Washington State Standards for Social Studies: Grade 3

WA.1. CIVICS - The student understands and applies knowledge of government, law, politics, and the nation's fundamental documents to make decisions about local, national, and international issues and to demonstrate thoughtful, participatory citizenship.

1.1. Understands key ideals and principles of the United States, including those in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other fundamental documents.

1.1.1. IDEALS & PRINCIPLES: Understands the key ideals of unity and diversity. 9
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 1.1.1.

1.1.2. APPLICATION OF IDEALS & PRINCIPLES: Understands and applies the key ideals of unity and diversity within the context of the community. 9
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 1.1.2.

WA.2. ECONOMICS - The student applies understanding of economic concepts and systems to analyze decision-making and the interactions between individuals, households, businesses, governments, and societies.

2.2. Understands how economic systems function.

2.2.1. ECONOMIC SYSTEMS: Understands how the economic systems of groups are influenced by laws, values, and customs.

WA.3. GEOGRAPHY - The student uses a spatial perspective to make reasoned decisions by applying the concepts of location, region, and movement and demonstrating knowledge of how geographic features and human cultures impact environments.

3.1. Understands the physical characteristics, cultural characteristics, and location of places, regions, and spatial patterns on the Earth's surface.

3.1.1. MAPS AND GEOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Understands and applies how maps and globes are used to display the regions of North America in the past and present. 8
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 3.1.1.

3.1.2. CHARACTERISTICS AND SPATIAL ORGANIZATION OF PLACES AND REGIONS: Understands the physical, political, and cultural characteristics of places, regions, and people in North America, including the location of the fifty states within the regions of the U.S. 8
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 3.1.2.

3.2. Understands human interaction with the environment.

3.2.1. HUMAN-ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTION: Understands how the environment affects cultural groups and how cultural groups affect the environment. 19
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 3.2.1.

3.2.2. CULTURE: Understands the cultural universals of place, time, family life, economics, communication, arts, recreation, food, clothing, shelter, transportation, government, and education. 9
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 3.2.2.

3.3. Understands the geographic context of global issues and events.

3.3.1. GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT OF GLOBAL ISSUES: Explains that learning about the geography of North America helps us understand cultures from around the world. 4
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 3.3.1.

WA.4. HISTORY - The student understands and applies knowledge of historical thinking, chronology, eras, turning points, major ideas, individuals, and themes in local, Washington State, tribal, United States, and world history in order to evaluate how history shapes the present and future.

4.2. Understands and analyzes causal factors that have shaped major events in history.

4.2.2. CULTURES AND CULTURAL GROUPS: Understands how contributions made by various cultural groups have shaped the history of the community and world. 93
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 4.2.2.

WA.5. SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS - The student understands and applies reasoning skills to conduct research, deliberate, form, and evaluate positions through the processes of reading, writing, and communicating.

5.1. Uses critical reasoning skills to analyze and evaluate positions.

5.1.2. EVALUATES REASONING: Evaluates if information is clear, specific, and detailed. 15
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 5.1.2.

5.2. Uses inquiry-based research.

5.2.2. ANALYZES SOURCES: Uses a graphic organizer to organize main ideas and supporting details from visuals and literary, narrative, informational, and expository texts. 15
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 5.2.2.

5.3. Deliberates public issues.

5.3.1. DELIBERATION: Engages in discussions that attempt to answer questions about cultural similarities and differences. 9
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 5.3.1.

5.4. Creates a product that uses social studies content to support a thesis and presents the product in an appropriate manner to a meaningful audience.

5.4.1. CREATES POSITION AND PRODUCT: Draws conclusions using at least two clear, specific, and accurate examples in a paper or presentation. 7
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 5.4.1.

5.4.2. CITING SOURCES: Prepares a list of resources, including the title and author for each source. 7
Suggested Titles for Washington Social Studies State Standard 5.4.2.