Behavioral Sciences
Behavioral sciences include, but are not limited to, the areas of sociology, anthropology and psychology. In addressing these disciplines the actions and reactions of humans are studied through observational and experimental methods.
Essential Concepts and/or Skills
- Understand that people and institutions change over time.
- Understand past, present and future.
- Understand that people in different times and places view the world differently.
- Understand that people are alike and different in many ways.
- Understand that individuals will respond to events differently.
- Understand that people often choose to dress, talk, and act like their friends.
- Understand that people often choose to do certain things their own way.
- Understand that telling and listening is a way that people can learn from others.
- Understand that disagreements occur between friends.
- Understand that rules let people understand what to expect and so can reduce the number of disputes.
- Understand that different groups may have different rules and patterns of acceptable behavior.
- Understand that people belong to some groups because they are born into them and some because they join them.
- Understand that groups influence one’s thoughts and actions.
- Understand that a community is a group to which a person may belong.
- Understand that people tend to live in families in which individuals have different roles.
- Understand the features of nuclear and extended families.
Economics
Economics addresses the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The concept of scarcity is understood to mean that available resources are insufficient to satisfy the wants and needs of everyone. Economics is therefore founded upon the alternative use of available resources and the study of choices.
Essential Concepts and/or Skills
- Understand people are both consumers and producers.
- Understand that a cost is what you give up when you decide to do something, and a benefit is something that satisfies your wants.
- Understand that since people cannot have everything they want, they must make choices about using goods and services to satisfy wants.
- Understand the role of money in everyday life.
- Understand that a price is the amount of money people pay for a good or service.
- Understand that people sell resources to businesses to earn income.
- Understand that in an exchange people trade goods and services for other goods and services or for money.
- Understand that money is a good that can be used to buy all other goods and services.
- Understand that barter is trading goods and services for other goods and services without using money.
- Understand natural resources are from nature; capital resources are made by humans; human resources (labor) are the efforts of people who produce goods and services.
- Understand the role of fiscal and monetary policies in governments.
- Understand government regulation of industries.
- Understand the economic trade-offs of government assistance programs.
- Understand the impact of the federal budget on the economy at the individual, household, and business levels.
- Understand changes in spending and taxation affect national deficits, surpluses, and debt.
- Understand the role of the Federal Reserve.
- Understand the basic concept of trading.
- Understand that different currencies are used throughout the world.
- Understand that the types of jobs and goods and services change over time.
- Understand the technological developments that influenced changes in communication and transportation.
- Understand that people are always inventing new ways to solve problems and accomplish work.
- Understand that manufacturing technology creates a design of a product and then produces the product in quantity.
- Understand the difference between needs and wants.
- Understand the concepts of consumers and producers.
- Understand that people make choices because they cannot have everything they want.
Geography
Geography is the study of the interaction between people and their environments. Geography therefore looks at the world through the concepts of location, place, human-environmental interaction, movement, and region.
Essential Concepts and/or Skills
- Understand representations of the earth such as maps, globes and photographs.
- Understand representations of locales and regions on maps and globes.
- Understand human and physical characteristics of places. (Ex. rural, urban, forest, desert, etc.).
- Understand the concept of regions according to physical and human criteria.
- Understand the concept of culture.
- Understand the concepts of urban and suburban.
- Understand that different people living in the same region maintain different ways of life.
- Understand why people choose to settle in different places.
- Understand the role that resources play in human's daily lives.
- Understand modes of transportation used to move products, people and ideas.
- Understand ways in which people depend on the physical environment.
- Understand humans impact the environment in positive and negative ways.
- Understand the environment impacts humans in positive and negative ways.
- Understand areas of a community have changed over time.
History
History is the study and analysis of the past. Built upon a foundation of historical knowledge, history seeks to analyze the past in order to describe the relationship between historical facts, concepts, and generalizations. History draws upon cause and effect relationships within multiple social narratives to help explain complex human interactions. Understanding the past provides context for the present and implications for the future.
Essential Concepts and/or Skills
- Understand past, present, and future time in relation to historical events.
- Understand that primary sources such as artifacts, photographs, and documents are used to learn about the past.
- Understand timelines.
- Understand that people in different times and places view the world differently.
- Understand the need for government and how our government came to be.
- Understand national symbols through which American values and principles are expressed.
- Understand factors that contribute to disputes or cooperation in groups and nations.
- Understand cultures influence society and government.
- Understand reasons groups of people moved into and within the United States long ago and today.
- Understand the different roles of majority and minority groups in society.
- Understand the roles historic and ordinary Americans have played in changing society and government.
- Understand ways science and technology have changed the lives of people.
- Understand changes in values, beliefs, and attitudes have resulted in technological and scientific knowledge.
- Understand that changes in society may or may not be beneficial.
- Understand the differences between needs and wants.
- Understand the need for public and private goods and services and the workers who provide them.
- Understand the development of technological innovations and their economic effects.
- Understand changes in transportation and communication and their effects.
- Understand that science and technology can affect physical environments.
- Understand why people developed a region.
- Understand that the earth's physical features have changed over time.
- Understand that historical decisions can help inform current public issues.
- Understand historical research methods.
- Understand the difference between fact and fiction.
Political Science/Civic Literacy
NOTE: The Essential Concepts and Skills listed in Social Studies - Political Science/Civic Literacy are the same as the Essential Concepts and Skills listed in 21st Century - Civic Literacy
Political science is the study of power and authority through the examination of political processes, governmental institutions, and human behavior in a civil society. In this context the study of civics is understood to include the form and function of government. Civic literacy encompasses civics but also addresses the individual's social and political participation.
Essential Concepts and/or Skills
- Understand what the US Constitution is and why it is important.
- Understand the purpose of rules.
- Understand the concept of fairness.
- Understand rights and responsibilities.
- Understand the purpose of government.
- Understand the characteristics of a good leader.
- Understand respect for other’s point of view.
- Understand the concepts of power and authority.
- Understand the world is divided into nations.
- Understand how the nations of the world interact with one another.
Iowa Core Social Studies (.pdf)
Iowa Core Social Studies (.doc)