Alabama Course of Study Social Studies
Transcript of Alabama Course of Study Social Studies
Alabama Course of Study
Social Studies
Joseph B. Morton
State Superintendent of Education
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Bulletin 2004, No. 18
Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies ii
STATE SUPERINTENDENT
OF EDUCATION’S MESSAGE
Dear Educator:
Social Studies, the integrated study of the social
sciences and humanities, promotes competence in
economics, geography, history, and political
science. The Alabama Course of Study: Social
Studies (Bulletin 2004, No. 18) incorporates each
of these into a K-12 social studies program that
emphasizes responsible citizenship. This document
encourages students to become informed,
responsible, and participating citizens at the local,
state, national, and international levels. It is hoped
that this curriculum will enable them to become
literate and analytical students who make informed
decisions and are knowledgeable of the world and
its people.
Content standards within this document provide a
sound framework for economic, geographic,
historical, and political literacy. A comprehensive
core curriculum for students at all grade levels
provides rigorous course content and high-level
academic standards delineating expected
achievement by all students. The Social Studies
State Course of Study Committee and Task Force,
composed of educators and business and
community leaders; the State Board of Education;
and I believe a sound program of instruction has
been developed to guide local school systems in the
implementation of their social studies curricula.
JOSEPH B. MORTON
State Superintendent of Education
MEMBERS
of the
ALABAMA STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION
Governor Bob Riley President of the State Board of Education
District
I Mr. Randy McKinney
II Ms. Betty Peters
III Mrs. Stephanie W. Bell
IV Dr. Ethel H. Hall, Vice President Emerita
V Mrs. Ella B. Bell
VI Mr. David F. Byers, Jr., Vice President
VII Mrs. Sandra Ray, President Pro Tem
VIII Dr. Mary Jane Caylor
State Superintendent
Joseph B. Morton Secretary and Executive Officer
Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies iii
Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies
T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s
PREFACE............................................................................................................................................ v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................................. vi
ALABAMA COURSE OF STUDY: SOCIAL STUDIES
GENERAL INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 1
ALABAMA’S K-12 SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM
THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................ 3
POSITION STATEMENTS............................................................................................................... 6
DIRECTIONS FOR INTERPRETING THE MINIMUM REQUIRED CONTENT .................. 9
THE MINIMUM REQUIRED CONTENT
GRADES K-2 OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................... 11
Kindergarten – Self and Family............................................................................................. 12
First Grade – Exploring Our Community and State .............................................................. 15
Second Grade – Exploring Our Nation and World: People and Places ................................ 18
GRADES 3-4 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................... 22
Third Grade – People, Places, and Regions: Geographic Studies......................................... 23
Fourth Grade – Alabama Studies........................................................................................... 28
GRADES 5-6 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................... 35
Fifth Grade – United States Studies: Beginnings to 1877 .................................................... 36
Sixth Grade – United States Studies: 1877 to the Present .................................................... 41
GRADES 7-9 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................... 48
Seventh Grade
Citizenship....................................................................................................................... 49
Geography ....................................................................................................................... 53
Eighth Grade – World History to 1500.................................................................................. 58
Ninth Grade – World History: 1500 to the Present............................................................... 63
GRADES 10-12 OVERVIEW ................................................................................................... 68
Tenth Grade – United States History to 1877........................................................................ 69
Eleventh Grade – United States History From 1877 to the Present....................................... 74
Twelfth Grade
Economics ....................................................................................................................... 81
United States Government............................................................................................... 87
Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies iv
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A. High School Elective Courses ....................................................................93
Contemporary Issues .............................................................................94
Psychology ............................................................................................96
Sociology.............................................................................................101
World Geography ................................................................................104
APPENDIX B. Alabama High School Graduation Requirements ....................................109
APPENDIX C. Guidelines and Suggestions for Local Time Requirements
and Homework .........................................................................................111
BIBLIOGRAPHY ...........................................................................................................................113
Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies v
Preface
The Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies (Bulletin 2004, No. 18) provides the framework for
the K-12 social studies program in Alabama’s public schools. Content standards and related content
in this document are minimum and required (Code of Alabama, 1975, §16-35-4), fundamental and
specific, but not exhaustive. In developing local curricula, school systems may include additional
content standards to reflect local philosophies and add implementation guidelines, resources, and/or
activities; which, by design, are not contained in this document.
The 2003-2004 Social Studies State Course of Study Committee and Task Force used information
from the following documents as guidelines for the development of this course of study: Geography
for Life: National Geography Standards, National Geographic Research and Exploration, 1994;
National Standards for Civics and Government, Center for Civic Education, 1994; Expectations of
Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, National Council for the Social Studies, 1994;
Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics, National Council on Economic Education,
1998; National Standards for History, National Center for History in the Schools, 1996; Path
Toward World Literacy, National Geographic Society, 2001; and National Standards for the
Teaching of High School Psychology, American Psychological Association, 1997.
In addition, Committee members and the Task Force attended state, regional, and national
conferences; read articles in professional journals and other publications; reviewed similar
curriculum documents from other states; listened to and read statements from interested individuals
and groups from throughout the state; used each member’s academic and experiential knowledge;
and discussed issues among themselves and with colleagues. Using these sources, the Committee
and Task Force developed what they believe to be the best possible social studies curriculum for
Alabama’s K-12 students.
Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies vi
Acknowledgments
This document was developed by the 2003-2004 Social Studies State Course of Study Committee
composed of early childhood, intermediate, middle school, high school, and college educators
appointed by the State Board of Education and business and professional persons appointed by the
Governor (Code of Alabama, 1975, §16-35-1). The Committee and a Task Force began work in
March 2003 and submitted the document to the State Board of Education for adoption at the
April 2004 meeting.
