West Virginia: 9th-Grade Standards
The ninth grade social studies course engages students in the study of the development and evolution of the historic, economic, geographic, political, and social structure of the cultural regions of the world from the dawn of civilization to 1900. Special attention is given to the formation and evolution of societies into complex political and economic systems. Students are engaged in critical thinking and problem-solving skills, using maps, spreadsheets, charts, graphs, text and other data from a variety of credible sources. Students synthesize the information to predict events and anticipate outcomes as history evolves through the ages. The West Virginia Standards for 21st Century Learning include the following components: 21st Century Content Standards and Objectives and 21st Century Learning Skills and Technology Tools. All West Virginia teachers are responsible for classroom instruction that integrates learning skills, technology tools and content standards and objectives.
Social Studies Standard 1: Citizenship
SS.S.09.01 / Students will:
- characterize and model good citizenship by building social networks of reciprocity and trustworthiness (Civic Dispositions).
- model a respect for symbols, ideas and concepts of the United States and analyze the roles of significant individuals (Respect For People, Events, and Symbols).
- develop and employ the civic skills necessary for effective citizenship by using criteria to make judgments, arrive at and defend positions and evaluate the validity of the positions or data (Evaluation Skills).
- develop the participatory skills of interacting, monitoring and influencing that are essential for informed, effective and responsible citizenship, including participation in civic life to shape public policy (Participatory Skills).
- recognize and communicate the responsibilities, privileges and rights of United States citizens (Civic Life).
SS.PD.09.1 / Performance Descriptors
- name the roles of citizens and recognize civic involvement.
- name conflicts between nations.
- participate in a volunteer project.
- identify the roles of citizens and explain civic involvement.
- describe conflicts between nations.
- choose to participate in a volunteer project.
- describe the changing roles of citizens and assess levels of civic involvement.
- analyze conflicts between nations and propose resolutions.
- explain why you chose to participate in a volunteer project.
- compare the changing roles of citizens and assess the impact of the changes on civic involvement.
- evaluate conflicts between nations and debate resolutions.
- assume leadership roles in a volunteer project.
- debate the influences that have changed the roles of citizens.
- research conflicts between nations and develop creative resolutions for peace.
- create a volunteer project that will meet the needs of the community or school.
Objectives / Students will:
- SS.O.09.01.01: describe the evolution of the roles and responsibilities of individuals and groups leading to the formation of nation states.
- SS.O.09.01.02: assess the nature of civic responsibility in various cultures including the level of involvement of the different stratifications of society.
- SS.O.09.01.03: analyze the causes of conflict and propose resolutions.
- SS.O.09.01.04: participate in a project of volunteer service and explain why you chose that particular project or service.
Social Studies Standard 2: Civics
SS.S.09.02 / Students will:
- examine and analyze the purposes and basic principles of the United States government (Purposes of Government).
- outline and evaluate and analyze the origins and meaning of the principles, ideals and core democratic values expressed in the foundational documents of the United States (Ideals of United States Democracy).
- examine and distinguish the structure, function and responsibilities of governments and the allocation of power at the local, state and national levels (United States Government and Politics).
- analyze how the world is organized politically and compare the role and relationship of the United States to other nations and to world affairs (United States Government and World Affairs).
SS.PD.09.2 / Performance Descriptors
- identify the purposes of government and representative democracy.
- name examples of constitutional governments and some influences that contributed to its development.
- give an example of the influence of nations on one another.
- explain the purposes of government and representative democracy.
- recognize contributions to the development of constitutional governments and identify its various forms.
- recognize the influence of nations on one another.
- evaluate the purposes of government and explain the events that led to representative democracy.
- evaluate the contributions to the development of constitutional democracy and compare its variations.
- analyze the influence of nations on one another.
- defend the purposes of government and summarize the events that led to representative democracy.
- research the differences among constitutional governments and compare the influences that have shaped them.
- debate the influences of nations on one another.
- research a variety of governments and debate their purposes.
- research the differences among constitutional government and evaluate and debate the influences that have shaped them.
- debate the reactions of nations to their influences on one another.
Objectives / Students will:
- SS.O.09.02.01: evaluate diverse ideas about the purposes of government.
- SS.O.09.02.02: identify and analyze the contributions of the classical civilizations to the development of the United States Constitution. Identify classical civilizations and significant political philosophers and evaluate their contributions to the development of the United States Constitutional Democracy.
- SS.O.09.02.03: explain world historical events that affected the development of representative democracy in the United States and other countries.
- SS.O.09.02.04: analyze how the United States has influenced other nations and how other nations have influenced the American political process and society.
- SS.O.09.02.05: compare, contrast and evaluate alternative ways of organizing constitutional governments.
Social Studies Standard 3: Economics
SS.S.09.03 / Students will:
- analyze the role of economic choices in scarcity, supply and demand, resource allocation, decision-making, voluntary exchange and trade-offs (Choices).
- research, critique and evaluate the roles of private and public institutions in the economy (Institutions).
- compare and contrast various economic systems and analyze their impact on individual citizens (Economic Systems).
- illustrate how the factors of production impact the United States economic system (Factors of Production).
