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Social Studies
K-5 Program Overview
Social Studies is taught in kindergarten through fifth grade in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. The primary purpose of our entire social studies program, K-12, is to help children develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world. We have designed our elementary Social Studies program to introduce our students to these concepts.
Within the K-5 curriculum, students in Anne Arundel County learn about their communities, their state, their country, and the world. Concepts from the fields of anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, law, political science, and sociology, as well as appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics and natural sciences frame what students learn. In social studies, students are taught to combine knowledge about their community, nation and the world with the skills of data collection and analysis, collaboration, decision-making, and problem-solving. In Anne Arundel County, we believe that students who have these commitments, knowledge and skills will be the most capable of shaping our future and positively participating in our democracy.
The Anne Arundel County Social Studies K-12 program has been aligned with the Maryland State Department of Education Social Studies Content Standards, published in 2000.
Revised Elementary Social Studies Curriculum Timelines for 2004-2005 School Year
To learn more about the social studies program for a specific grade, please click on a grade level:
Grade K / Grade 1 / Grade 2 / Grade 3 / Grade 4 / Grade 5
Social Studies
Overview - Grades 6-8
Students in Grades 6-8 take a three year sequence of social studies courses that include Ancient Civilizations in Grade 6, Cultural Geography in Grade 7, and United States History, 1790-1877, in Grade 8. The curricula for each course has been revised to support the MSDE Social Studies Content Standards, Dimensions of Learning, and adaptations for instruction with Gifted & Talented, Special Education and the use of Technology. Students receive instruction in reading and writing in each of these courses.
Click on a course title to see its objectives and focus statements.
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Social Studies
Overview - Grades 9-12
Social studies for Grades 9-12 prepares students to become effective and productive citizens in our democratic society. Building on the knowledge of human experience and the attitudes developed in Grades K-8, students re-examine in greater depth the social and political institutions of the United States and pursue their own interests in history, social science, and contemporary issues.
Graduation Requirements
Students must complete one year (two semesters) of each of the following courses to fulfill the three-credit social studies requirement for graduation. Course work develops skills in reading, writing, and thinking. Students use a textbook and read a wide variety of primary and secondary sources. Written assignments include descriptive essays and research papers.
- U.S. Government-A and U.S. Government-B (Grade 9)
- World Civilizations A and World Civilizations B (Grades 10).
- United States History A and United States History B (Grade 11)
High School Social Studies Program of Studies
Return to the Social Studies Home Page
Site last updated:
23 July 2004