Strand 1 – Historical Thinking

1. Formulate historical questions and hypotheses from multiple perspectives, using multiple sources;
2. Gather, analyze and reconcile historical information, including contradictory data, from primary and secondary sources to support or reject hypotheses;
3. Use primary source documents to analyze multiple perspectives;

Strand 2 – Local, U.S. and World History

1. Demonstrate an understanding of major events and trends in world history, United States and local history from all historical periods and from all the regions of the world;
2. Explain relationships among the events and trends studied in local, national and world history;
3. Locate the events, peoples and places they [students] have studied in time and place ( e.g., on a time line and map) relative to their own location;

Strand 3 – Historical Themes

1. Explain the multiple forces and developments (cultural, political, economic and scientific) that have helped to connect the peoples of the world;
2. Describe basic tenets of the world religions that have acted as major forces throughout history, including, but not limited to, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism, and indigenous popular religions;
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the ways that cultural encounters and the interaction of people of different cultures in pre-modern as well as modern times have shaped new identities and ways of life;

Strand 4 – Applying History

1. Initiate questions and hypotheses about historic events they [students] are studying;
2. Describe relationships between historical subject matter and other subjects they study, current issues and personal concerns;
3. Describe and analyze, using historical data and understandings, the options which are available to parties involved in contemporary conflicts and decision making;

Strand 5 – U.S. Constitution and Government

1. Apply an understanding of historical and contemporary conflicts over Constitutional principles;
2. Evaluate the contemporary roles of political parties, associations, media groups and public opinion in local, state, and national politics;
3. Explain how the design of the U.S. Constitution is intended to balance and check the powers of the branches of government;

Strand 6 – Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens

1. Evaluate whether or when their [students’] obligations as citizens require that their personal desires, beliefs and interests be subordinated to the public good;
2. Take a position on a current policy issue and attempt to influence its formation, development and implementation;
3. Establish, explain and apply criteria to evaluate rules and laws;

Strand 7 – Political Systems

1. Analyze and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of limited and unlimited government;
2. Describe how constitutions may limit government in order to protect individual rights and promote the common good;
3. Explain how purposes served by government have implications for the individual and society;

Strand 8 – International Relations

1. Analyze and evaluate the significance of major U.S. foreign policies and major international events and conditions over time;
2. Identify and analyze the various domestic, political, economic and social interests which play roles in the development of foreign policy;
3. Describe how the U.S. influences other governments and international organizations and how the United States, in turn, is influenced by them;

Strand 9 – Places and Regions

1. Analyze ways different groups in society view places and regions differently;
2. Apply the concept of region to organize the study of a complex problem;
3. Explain and describe the natural and cultural characteristics of one place to distinguish it from another;

Strand 10 – Physical Systems

1. Use geographic tools to represent and interpret Earth’s physical and human systems;
2. Draw a freehand map demonstrating political, cultural or economic relationships;
3. Explain the operation and interaction of different natural systems (such as climate and oceans) to understand global change;

Strand 11 – Human Systems

1. Explain and analyze how various populations and economic elements interact and influence the spatial patterns of settlement;
2. Describe the consequences of human population patterns and growth trends over time;
3. Explain the characteristics, distribution and relationships of economic systems at various levels;

Strand 12 – Human and Environment Interaction

1. Use maps, globes, charts and databases to analyze and suggest solutions to real-world problems;
2. Analyze how human systems interact, connect and cause changes in physical systems;
3. Locate at least 50 major countries and physical features on a map or globe;

Strand 13 - Limited Resources

1. Analyze how technological change can affect long-range productivity;
2. Analyze the impact of economic choices on the allocation of scarce resources;
3. Analyze how market forces and government regulation impact the use of resources;

Strand 14 – Economic Systems

1. Explain reasons for government action in the economy, including providing pubic goods and services, maintaining competition, redistributing income, promoting employment, stabilizing pries and sustaining reasonable rates of economic growth;
2. Identify and explain the factors the factors that determine and cause changes in demand, supply and the market-clearing (equilibrium) price;
3. Evaluate economic systems by their ability to achieve broad societal goals, such as efficiency, equity, security, employment, stability and economic growth;

Strand 15 – Economic Interdependence

1. Evaluate the effects of national policies (e.g., on trade, immigration and foreign investments, as well as fiscal and monetary policies) on the international exchange of goods, services and investments;
2. Illustrate the international differences in resources, productivity and prices that are a basis for international trade;
3. Explain that a nation has a comparative advantage when it can produce a product at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partner;