- analyze the elements of competition and how they impact the economy (Competition).
- examine and evaluate the interdependence of global economies (Global Economies).
SS.PD.09.3 / Performance Descriptors
- identify what caused economic change and list the types of economic systems.
- list the components of fiscal policy.
- list the effects of the changes of global economic interdependence prior to 1900.
- explain effects in economic change and describe the development of economic systems and trade patterns.
- recognize fiscal policies in several world societies.
- explain the development of global economic interdependence prior to 1900.
- identify cause/effect relationships in economic change and evaluate the development of economic systems and trade patterns.
- compare and contrast fiscal policies in several world societies.
- evaluate the effects of the evolution of global economic interdependence prior to 1900.
- evaluate cause/effect relationships in economic change and relate to the development of economic systems and trade patterns.
- debate the effects of the fiscal policies in several world societies.
- evaluate the influences and effects of the evolution of global economic interdependence prior to 1900.
- judge cause/effect relationships in economic change and trace and explain the connections between specific changes.
- create a new fiscal policy for the country of your choice and anticipate the outcome.
- research and summarize the consequences of the evolution of global economic interdependence prior to 1900 and debate outcomes.
Objectives / Students will:
- SS.O.09.03.01: examine and illustrate the trade patterns of regions of the world across time and explain their significance to the evolution of global economics.
- SS.O.09.03.02: evaluate the role of exchange/trade systems in the development of economic systems in societies worldwide.
- SS.O.09.03.03: compare and contrast fiscal policies of several world societies.
- SS.O.09.03.04: identify the causal relationship of economic changes and their effects on the job market (e.g., supply and demand, technology, industrialization).
- SS.O.09.03.05: examine and evaluate global economic interdependence and competition and explain their influence on national and international policies.
Social Studies Standard 4: Geography
SS.S.09.04 / Students will:
- interpret, and choose maps, globes and other geographic tools to categorize and organize information about personal directions, people, places and environments (The World in Spatial Terms).
- examine the physical and human characteristics of place and explain how the lives of people are rooted in places and regions (Places and Regions).
- analyze the physical processes that shape the earthís surface and create, sustain and modify the cultural and natural environment (Physical Systems).
- analyze and illustrate how the earth is shaped by the movement of people and their activities (Human Systems).
- analyze the interaction of society with the environment (Environment and Society).
- point out geographic perspective and the tools and assess techniques available for geographic study (Uses of Geography).
SS.PD.09.4 / Performance Descriptors
- locate geographic features and identify information using geographic tools.
- recognize the connection between world resources and economic development
- name cultural settlement patterns and list physical geography systems.
- locate geographic features and recognize information using geographic tools.
- give examples of the connection between world resources and economic development.
- identify cultural settlement patterns with physical geography systems.
- locate geographic features and interpret information using geographic tools.
- explain the connection between world resources and economic development.
- connect cultural settlement patterns with physical geography systems, draw conclusions about your findings and make recommendations.
- evaluate geographic tools and determine the best choice of tools to locate and interpret information.
- debate the positive and negative impact of the connection between world resources and economic development.
- evaluate the importance of physical geography systems in the development of cultural settlement patterns, summarize findings and explore alternative outcomes.
- create geographic tools to locate and interpret geographic information.
- hypothesize a change in the connection between world resources and economic development.
- create an ideal physical geography system, devise the ideal cultural settlement pattern that could result, and defend your outcomes.
Objectives / Students will:
- SS.O.09.04.01: interpret information using maps, graphs, charts and timelines.
- SS.O.09.04.02: locate geographic features of the continents (e.g., plateaus, high points, low points, bodies of water major river valleys).
- SS.O.09.04.03: explain how the location of world resources influenced economic development and the global economy.
- SS.O.09.04.04: evaluate the effect of geographic features, including climate, upon the environment.
- SS.O.09.04.05: examine the development of major political boundaries of the world and relate these to the theme of geo-politics.
- SS.O.09.04.06: connect the cultural settlement patterns resulting from migration in each period of study to the world language patterns as they evolved and are evident today and then assess the role of physical geography in the development of these patterns.
- SS.O.09.04.07: explain geographic reasons for the development of major world cities and trends in urban population growth.
- SS.O.09.04.08: research major world rivers systems and climate regions (e.g., desert, rain forest/tropical, Mediterranean, etc.), correlate the migration/settlement patterns, industry, culture, government, and economic systems with these environments draw conclusions, and recommend a favorable settlement area based on findings.
Social Studies Standard 5: History
SS.S.09.05 / Students will:
- organize, analyze and compare historical events, distinguish cause-effect relationships, theorize alternative actions and outcomes, and anticipate future application. (Chronology).
- use the processes and resources of historical inquiry to develop appropriate questions, gather and examine evidence, compare, analyze and interpret historical data (Skills and Application).
- examine, analyze and synthesize historical knowledge of major events, individuals, cultures and the humanities in West Virginia, the United States and the world (Culture and Humanities).
- use historical knowledge to analyze local, state, national and global interdependence (Interpretation and Evaluation).
