THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE

Connections to Rhode Island’s

A Standards-Based Guide for Social Studies Programs in

Rhode Island Schools

 

 

 

National Standards for Civics and Government

K - 4 Content Standards

 

Topic 1-

         Standards-

         Purposes of rules and laws.  Students should be able to explain the purposes of rules and

         laws and why they are important in their classroom, school, community, state, and nation.

 

Topic 2-       

         Standards

         American identity.  Students should be able to explain the importance of Americans sharing

 and supporting certain values, principles, and beliefs.

 

         Diversity in American society.  Students should be able to describe diversity in the

         United States and identify its benefits.

 

         Prevention and management of conflicts.  Students should be able to identify and evaluate

         ways conflicts about diversity can be prevented and managed.

 

         Organization and major responsibilities of the national government. Students should be

         able to give examples of ways the nationall government protects individual rights and

         promotes the common good.

 

Topic 5-

         Standards

         The meaning of citizenship.  Students should be able to explain the meaning of citizenship

         in the United States.

 

         Becoming a citizen. Students should be able to explain how one becomes a citizen of the

         United States.

 

         Rights of individuals.  Students should be able to explain why certain rights are important

         to the individual and to a democratic society.

 

 

         Responsibilities of individuals.  Students should be able to explain why certain

         responsibilities are important to themselves and their family, community, state, and

         nation.

 

 

5 - 8- Content Standards

 

Topic 1-

         The rule of law.  Students should be able to explain the importance of the rule of law for

         the protection of individual rights and the common good.

 

Topic 2-

         Distinctive characteristics of American society.  Students should be able to identify and

         explain the importance of historical experience and geographic, social, and economic

         factors that have helped to shape American society.

 

Topic 3-

         Associations and groups.  Students should be able to explain how interest groups, unions,

         and professional organizations provide opportunities for citizens to participate in the

         political process.

 

Topic 5-

         The meaning of citizenship. Students should be able to explain the meaning of American

         citizenship.

 

         Becoming a citizen.  Students should be able to explain how one becomes a citizen of the

         United States.

 

 

9 - 12 Content Standards

 

Topic 1-

         The relationship of limited government to political and economic freedom.  Students should

         be able to explain and evaluate competing ideas regarding the relationship between

         political and economic freedoms.

 

Topic 2-

         The role of organized groups in political life.  Students should be able to evaluate, take,

         and defend positions on the contemporary role of organized groups in American social and

         political life.

 

         Diversity in American society.  Students should be able to evaluate, take, and defend

         positions on issues regarding diversity in American life.

 

Topic 4-

         Economic, technological. and cultural developments. Students should be able to evaluate,

         take, and defend positions about the effects of significant economic, technological, and

         cultural developments in the United States and other nations.

 

Topic 5-

         The meaning of citizenship.  Students should be able to explain the meaning of

         citizenship in the United States.

 

         Becoming a citizen. Students should be able to evaluate, take, and defend positions

         on issues regarding the criteria used for naturalization.

 

         Personal rights.  Students should be able to evaluate, take, and defend positions on

         issues involving personal rights.

 

         Economic rights.  Students should be able to evaluate, take, and defend positions on

         issues involving economic rights.

 

         Civic responsibilities.  Students should be able to evaluate, take, and defend positions on

         issues regarding civic responsibilities of citizens in American constitutional democracy.

 

         Dispositions that foster respect for individual worth and human dignity. Students should

         be able to evaluate, take, and defend positions on the importance to American

         constitutional democracy of dispositions that foster respect for individual worth and human

         dignity.