physical worlds. They involve students in the evaluation of history and contemporary issues, understanding global relations, and making connections from the past, to the present, and into the future. Receiving a well-grounded foundation and understanding of social studies concepts provide students with unique and diverse viewpoints to examine their role in the community, state, nation, and the world in order to actively participate in our democracy.

From the elementary school students where inquiry is focused on the understanding of self, community, and the world around them, to middle school learners who can examine the relationship of one’s setting to both past and present, to the high school years when students prepare to become the next decision-makers and leaders of our nation, social studies provides this dynamic mosaic. When social studies are examined in an intentional manner, our children gain the essential understanding about themselves, others, and the world they live in. As these perspectives are connected through their K-12 educational careers in a meaningful and purposeful manner, the young adults leaving our K-12 system will have the knowledge and skills to deal effectively with social issues of the day and, therefore, actively participate in today’s world.

KINDERGARTEN

In kindergarten the main focus is individual development and identity.

The themes are

A. Learning About Myself and My Classroom Community

B. The Food We Eat

C. Related Social Studies Skills

To Washinton State Grade Level Frameworks

To Meridian School District Social Studies Curriculum

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GRADE 1

In first grade the main focus is on families.

The themes are:

A. Families In Our Community

B. Families in Other Places

C. Related Social Studies Skills

 

 

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GRADE 2

In second grade the main focus is on communities.

The themes are:

A. Our Community

B. Communities Meet their Needs and Wants

C. Related Social Studies Skills

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GRADE 3

In third grade the main focus is on culture: People, Places and the Environment.

The themes are:

A. Cultures in Our Community

B. Our Native American Past

C. Making Global Connections

D. Related Social Studies Skills

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GRADE 4

In fourth grade the main focus is on Washington State History, Geography, and Government.

The themes are:

A. Exploring Washington prior to Statehood

B. Living in Washington: Its Geography, Resources and the Economy

C. Being Citizens in Washington

D. Related Social Studies Skills

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GRADE 5

In fifth grade the main focus is on U.S. History: Civic Ideals and Practices.

The main themes are:

A. Colonization and Settlement

B. Independence

C. Founding the Nation

D. Related Social Studies Skills

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Students who get strong history, geographic, civic, and economic education in the middle grades are given a key advantage over children who do not. In each subsequent year of instruction through high school and college, the students are building new ideas and skills onto a foundation that was built earlier. Without it, new material makes little sense because the needed groundwork is missing. A K-12 social studies curriculum, like any school curriculum, is a spiraling enterprise of building onto what was built earlier. No gap in that work can be afforded.

GRADE 6 SOCIAL STUDIES

In sixth grade the main focus is on World Geography and World History and Geography.

The themes are:

A. Cartography – Maps, charts, and geographic tools

B. Spatial patterns and regions

C. Interaction: People, the environment, and culture

D. River Civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Kush

E. Ancient China

F. Greece and Rome

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GRADE 7 SOCIAL STUDIES

In seventh grade the main focus is World History and Geography and Washington State History and Geography.

The main themes are:

A. Islamic Civilization (600-1600)

B. Europe (600-1600)

C. African Kingdoms, Meso America, Japan

D. Emergence of Washington State

E. The Great Depression and World War II

F. Post-World War II: Domestic, Political, Social, and Economic Issues

G. Contemporary Washington State

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GRADE 8 SOCIAL STUDIES

In eighth grade, the main focus is on United States History and Civics.

The themes are:

A. Founding a Government

B. Structure of Government

C. Differing Political Systems and Foreign Policy

D. Rights and Responsibilities Revolution, Constitution, and New Nation

E. Expansion and Reform

F. Civil War and Reconstruction

G. Industrialization, Immigration, and Urbanization

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Social studies education in the high school—that is, the curriculum of U.S. history, world history, geography, economics, and government—is central to this mission because these students, on the cusp of adulthood, finally have the intellectual and social capacity to develop serious historical knowledge and perspective, geographic and cultural intelligence, economic understanding, and civic wisdom and commitment. The strong high school social studies curriculum seizes this advantage and aims to realize our goals.

GRADES 9-10 SOCIAL STUDIES

The main focus in ninth and tenth grade Social Studies is World History.

The themes are:

A. Global expansion and encounter

B. Age of Revolution (1750-1914)

C. Causes and consequences of International Conflicts (1870-Present)

D. Challenges to democracy and human rights (1900-Present)

E. Emergence and Development of new nations (1945-Present)

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GRADE 11 SOCIAL STUDIES

The main focus in eleventh grade Social Studies is United States History & Government.

The themes are:

A. Industrialization and the emergence of the U.S. as a world power (1877-1919)

B. Reform, prosperity, and depression (1918-1938)

C. World War II, Cold War, International Relations, and the rise of Globalism (1939-Present)

D. Post-World War II Domestic, Political, Social and Economic Issues (1945-Present)

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GRADE 12 SOCIAL STUDIES

The main focus in twelfth grade Social Studies is Contemporary World Problems.

The main themes are:

A. Participation and Citizenship

B. World and Regional Issues

C. The International & the Individual

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