Social Studies State Course of Study Committee and Task Force
Lula Barnes Larkin, Superintendent, Sumter County Board of Education, 2003-2004 Social Studies
State Course of Study Committee Chairperson
Sandra Austin, Assistant Principal, Hazel Green Elementary School, Madison County Board of
Education
Christopher Blair, Ed.D., Director of Exceptional Student Services and Testing, Barbour County
Board of Education
Sharon Blythe, Transition Program Specialist, Talladega County Board of Education
Martha V. Jones Bouyer, Supervisor, Jefferson County Board of Education
Susan Buffkin, Retired Teacher, Mobile
Jennifer Ratliff Charles, Teacher, Thompson Intermediate School, Shelby County Board of
Education
Lois McFadyen Christensen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Mittie James Danner, Teacher, Baldwin Middle Magnet School, Montgomery County Board of
Education
Reeder Priester Dulaney, Parent and Community Volunteer, Auburn
Evangeline Holmes Farrier, Teacher, Washington Public Elementary School, Macon County Board
of Education
Scarlett B. Gaddy, Teacher, Hillcrest High School, Tuscaloosa County Board of Education
Douglas Richard Gerety, Teacher, T. R. Miller High School, Brewton City Board of Education
Ray Anthony Glenboski, Teacher, Millbrook Junior High School, Elmore County Board of
Education
L. Shannon Hess, Teacher, Calera High School, Shelby County Board of Education
Linda T. Johnson, Teacher, Cleveland Elementary School, Blount County Board of Education
Angela R. Jones, Teacher, Prattville Kindergarten School, Autauga County Board of Education
Kervin Jones, Minister, Greensboro
Kathryne Kelley King, Teacher, Opp Middle School, Opp City Board of Education
Steven D. King, Attorney, Oneonta
Deborah Jones Kuykendall, Teacher, Causey Middle School, Mobile County Board of Education
Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies vii
Jenny H. Lawler, Assistant Principal, McBride Elementary School, Muscle Shoals City Board of
Education
Vickie B. Looser, Teacher, Lanett High School, Lanett City Board of Education
Leigh Dillon Martin, Teacher, Benjamin Russell High School, Alexander City Board of Education
Ronald David Mayes, Principal, General Forrest Middle School, Gadsden City Board of Education
Hugh McInnish, Aerospace Consultant, Huntsville
Valencia Lavender Moore, Teacher, Norwood Elementary School, Birmingham City Board of
Education
Suzanne A. Pressley, Teacher, Clay-Chalkville High School, Jefferson County Board of Education
Dennis R. Sanford, Teacher, Central High School, Coosa County Board of Education
Susan Pitts Santoli, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of South Alabama
Amy Speegle, Teacher, Hayden High School, Blount County Board of Education
Sandra Benton Thorpe, Teacher, Swift Consolidated Elementary School, Baldwin County Board of
Education
Stephanie G. Thorson, Teacher, Scottsboro Junior High School, Scottsboro City Board of
Education
Thomas G. Walker, Jr., Director, The American Village, Montevallo
Elizabeth K. Wilson, Ph.D., Professor, The University of Alabama
Appreciation is extended to Jan Oliver, Ph.D., Troy State University; William Strong, Ph.D.,
University of North Alabama; Jan Cowin, Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education,
Cumberland School of Law, Samford University; Dorothy Autrey-Harris, Ph.D., Alabama State
University; Sarah Culver, Ph.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham; John Dunkelberger,
Ph.D., Auburn University; Beverly Roskos-Ewoldsen, Ph.D., The University of Alabama;
Betty Brandon, Ph.D., University of South Alabama; Leah Rawls Atkins, Ph.D., Auburn
University (retired); Michael Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., Auburn University Montgomery; and
Irene Staik, Ph.D., University of Montevallo, who served as content reviewers of this document.
State Department of Education personnel who managed the development process were:
Eddie R. Johnson, Ph.D., Assistant State Superintendent for Instructional Services;
Anita Buckley Commander, Ed.D., Director, Classroom Improvement;
Cynthia C. Brown, Coordinator, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom Improvement; and
Martha B. Donaldson, Executive Secretary, State Courses of Study Committees, Curriculum and
Programs, Classroom Improvement.
The State Department of Education program specialist who assisted the Committee and Task Force
in developing the document was:
Susan R. DuBose, Social Studies Specialist, Field Services, Classroom Improvement.
Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies viii
The State Department of Education process specialists who assisted the Committee and Task Force
in developing the document were:
DaLee Chambers, Education Specialist, Special Education Services;
Julia E. Felder, Counseling and Guidance Specialist, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom
Improvement;
Marla D. Holbrook, Education Administrator, Special Education Services;
Charlie Jackson, Education Specialist, Special Education Services;
Sarah F. Mason, Ed.D., Mathematics Specialist, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom
Improvement;
J. Steve McAliley, Language Arts Specialist, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom Improvement;
Ginger Montgomery, Science Specialist, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom Improvement;
Dariel F. Oliver, Counseling and Guidance Specialist, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom
Improvement;
Eleanor Ann Raney, Language Arts Specialist, Field Services, Classroom Improvement;
Sara Strange, Arts Education Specialist, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom Improvement; and
Cyndi Townley, Title II Specialist, Federal Programs.
Leigh Ann Kyser, clerical support staff, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom Improvement,
assisted with the preparation of the document.
Mary Nell Shaw, Graphic Arts Specialist, Communication Section, assisted in the development of
the graphic design.
Susan J. Blankenship, (retired) Education Specialist, State Department of Education, edited and
proofread the document.