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Social Studies
Students growing up
in the 21st Century face new and exciting challenges
unfamiliar to previous generations. These students
will need to be open and responsive to new and
diverse perspectives with an understanding of how
cultural differences impact the interpretation of
events at the local, state, national, and
international levels. The purpose of the Nevada
Social Studies Standards is to articulate a
foundation of skills and content knowledge necessary
for Nevada’s students to be successful in our
increasingly diverse society.
The Revised Nevada
State Social Studies Standards Document:
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is a comprehensive social studies
document rather than four separate content area
(History, Geography, Economics, and Civics)
documents. In addition, the number of standards
has been condensed from 33 standards to 16 in an
effort to make the teaching of content possible
in a school year.
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includes complete standards and
benchmarks for grades K – 5 in order to provide
Nevada’s elementary teachers with a framework
for social studies instruction.
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is formatted on a K – 12
continuum. This format allows teachers to see
what is being taught to Nevada’s students at
each grade level.
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has been grade banded for grades
6 – 8 and 9 – 12 to allow districts the
flexibility to align the standards and
benchmarks to their courses of study and/or
curriculum.
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each standard has identified
themes which follow a horizontal path through
the K-12 continuum. The concepts and content of
the benchmarks develop across grade levels,
creating a spiral curriculum.
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history standards have been
organized thematically to allow the teacher
greater flexibility to meet the needs of their
students and for designing lessons that
capitalize on their area(s) of expertise.
However, chronological topics have also been
included within the themes to provide teachers
with a frame of reference for benchmarks in each
history standard.
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are minimum student
expectations, and are not meant to be considered
comprehensive curriculum. The state standards
document is intended to provide guidance to
school districts in the development of an
appropriate, comprehensive social studies
curriculum.
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includes a recommended scope and
sequence to provide school districts and
teachers with a framework that promotes the
teaching of a well balanced social studies
curriculum. The scope and sequence is
recommended for Nevada’s school districts as
they plan their social studies curriculum that
will allow teachers to provide students with an
in-depth analysis of selected ideas, events,
personalities, and institutions.
The newly adopted
(2008) content standards available for use beginning
2009 – 2010 school year.
The integrated
standards document was created to assist with the
teaching of social studies as an integrated content
area. This document aligns the history standards
with the geography, economics, and civic standards.
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