Taxonomy of interdisciplinary concepts for organizing K-12 social sciences curricula¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 theoretical), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

The framework nominates a set of broad interdisciplinary concepts—citizenship, justice, freedom, diversity, culture, resources, multiple causation, needs, property, authority/power, scarcity, social control, morality, change, conflict, interdependence, environment, and truth—as organizers for curricula from kindergarten through grade twelve. It states that 'Certain concepts are recommended for organizing and developing the curricula in the social sciences' and that each is 'derived from more than one of the social science disciplines.' Each concept receives a discussion elaborating its constituent ideas.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Concepts should be reflected in learning experiences across all grade spans
• Studies should stress an interdisciplinary focus in kindergarten through grade eight

Constraints¶

• The illustrative objectives for the concepts are explicitly 'not comprehensive' nor sequential

Target Learners¶

• Kindergarten through grade twelve students

Target Learning Objectives¶

• Understanding of interdisciplinary social concepts such as citizenship, justice, freedom, and scarcity

Claims¶

• The framework's first Goal I program goal is helping students understand interdisciplinary concepts through studies of human experience, with the remaining goals implicit in the illustrative objectives [+W]

Related Theories¶

• Five-goal framework for K-12 social sciences education directed toward civic competence
• Kentucky K-8 computing framework: five key concepts of CS and seven big ideas of technology

Examples¶

• Use studies of human experience across world societies with an interdisciplinary focus through grade eight
• Adopted instructional materials should reflect learning principles, pupil maturity, major cultures, varied teaching methods, and individual differences

Key Sources¶

• Social Sciences Education Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten and Grades One through Twelve. (1975). California State Department of Education. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED120079