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Social Studies

Overview Statement

The purpose of social studies instruction in Walla Walla Public Schools is to help students become knowledgeable, lifelong learners with the ability to make informed and responsible decisions as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic and global society.  Receiving a well-grounded foundation and understanding of social studies concepts provide students with unique and diverse viewpoints to examine their role in the community, state, nation, and the world in order to actively participate in our democracy.

Social Studies Learning Standards

Please refer to the Social Studies section of the OSPI website for more information on standards.  To get there, please use the following link:

Social Studies Home Page - OSPI Website

OSPI-Developed Assessments

OSPI-developed assessments are now being used to make sure students are getting key skills and knowledge in social studies.

These assessments are built from the state’s learning standards. State curriculum specialists create tasks and questions that model good assessments and provide these to local school districts. OSPI-developed assessments are given in the classroom by a teacher.

Students in the fourth or fifth grade, seventh or eighth grade, and the eleventh or twelfth grade are required to complete at least one classroom-based assessment in Civics.  These Civics assessments may be selected from a list approved by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  For more information, please go to the following website:

http://www.k12.wa.us/SocialStudies/Assessments/default.aspx

Instructional Resources

Elementary students experience Social Studies instruction in a variety of ways: the traditional textbook, classroom-based assessments, and integration with other subject areas such as language arts and writing.

Students learn about their classroom communities, families, communities, cultures and, finally, the early days of United States history and development.

Secondary school students receive social studies instruction as part of their school day.  Below you will find a listing of textbooks used in middle and high school classrooms.

GRADE LEVEL TEXTBOOK

6

Discovering our Past: A History of the World - Early Ages (McGraw Hill)

7

The Washington Journey (Gibbs Smith)

8

Discovering our Past: A History of the United States - Early Years (McGraw Hill)

9

World History and Geography: Modern Times (McGraw Hill)

11 United States History and Geography: Modern Times (McGraw Hill)

11

The Unfinished Nation  (Brinkley)

9-12

Sociology and You  (McGraw Hill)

9-12 Understanding Psychology (McGraw Hill)

9-12

Psychology Seventh Edition (David G. Myers)

12

United States Government: Our Democracy (McGraw Hill)

If you have any questions about the materials, or would like to see the materials, please reach out to the Teaching and Learning Department’s Curriculum Coordinator at 509-526-6783.