The necessary understandings for Tacoma Middle School students in the field of social studies are listed below. They are broken down into themes defined by the state and support the sort of understandings we hope to achieve in Tacoma. The understandings are in italics and the appropriate guiding questions are located below – broken down by theme.
Culture
The habits and practices of different cultural groups define a society
- How are various political, ethnic, racial, and social groups similar and different?
- How do bias, equity, and justice issues grow out of cultural differences?
- What issues arise as a result of interaction among different groups within a society?
- How do language and culture impact global views?
- How do various cultures express their beliefs and ways of thinking, knowing, and doing? \
Culture is influenced by the exchange of ideas
- How do cultures develop and change?
- How does the exchange of ideas, art, goods, and services influence people’s understanding of different cultures?
- How does the exchange of ideas and innovations impact cultures?
Citizenship and Interdependence
The relationship between rights and responsibilities defines a society
- How does a culture provide limits and opportunities for individuals?
- How do individual rights relate to responsibilities in a society?
- How do national interests affect international relations?
- What is the role national and international organizations play in world relations?
Maintaining a healthy environment requires responsible action by individuals and groups
- How do theories, discoveries, and inventions impact the environment?
- How do individuals and societies weight environmental impact when making decisions about discoveries and innovations?
- How can individuals assume roles and responsibility for environmental issues?
Individual actions reflect differing perspectives
- How do personal beliefs, feelings, and convictions influence behaviors?
- Why is it important to understand that people have differing perspectives?
- How do traditions, rituals, and rules give individuals the opportunity to reflect their personal beliefs?
Change and Continuity
Human and physical characteristics define regions
- How are regions defined?
- How are geographic tools used to understand regions of the world?
Societal and environmental forces cause change
- How do changes in the environment affect people’s lives?
- How do economic, historical, environmental, social, and technological forces cause change?
The past influences the present and the future
- How does knowledge of the past influence the present and future?
- How do time and place impact the development of society, the arts, and sciences?
- How do past and present events influence the development of a nation?
Social Systems
Systems develop in response to individual and group needs
- How do social systems attempt to meet the needs of individuals and groups?
- How are social, political, economic, and environmental systems interconnected?
Civic ideals and fundamental principles of government shape national identities
- How have various political documents impacted the formation or our nation?
- How are the rights and responsibilities of citizens in the United States and abroad defined in political documents?
- How do the fundamental principles of the Constitution shape our identity as a nation?