Kentucky State Standards for Social Studies: Grade 8

KY.PS. Program of Studies 2006

SS-8-GC. Big Idea: Government and Civics - The study of government and civics equips students to understand the nature of government and the unique characteristics of American democracy, including its fundamental principles, structure, and the role of citizens. Understanding the historical development of structures of power, authority, and governance and their evolving functions in contemporary U.S. society and other parts of the world is essential for developing civic competence. An understanding of civic ideals and practices of citizenship is critical to full participation in society and is a central purpose of the social studies. (Academic Expectations 2.14, 2.15)

SS-8-GC-U-1. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that the American political system developed from a colonial base of representative democracy by the actions of people who envisioned an independent country and new purposes for the government 12
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-GC-U-1.

SS-8-GC-U-2. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that the United States government was formed to establish order, provide security and accomplish common goals. 24
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-GC-U-2.

SS-8-GC-U-3. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that the fundamental values and principles (e.g., liberty, justice, individual human dignity, the rule of law) of American representative democracy as expressed in historical documents (e.g., the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States) are enduring and remain significant today. 6
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-GC-U-3.

SS-8-GC-U-4. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that the Constitution of the United States establishes a government of limited powers that are shared among different levels and branches. The Constitution is a document that can be changed from time to time through both formal and informal processes (e.g., amendments, court cases, executive actions) to meet the needs of its citizens. 14
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-GC-U-4.

SS-8-GC-U-5. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that as members of a democratic society, all citizens of the United States have certain rights and responsibilities, including civic participation. 13
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-GC-U-5.

SS-8-CS. Big Idea: Cultures and Societies - Culture is the way of life shared by a group of people, including their ideas and traditions. Cultures reflect the values and beliefs of groups in different ways (e.g., art, music, literature, religion); however, there are universals (e.g., food, clothing, shelter, communication) connecting all cultures. Culture influences viewpoints, rules and institutions in a global society. Students should understand that people form cultural groups throughout the United States and the World, and that issues and challenges unite and divide them. (Academic Expectations 2.16, 2.17)

SS-8-CS-U-1. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that culture is a system of beliefs, knowledge, institutions, customs/traditions, languages and skills shared by a group of people. Through a society's culture, individuals learn the relationships, structures, patterns and processes to be members of the society. 2
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-CS-U-1.

SS-8-CS-U-2. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that cultures develop social institutions (e.g., government, economy, education, religion, family) to structure society, influence behavior, and respond to human needs. 3
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-CS-U-2.

SS-8-CS-U-3. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that interactions among individuals and groups assume various forms (e.g., compromise, cooperation, conflict, competition) and are influenced by culture. 6
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-CS-U-3.

SS-8-CS-U-4. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that multiple factors contributed to the cultural diversity of the United States prior to Reconstruction; an understanding and appreciation of the diverse complexity of cultures is essential in our society. 13
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-CS-U-4.

SS-8-E. Big Idea: Economics - Economics includes the study of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Students need to understand how their economic decisions affect them, others, the nation and the world. The purpose of economic education is to enable individuals to function effectively both in their own personal lives and as citizens and participants in an increasingly connected world economy. Students need to understand the benefits and costs of economic interaction and interdependence among people, societies, and governments. (Academic Expectations 2.18)

SS-8-E-U-1. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that the basic economic problem confronting individuals, societies and government in the development of the United States prior to Reconstruction was scarcity; as a result of scarcity, economic choices and decisions were made. 3
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-E-U-1.

SS-8-E-U-2. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that the development of the American economic system, institutions and markets prior to Reconstruction helped individuals, groups and governments achieve their goals and impacted life in the United States. 8
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-E-U-2.

SS-8-E-U-3. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that the United States government and its policies played a major role in determining how the U.S. economy functioned prior to Reconstruction. 11
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-E-U-3.

SS-8-E-U-4. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that individuals, businesses and the government of the U.S. prior to Reconstruction made economic decisions about the use of resources in the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. 9
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-E-U-4.

SS-8-G. Big Idea: Geography - Geography includes the study of the five fundamental themes of location, place, regions, movement and human/environmental interaction. Students need geographic knowledge to analyze issues and problems to better understand how humans have interacted with their environment over time, how geography has impacted settlement and population, and how geographic factors influence climate, culture, the economy and world events. A geographic perspective also enables students to better understand the past and present and to prepare for the future. (Academic Expectations 2.19)

SS-8-G-U-1. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that use of geographic tools (e.g., maps, globes, photographs, models, charts, graphs, databases) and mental maps helps to interpret information, analyze patterns and spatial data, and understand geographic issues encountered in the United States prior to Reconstruction. 12
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-G-U-1.

SS-8-G-U-2. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that patterns emerge as humans move, settle, and interact on Earth's surface and can be identified by examining the location of physical and human characteristics, how they are arranged, and why they are in particular locations. Economic, political, cultural and social processes interact to shape patterns of human populations, interdependence, cooperation and conflict in the United States prior to Reconstruction. 11
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-G-U-2.

SS-8-G-U-3. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that regions help us to see Earth as an integrated system of places and features organized by such principles as landform types, political units, economic patterns and cultural groups. 1
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-G-U-3.

SS-8-G-U-4. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that people depended on, adapted to, or modified the environment to meet basic needs. Human actions modified the physical environment and in turn, the physical environment limited or promoted human activities in the United States prior to Reconstruction. 4
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-G-U-4.

SS-8-HP. Big Idea: Historical Perspective - History is an account of events, people, ideas, and their interaction over time that can be interpreted through multiple perspectives. In order for students to understand the present and plan for the future, they must understand the past. Studying history engages students in the lives, aspirations, struggles, accomplishments and failures of real people. Students need to think in an historical context in order to understand significant ideas, beliefs, themes, patterns and events, and how individuals and societies have changed over time in Kentucky, the United States and the World. (Academic Expectations 2.20)

SS-8-HP-U-1. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that history is an account of human activities that is interpretive in nature, and a variety of tools (e.g., primary and secondary sources, data, artifacts) are needed to analyze and understand historical events. 16
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-HP-U-1.

SS-8-HP-U-2. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that U.S. History can be analyzed by examining significant eras (Exploration as it relates to the settlement of America, The Great Convergence, Colonization and Settlement, Revolution and the New Nation, Expansion and Reform, Civil War) to develop chronological understanding and recognize cause-and-effect relationships and multiple causation. 22
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-HP-U-2.

SS-8-HP-U-3. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that U.S. History (prior to Reconstruction) has been impacted by significant individuals and groups. 26
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-HP-U-3.

SS-8-HP-U-4. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that geography, culture and economics have a significant impact on historical perspectives and events. 4
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-HP-U-4.

SS-8-HP-U-5. Program of Studies: Understandings - Students will understand that advances in science and technology have a significant impact on historical events. 5
Suggested Titles for Kentucky Social Studies State Standard SS-8-HP-U-5.