Alabama Course of Study

Social Studies

Joseph B. Morton

State Superintendent of Education

ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Bulletin 2004, No. 18

Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies ii

STATE SUPERINTENDENT

OF EDUCATION’S MESSAGE

Dear Educator:

Social Studies, the integrated study of the social

sciences and humanities, promotes competence in

economics, geography, history, and political

science. The Alabama Course of Study: Social

Studies (Bulletin 2004, No. 18) incorporates each

of these into a K-12 social studies program that

emphasizes responsible citizenship. This document

encourages students to become informed,

responsible, and participating citizens at the local,

state, national, and international levels. It is hoped

that this curriculum will enable them to become

literate and analytical students who make informed

decisions and are knowledgeable of the world and

its people.

Content standards within this document provide a

sound framework for economic, geographic,

historical, and political literacy. A comprehensive

core curriculum for students at all grade levels

provides rigorous course content and high-level

academic standards delineating expected

achievement by all students. The Social Studies

State Course of Study Committee and Task Force,

composed of educators and business and

community leaders; the State Board of Education;

and I believe a sound program of instruction has

been developed to guide local school systems in the

implementation of their social studies curricula.

JOSEPH B. MORTON

State Superintendent of Education

MEMBERS

of the

ALABAMA STATE BOARD

OF EDUCATION

Governor Bob Riley President of the State Board of Education

District

I Mr. Randy McKinney

II Ms. Betty Peters

III Mrs. Stephanie W. Bell

IV Dr. Ethel H. Hall, Vice President Emerita

V Mrs. Ella B. Bell

VI Mr. David F. Byers, Jr., Vice President

VII Mrs. Sandra Ray, President Pro Tem

VIII Dr. Mary Jane Caylor

State Superintendent

Joseph B. Morton Secretary and Executive Officer

Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies iii

Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies

T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s

PREFACE............................................................................................................................................ v

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................................. vi

ALABAMA COURSE OF STUDY: SOCIAL STUDIES

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 1

ALABAMA’S K-12 SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................ 3

POSITION STATEMENTS............................................................................................................... 6

DIRECTIONS FOR INTERPRETING THE MINIMUM REQUIRED CONTENT .................. 9

THE MINIMUM REQUIRED CONTENT

GRADES K-2 OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................... 11

Kindergarten – Self and Family............................................................................................. 12

First Grade – Exploring Our Community and State .............................................................. 15

Second Grade – Exploring Our Nation and World: People and Places ................................ 18

GRADES 3-4 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................... 22

Third Grade – People, Places, and Regions: Geographic Studies......................................... 23

Fourth Grade – Alabama Studies........................................................................................... 28

GRADES 5-6 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................... 35

Fifth Grade – United States Studies: Beginnings to 1877 .................................................... 36

Sixth Grade – United States Studies: 1877 to the Present .................................................... 41

GRADES 7-9 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................... 48

Seventh Grade

Citizenship....................................................................................................................... 49

Geography ....................................................................................................................... 53

Eighth Grade – World History to 1500.................................................................................. 58

Ninth Grade – World History: 1500 to the Present............................................................... 63

GRADES 10-12 OVERVIEW ................................................................................................... 68

Tenth Grade – United States History to 1877........................................................................ 69

Eleventh Grade – United States History From 1877 to the Present....................................... 74

Twelfth Grade

Economics ....................................................................................................................... 81

United States Government............................................................................................... 87

Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies iv

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A. High School Elective Courses ....................................................................93

Contemporary Issues .............................................................................94

Psychology ............................................................................................96

Sociology.............................................................................................101

World Geography ................................................................................104

APPENDIX B. Alabama High School Graduation Requirements ....................................109

APPENDIX C. Guidelines and Suggestions for Local Time Requirements

and Homework .........................................................................................111

BIBLIOGRAPHY ...........................................................................................................................113

Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies v

Preface

The Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies (Bulletin 2004, No. 18) provides the framework for

the K-12 social studies program in Alabama’s public schools. Content standards and related content

in this document are minimum and required (Code of Alabama, 1975, §16-35-4), fundamental and

specific, but not exhaustive. In developing local curricula, school systems may include additional

content standards to reflect local philosophies and add implementation guidelines, resources, and/or

activities; which, by design, are not contained in this document.

The 2003-2004 Social Studies State Course of Study Committee and Task Force used information

from the following documents as guidelines for the development of this course of study: Geography

for Life: National Geography Standards, National Geographic Research and Exploration, 1994;

National Standards for Civics and Government, Center for Civic Education, 1994; Expectations of

Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, National Council for the Social Studies, 1994;

Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics, National Council on Economic Education,

1998; National Standards for History, National Center for History in the Schools, 1996; Path

Toward World Literacy, National Geographic Society, 2001; and National Standards for the

Teaching of High School Psychology, American Psychological Association, 1997.

In addition, Committee members and the Task Force attended state, regional, and national

conferences; read articles in professional journals and other publications; reviewed similar

curriculum documents from other states; listened to and read statements from interested individuals

and groups from throughout the state; used each member’s academic and experiential knowledge;

and discussed issues among themselves and with colleagues. Using these sources, the Committee

and Task Force developed what they believe to be the best possible social studies curriculum for

Alabama’s K-12 students.

Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies vi

Acknowledgments

This document was developed by the 2003-2004 Social Studies State Course of Study Committee

composed of early childhood, intermediate, middle school, high school, and college educators

appointed by the State Board of Education and business and professional persons appointed by the

Governor (Code of Alabama, 1975, §16-35-1). The Committee and a Task Force began work in

March 2003 and submitted the document to the State Board of Education for adoption at the

April 2004 meeting.

