When the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards project began, there really was nowhere else to go but up. The project was up against great odds--a dearth of funding, a history of incivility amongst the disciplines within social studies, a knack for ending up in media battles over what should be taught in…

The building of historical thinking skills has historically been a lonely endeavor for AP U.S. history teachers. Many often generate their own pedagogy, perhaps modified from an AP workshop or generally gleaned from released exam essay questions. However, as currently scheduled, in 2014, the AP U.S. history exam will undergo a redesign that will…

Going back to the late 1800s, this article characterizes the various attempts which have been made to establish a social studies scope and sequence for public schools in the United States. The article concludes by listing six categories of individuals who will continue to try to change the prevailing scope and sequence model. (JDH)

This article provides a brief history of the development of the 1984 National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) scope and sequence document and introduces the series of articles in this issue. (JDH)

Describes the establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee on Scope and Sequence by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). Outlines the responsibilities of the Committee, the process used to formulate curriculum criteria and the resultant criteria for social studies education curriculum design. (SLM)

This article presents an alternative structure for social studies. The structure is based on studying people as grouped by culture rather than by political boundaries. Provides an example of how the cultural grouping might change a standard United States history course. (JDH)

These guidelines were developed to serve two curriculum development needs: a guide for schools, communities, departments, and school districts interested in updating their programs; and, a baseline from which to move in creative directions beyond what most regard as modern and innovative (Author/VW)

Presents an alternative scope and sequence for the social studies. Offers an integrated social science and humanities approach, placing history and geography at the center of the curriculum. Scrapping the prevailing pattern of repeated history surveys, the proposed alternative emphasizes a different historical period at each grade level to give…

Presents a scope and sequence for social studies grounded in global education. Four essential elements set the boundaries for the scope of the curriculum: (1) the study of systems; (2) the study of human values; (3) the study of persistent issues; and (4) the study of global history. Illustrates how these themes are sequenced throughout grades…

Presents a study which examined school district scope and sequence patterns for the social studies between 1971-1980 and compared them with revisions being made by the same districts during 1981-1984. Summarizes the research methodology, highlights similarities of the original and revised programs, and suggests how school districts might use this…

Provides the recommended scope and sequence for social studies from the National Council for the Social Studies Task Force on Scope and Sequence. Outlines the knowledge base and skills which undergird social studies education, and gives grade level examples of the substantive content from K-12. Offers a chart which gives optional sequences for…

Argues that the high public interest in contemporary international issues has opened a window of opportunity for effecting change in the national global-studies curriculum. Develops guidelines that summarize what concerned scholars and educators recommend as the international dimension of education for K-12 students. Includes an extensive topical…

Contends that decisions about scope and sequence are most appropriately made by local curriculum committees and teachers. Provides guidance for this work by identifying four goals for the K-12 social studies curriculum, along with seven major themes, including social history, cultural heritage, and development of a global perspective. Key…

Points out influences on and constraints to planning a social studies curriculum for the 21st century. Proposes a curriculum based on five essential concept clusters and presents a breakdown of these concepts using Zimbabwe themes and issues. Recommends innovations in teacher education to accompany the proposed curriculum. (LS)

Maintains that the extraordinary privileges and responsibilities attached to contemporary and future United States citizenship demands a more global approach to social studies. Proposes four essential elements and three major themes to set the boundary for the scope of the social studies. Provides an illustrative example of appropriate grade level…