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Alaska Department of Education & Early Development
Social Studies Framework

Chapter 3: Content

This chapter describes the Alaska Standards for Social Studies in detail and explores their relationships with each other. Readers are directed to the District Curriculum Development Process Chapter for information on designing an integrated district social studies curriculum.

In 1994, as part of an extensive review of curriculum in all subjects statewide, the Alaska Board of Education adopted standards relating to three of the social studies disciplines: government/citizenship, geography, and history.* The other social studies disciplines - anthropology, economics, psychology, religious studies, and sociology - are, to varying degrees, subsumed within the three adopted sets of standards. This reflects common practice at the elementary level, where disciplines are normally integrated into thematic units. Inter-disciplinary integration occurs less often in secondary schools than it might.

Regardless of discipline designation, all of the social sciences share essential characteristics and relate to one of the following three organizing principles:

1. Record of Human Experience
   All deal with a record of human experience, though from different perspectives. This principle is defined and illuminated by the specific character, language and body of knowledge of each of the social sciences.
   
   
2. Civic Competence and Global Stewardship
   All are concerned with civic competence and global stewardship. This principle encompasses concerns for oneself, others, and the environment as expressed through active and informed participation in public issues.
   
   
3. Skills and Processes
   All draw on cognitive and social skills and processes, including critical thinking, decision-making and problem solving; acquiring, organizing and using information; and communicating effectively.
   

The relationships among these three principles and the Alaska Standards for Social Studies are illustrated in chart form on the next pages. The charts are followed by an essay, "Making Content Connections," written by President of the National Council for the Social Studies, Michael Hartoonian.

*Note: After the November 1994 adoption of standards in government/citizenship, geography, and history, the State Board of Education recommended that economics standards be developed. When this task is completed, the economics standards will be appended to this document.

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