Social Studies State Course of Study Committee and Task Force

Lula Barnes Larkin, Superintendent, Sumter County Board of Education, 2003-2004 Social Studies

State Course of Study Committee Chairperson

Sandra Austin, Assistant Principal, Hazel Green Elementary School, Madison County Board of

Education

Christopher Blair, Ed.D., Director of Exceptional Student Services and Testing, Barbour County

Board of Education

Sharon Blythe, Transition Program Specialist, Talladega County Board of Education

Martha V. Jones Bouyer, Supervisor, Jefferson County Board of Education

Susan Buffkin, Retired Teacher, Mobile

Jennifer Ratliff Charles, Teacher, Thompson Intermediate School, Shelby County Board of

Education

Lois McFadyen Christensen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Mittie James Danner, Teacher, Baldwin Middle Magnet School, Montgomery County Board of

Education

Reeder Priester Dulaney, Parent and Community Volunteer, Auburn

Evangeline Holmes Farrier, Teacher, Washington Public Elementary School, Macon County Board

of Education

Scarlett B. Gaddy, Teacher, Hillcrest High School, Tuscaloosa County Board of Education

Douglas Richard Gerety, Teacher, T. R. Miller High School, Brewton City Board of Education

Ray Anthony Glenboski, Teacher, Millbrook Junior High School, Elmore County Board of

Education

L. Shannon Hess, Teacher, Calera High School, Shelby County Board of Education

Linda T. Johnson, Teacher, Cleveland Elementary School, Blount County Board of Education

Angela R. Jones, Teacher, Prattville Kindergarten School, Autauga County Board of Education

Kervin Jones, Minister, Greensboro

Kathryne Kelley King, Teacher, Opp Middle School, Opp City Board of Education

Steven D. King, Attorney, Oneonta

Deborah Jones Kuykendall, Teacher, Causey Middle School, Mobile County Board of Education

Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies vii

Jenny H. Lawler, Assistant Principal, McBride Elementary School, Muscle Shoals City Board of

Education

Vickie B. Looser, Teacher, Lanett High School, Lanett City Board of Education

Leigh Dillon Martin, Teacher, Benjamin Russell High School, Alexander City Board of Education

Ronald David Mayes, Principal, General Forrest Middle School, Gadsden City Board of Education

Hugh McInnish, Aerospace Consultant, Huntsville

Valencia Lavender Moore, Teacher, Norwood Elementary School, Birmingham City Board of

Education

Suzanne A. Pressley, Teacher, Clay-Chalkville High School, Jefferson County Board of Education

Dennis R. Sanford, Teacher, Central High School, Coosa County Board of Education

Susan Pitts Santoli, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of South Alabama

Amy Speegle, Teacher, Hayden High School, Blount County Board of Education

Sandra Benton Thorpe, Teacher, Swift Consolidated Elementary School, Baldwin County Board of

Education

Stephanie G. Thorson, Teacher, Scottsboro Junior High School, Scottsboro City Board of

Education

Thomas G. Walker, Jr., Director, The American Village, Montevallo

Elizabeth K. Wilson, Ph.D., Professor, The University of Alabama

Appreciation is extended to Jan Oliver, Ph.D., Troy State University; William Strong, Ph.D.,

University of North Alabama; Jan Cowin, Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education,

Cumberland School of Law, Samford University; Dorothy Autrey-Harris, Ph.D., Alabama State

University; Sarah Culver, Ph.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham; John Dunkelberger,

Ph.D., Auburn University; Beverly Roskos-Ewoldsen, Ph.D., The University of Alabama;

Betty Brandon, Ph.D., University of South Alabama; Leah Rawls Atkins, Ph.D., Auburn

University (retired); Michael Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., Auburn University Montgomery; and

Irene Staik, Ph.D., University of Montevallo, who served as content reviewers of this document.

State Department of Education personnel who managed the development process were:

Eddie R. Johnson, Ph.D., Assistant State Superintendent for Instructional Services;

Anita Buckley Commander, Ed.D., Director, Classroom Improvement;

Cynthia C. Brown, Coordinator, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom Improvement; and

Martha B. Donaldson, Executive Secretary, State Courses of Study Committees, Curriculum and

Programs, Classroom Improvement.

The State Department of Education program specialist who assisted the Committee and Task Force

in developing the document was:

Susan R. DuBose, Social Studies Specialist, Field Services, Classroom Improvement.

Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies viii

The State Department of Education process specialists who assisted the Committee and Task Force

in developing the document were:

DaLee Chambers, Education Specialist, Special Education Services;

Julia E. Felder, Counseling and Guidance Specialist, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom

Improvement;

Marla D. Holbrook, Education Administrator, Special Education Services;

Charlie Jackson, Education Specialist, Special Education Services;

Sarah F. Mason, Ed.D., Mathematics Specialist, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom

Improvement;

J. Steve McAliley, Language Arts Specialist, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom Improvement;

Ginger Montgomery, Science Specialist, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom Improvement;

Dariel F. Oliver, Counseling and Guidance Specialist, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom

Improvement;

Eleanor Ann Raney, Language Arts Specialist, Field Services, Classroom Improvement;

Sara Strange, Arts Education Specialist, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom Improvement; and

Cyndi Townley, Title II Specialist, Federal Programs.

Leigh Ann Kyser, clerical support staff, Curriculum and Programs, Classroom Improvement,

assisted with the preparation of the document.

Mary Nell Shaw, Graphic Arts Specialist, Communication Section, assisted in the development of

the graphic design.

Susan J. Blankenship, (retired) Education Specialist, State Department of Education, edited and

proofread the document.