PROCESS STANDARDS
To be used with ALL grades
Acquiring Information: Acquiring Information involves locating, gathering, observing, comprehending, organizing, and processing information from a variety of primary and secondary sources. These sources include printed materials, maps, graphic representations, and artifacts, physical and human environmental elements, media and technology sources.
"Acquiring Information" emphasizes the learners' use of a broad base of strategies to
- Read to gain literal meaning
- use chapter and section headings, and topic sentences to select main ideas
- detect cause and effect relationships
- distinguish between fact and opinion to recognize propaganda
- recognize author bias
- use picture clues and picture captions to aid comprehension
- read from a variety of sources
- use maps, graphs, globes, media and technology sources
- discover resources available from museums, historical sites, presidential libraries, and local and state preservation societies.
Analysis of Data and Problem Solving: Problem solving involves the comprehension, analysis, and interpretations of data leading to the development of a solution or conclusion. Students will develop problem-solving skills through comprehension, analysis, interpretations, synthesis, summary, and evaluation.
"Problem Solving and Analysis of Data" emphasizes the learners' use of a broad base of strategies to:
- identify relevant factual material
- classify information by source, chronology, and importance
- critically examine data from a variety of sources
- detect bias in data presented in a variety of forms
- compare and contrast data
- note cause/effect relationship and draw inferences from a variety of data
- predict likely outcomes and recognize cases in which more than one interpretation of data is valid
- reinterpret data to develop alternative outcomes and their likely effects on subsequent events/issues
- use available data to devise new situation and outcomes
- demonstrate an understanding of the data through written, visual, or oral methods
- extract significant ideas from supporting details,
- combine critical concepts in a statement of conclusion based on information
- determine whether information is pertinent to the topic
- test the validity of the information using such criteria as source, objectivity, technical correctness, and currency
Communication: Communication is the conveyance of ideas, value judgments, beliefs, and emotions through individual expression, group dialogue, cultural communities, and global networks by oral, written, symbolic, visual, and technological means.
"Communication" emphasizes the learners' use of a broad base of strategies to:
- transmit ideas through speeches
- demonstrate conflicting ideas through debate
- summarize judgments through essays
- demonstrate ideas through dramatizations
- transmit ideas through discussions
- demonstrate emotions through the creation of visuals
- demonstrate beliefs through multimedia projects
- recognize beliefs through simulation and role play.
Historical Awareness: Historical Awareness, integral to all of the Social Studies disciplines, includes an understanding of chronological placement, historical trends, and historical decision-making. Students will be able to comprehend the significance of historical data using a variety of analytical skills. Such understanding enables students to prioritize events, identify bias, recognize perspectives, interpret trends, and predict outcomes.
"Historical Awareness" emphasizes the learners' use of a broad base of strategies to:
- read critically a variety of materials including textbooks, historical documents, newspapers, magazines, and other reference sources
- prepare and analyze maps, charts, and graphs
- construct and analyze timelines
- utilize community resources such as field trips, guest speakers, and museums
- incorporate the use of technological resources
- utilize primary and secondary source material such as biographies and autobiographies; novels; speeches and letters; and poetry, songs, and artwork