Social Studies - Early Elementary

14. Understand political systems, with an emphasis on the United States.
I can understand the responsibilities of good citizens.

14A. Understand and explain basic principles of the United States government.
I can name basic rules, rights, and responsibilities and their sources.

14.A.1 Describe the fundamental principles of government including representative government, government of law, individual rights and the common good.
KINDERGARTEN: The student will be able to name the President of the United States.
FIRST GRADE: The student will be able to name and recognize the President and Vice President of the United States.
SECOND GRADE: The student will be able to name, recognize and tell basic job duties of the President and Vice President of the United States.
THIRD GRADE: The student will be able to list the three (3) branches of the United States Government and one (1) of their jobs.

14B. Understand the structures and functions of the political systems of Illinois, the United States and other nations.
I can tell about the role of government at the local, state and national levels.

14.B.1 Identify the different levels of government as local, state and national.
KINGERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE: The student will tell what state they live in.
SECOND GRADE: The student will know the state and country that they live in.
THIRD GRADE: The student will know the continent and hemispheres that they live in.

14C. Understand election processes and responsibilities of citizens.
I can tell about decisions that responsible citizens make.

14.C.1 Identify concepts of responsible citizenship including respect for the law, patriotism, civility and working with others.
KINDERGARTEN: The student will be able to say the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.
FIRST GRADE: The student will be able to identify the American Flag and its history.
SECOND GRADE: The student will gain knowledge of the law and how it works.
THIRD GRADE: The student will demonstrate respect for society’s rules and laws.

14D. Understand the roles and influences of individuals and interest groups in the political systems of Illinois, the United States and other nations.
I can tell how elected officials and interest groups make decisions in Illinois and the United States.

14.D.1 Identify the roles of civic leaders (e.g., elected leaders, public service leaders).

14E. Understand United States foreign policy as it relates to other nations and international issues.
I can give examples of United States leadership in the world, past and present.

14.E.1 Identify relationships that the federal government establishes with other nations.

14F. Understand the development of United States political ideas and traditions.
I can tell about basic freedoms of citizens in the United States.

14.F.1 Describe political ideas and traditions important to the development of the United States including democracy, individual rights and the concept of freedom.

15. Understand economic systems, with an emphasis on the United States.
I can tell about the choices people make about money.

15A. Understand how different economic systems operate in the exchange, production, distribution and consumption of goods and services.
I can tell how people produce, use, and distribute goods and services in different economic systems.

15.A.1a Identify advantages and disadvantages of different ways to distribute goods and services.
15.A.1b Describe how wages/salaries can be earned in exchange for work.

15B. Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by consumers.
I can tell why we make consumer choices and tell what is given up when a choice is made.

15.B.1 Explain why consumers must make choices.

15C. Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by producers.
I can tell who makes goods and services and how they make choices about what they produce.

15.C.1a Describe how human, natural and capital resources are used to produce goods and services.
15.C.1b Identify limitations in resources that force producers to make choices about what to produce.

15D. Understand trade as an exchange of goods or services.
I can tell why people choose to exchange goods and services and how money helps exchange.

15.D.1a Demonstrate the benefits of simple voluntary exchanges.
15.D.1b Know that barter is a type of exchange and that money makes exchange easier.

15E. Understand the impact of government policies and decisions on production and consumption in the economy.
I can tell why the government provides some goods and services and how we pay for them.

15.E.1 Identify goods and services provided by government.

16. Understand events, trends, individuals and movements shaping the history of Illinois, the United States and other nations.
I can tell about people from other parts of the world who came to live in the United States.

HISTORICAL ERAS
Local, State and United States History (US)

World History (W)
16A. Apply the skills of historical analysis and interpretation.
I can use an historical source to describe past events and people and explain why they are important.

16.A.1a Explain the difference between past, present and future time; place themselves in time.
16.A.1b Ask historical questions and seek out answers from historical sources (e.g., myths, biographies, stories, old photographs, artwork, other visual or electronic sources).
16.A.1c Describe how people in different times and places viewed the world in different ways.

16B. Understand the development of significant political events.
I can tell about important political events and people.

16.B.1a (US) Identify key individuals and events in the development of the local community (e.g., Founders days, names of parks, streets, public buildings).
16.B.1b (US) Explain why individuals, groups, issues and events are celebrated with local, state or national holidays or days of recognition (e.g., Lincoln's Birthday, Martin Luther King's Birthday, Pulaski Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving).
16.B.1 (W) Explain the contributions of individuals and groups who are featured in biographies, legends, folklore and traditions.

16C. Understand the development of economic systems.
I can tell about the different ways people earned a living in the past.

16.C.1a (US) Describe how Native American people in Illinois engaged in economic activities with other tribes and traders in the region prior to the Black Hawk War.
16.C.1b (US) Explain how the economy of the students' local community has changed over time.
16.C.1a (W) Identify how people and groups in the past made economic choices (e.g., crops to plant, products to make, products to trade) to survive and improve their lives.
16.C.1b (W) Explain how trade among people brought an exchange of ideas, technology and language.

16D. Understand Illinois, United States and world social history.
I can tell about the customs and traditions of people of Illinois, the United States and the world.

16.D.1 (US) Describe key figures and organizations (e.g., fraternal/civic organizations, public service groups, community leaders) in the social history of the local community.
16.D.1 (W) Identify how customs and traditions from around the world influence the local community.

16E. Understand Illinois, United States and world environmental history.
I can tell how people in Illinois, the United States and the world changed their environment in the past.

16.E.1 (US) Describe how the local environment has changed over time.
16.E.1 (W) Compare depictions of the natural environment that are found in myths, legends, folklore and traditions.

17. Understand world geography and the effects of geography on society, with an emphasis on the United States.
I can locate places and tell about the people who live there.

17A. Locate, describe and explain places, regions and features on the Earth.
I can locate and tell about major places, regions and land forms on Earth.

17.A.1a Identify physical characteristics of places, both local and global (e.g., locations, roads, regions, bodies of water).
17.A.1b Identify the characteristics and purposes of geographic representations including maps, globes, graphs, photographs, software, digital images and be able to locate specific places using each.

17B. Analyze and explain characteristics and interactions of the Earth's physical systems.
I can tell about physical features on Earth.

17.B.1a Identify components of the Earth's physical systems.
17.B.1b Describe physical components of ecosystems.

17C. Understand relationships between geographic factors and society.
I can tell how people and the environment are connected.

17.C.1a Identify ways people depend on and interact with the physical environment (e.g., farming, fishing, hydroelectric power).
17.C.1b Identify opportunities and constraints of the physical environment.
17.C.1c Explain the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources.

17D. Understand the historical significance of geography.
I can tell why people moved to different places and regions.

17.D.1 Identify changes in geographic characteristics of a local region (e.g., town, community).

18. Understand social systems, with an emphasis on the United States.
I can tell about people and groups who live in my region.

18A. Compare characteristics of culture as reflected in language, literature, the arts, traditions and institutions.
I can compare stories and art from different regions and times.

18.A.1 Identify folklore from different cultures which became part of the heritage of the United States.

18B. Understand the roles and interactions of individuals and groups in society.
I can tell about the roles of individuals and groups in our community.

18.B.1a Compare the roles of individuals in group situations (e.g., student, committee member, employee/employer).
18.B.1b Identify major social institutions in the community.

18C. Understand how social systems form and develop over time.
I can tell how people make choices to change society.

18.C.1 Describe how individuals interacted within groups to make choices regarding food, clothing and shelter.