- examine political institutions and theories that have developed and changed over time; and research and cite reasons for development and change (Political Institutions).
SS.PD.09.5 / Performance Descriptors
- identify significant groups, individuals, places, documents, and events from ancient times until 1900.
- identify different cultural, economic, and political systems.
- identify and give examples of causes and effects of major regional, national, and international conflicts/ cooperation.
- read and discuss a variety of forms of historical literature and graphics associated with the periods of study.
- explain the contributions of significant groups, individuals, places, documents, and events from ancient times until 1900.
- differentiate between different cultural, economic, and political systems.
- trace the development of major regional, national, and international conflicts and give examples of cooperation.
- read and explain a variety of historical literature and graphics associated with the periods of study.
- analyze the contributions of significant groups, individuals, places, documents, and events from ancient times until 1900.
- compare and contrast social, economic, and political trends and systems.
- critique the causes and effects of major regional, national and international conflicts/ cooperation.
- read and interpret a variety of historical literature and graphics associated with the periods of study.
- critique the contributions of significant groups, individuals, places, documents, and events and evaluate their impact on other world events.
- summarize key elements of cultural, economic, and political systems and justify/ debate different societiesí use of these systems.
- measure and draw conclusions about the effects of regional, national, and international conflicts/ cooperation.
- summarize and make connections between the variety of literature and graphics associated with the periods of study.
- compare and contrast various documents related to significant groups, individuals, places, documents, and events to validate historical impact.
- conduct research to measure the success of cultural, economic, and political systems and determine their impact on other systems.
- debate the impact of major regional, national, and international conflict/ cooperation.
- summarize, write about and create new literature and graphics that connect the thoughts and ideas associated with the periods of study.
Objectives / Students will:
- SS.O.09.05.01: examine the measure the contributions of art and literature throughout different historical periods.
- SS.O.09.05.02: trace the evolution of the changing status of women and children throughout the world in all historical periods addressed.
- SS.O.09.05.03: read and in interpret historical charts, tables, graphs, narratives, primary source documents, political cartoons and timelines and summarize their information.
- SS.O.09.05.04: explain the effects of significant political developments and trends in the world before 1900.
- SS.O.09.05.05: explain the interaction of early humans with their environment and evaluate their decisions (e.g., hunting, migration, shelter, food, clothing).
- SS.O.09.05.06: compare and contrast the causes and effects of the rise and decline of ancient civilizations (e.g., the river civilizations, classic Greek and Roman).
- SS.O.09.05.07: explain the basic tenets of major world religions and philosophies, their places of origin and the status of those religions today.
- SS.O.09.05.08: describe the location, movement, unique contributions and characteristics of Arab/Islamic society.
- SS.O.09.05.09: explain feudalism and its effects on the development of societies around the world (e.g., Europe, China, Japan).
- SS.O.09.05.10: identify and evaluate the political and economic roles and the cultural contributions of religious institutions in medieval society.
- SS.O.09.05.11: compare and contrast the acceptance of diversity in hierarchical societies.
- SS.O.09.05.12: analyze and assess the concept of nation building (e.g., city states, Rome, rise of European nation states).
- SS.O.09.05.13: recognize the worth of the individual in society and relate to the growth of the concept of the Renaissance man.
- SS.O.09.05.14: describe how European needs/wants for foreign products contributed to the Age of Exploration.
- SS.O.09.05.15: evaluate the effects of the Enlightenment in European society.
- SS.O.09.05.16: analyze the cause of the Crusades and the effects on regions involved.
- SS.O.09.05.17: analyze the historical developments of the Protestant Reformation including the effects of theology, politics and economics.
- SS.O.09.05.18: describe the Agricultural and Industrial revolutions and decide their impact on the evolution of society.
- SS.O.09.05.19: analyze the causes and effects of political revolutions and determine their impact on the formation of governments and on the citizens of a society (e.g., French, Italian, German, Latin American).
- SS.O.09.05.20: compare and contrast the American and French revolutions and their aftermaths.
- SS.O.09.05.21: explain reasons for and consequences of the breakdown of order among nation states.
- SS.O.09.05.22: examine the legal documents and systems which influenced western civilization and rank them in order of importance.
- SS.O.09.05.23: compare and contrast absolute and constitutional monarchies and identify representative leaders of each.
- SS.O.09.05.24: assess the impact of colonization on both the mother countries and the colonies.
Social Studies Standard 6: Reading
SS.S.09.06 / Students will:
- use the five reading components (phonemic awareness, phonics, background knowledge/vocabulary, high frequency word/fluency, comprehension, and writing) in their acquisition of social studies knowledge, insuring a foundation of college readiness in this genre.
- recognize main ideas and supporting details to locate basic facts (e.g. names, dates, events).
- distinguish relationships among people, ideas, and events.
- recognize cause-effect relationships in content passages.
- outline sequences of events.
- summarize events and ideas. Infer main idea or purpose of content.
- draw generalizations and conclusions about people, ideas and events.
- write and edit organized texts of various genres to insure that information is clearly understood.
(Refer to policy 2520.1 for specific grade level reading and writing objectives.)