High School Social Studies Montana Standards

K-12 Content Skills

Civics and Government

The civics and government content standards for ninth through twelfth grade are that each student will

analyze and evaluate the ideas and principles contained in the foundational documents of the United States, and explain how they establish a system of government that has powers, responsibilities, and limits

analyze historical, contemporary, and emerging means of changing societies, promoting the common good, and protecting rights

analyze the impact and roles of personal interests and perspectives, market, media, and group influences on the application of civic virtues, democratic principles, constitutional rights, and human rights

evaluate citizens' and institutions' effectiveness in ensuring civil rights at the local, state, tribal, national, and international levels

analyze the impact of constitutions, laws, treaties, and international agreements on the maintenance of domestic and international relationships

evaluate the impact of international agreements on contemporary world issues

apply civic virtues and democratic principles when working with others

evaluate how citizens and institutions address social and political problems at the local, state, tribal, national, and/or international levels

evaluate the American governmental system compared to international governmental systems

explain the foundations and complexity of sovereignty for federally recognized tribes in Montana

evaluate appropriate deliberative processes in multiple settings

evaluate government procedures for making decisions at the local, state, national, tribal, and international levels

Economics

The economics content standards for ninth through twelfth grade are that each student will

analyze how pressures and incentives impact economic choices and their costs and benefits for different groups, including American Indians

explain how economic cycles affect personal financial decisions

analyze the ways in which pressures and incentives influence what is produced and distributed in a market system

evaluate the extent to which competition among producers, among consumers, and among laborers exists in specific markets

describe the consequences of competition in specific markets

evaluate benefits, costs, and possible outcomes of government policies to influence market outcomes

use current data to explain the influence of changes in spending, production, and the money supply on various economic conditions

use economic indicators to analyze the current and future state of the economy

evaluate the selection of monetary and fiscal policies in a variety of economic conditions

Geography

The geography content standards for ninth through twelfth grade are that each student will

use geospatial reasoning to create maps to display and explain the spatial patterns of cultural and environmental characteristics

use geographic data to analyze variations in the spatial patterns of cultural and environmental characteristics at multiple scales

use maps, satellite images, photographs, and other representations to explain relationships between the locations of places and regions and their political, cultural, and economic dynamics

analyze relationships and interactions within and between human and physical systems to explain reciprocal influences that occur among them, including American Indians

evaluate the impact of human settlement activities on the environmental, political, and cultural characteristics of specific places and regions

analyze the role of geography on interactions and conflicts between various cultures in Montana, the United States, and the world

evaluate the influence of long-term climate variability on human migration and settlement patterns, resource use, and land uses at local-to-global scales

evaluate the consequences of human-driven and natural catastrophes on global trade, politics, and human migration

History

The history content standards for ninth through twelfth grade are that each student will

analyze how unique circumstances of time, place, and historical contexts shape individuals' lives

analyze perspectives of American Indians in US history

evaluate the limitations, biases, and credibility of various sources, especially regarding misinformation and stereotypes

analyze multiple historical sources to pursue further inquiry and investigate additional sources

integrate evidence from multiple relevant historical sources and interpretations into a reasoned argument about past and present people, events, and ideas

construct arguments which reflect understanding and analysis of multiple historical sources, perspectives, and contexts

analyze change and continuity in historical eras in US and world history

identify ways in which people and groups exercise agency in difficult historical, contemporary, and tribal contexts

analyze multiple, and complex causal factors that have shaped major events in US and world history, including American Indian history

explain events in relation to both their intended and unintended consequences, including governmental policies impacting American Indians

distinguish between long-term causes and triggering events in developing a historical argument

analyze how historical, cultural, social, political, ideological, and economic contexts shape people's perspectives

analyze the ways in which the perspectives of those writing history shaped the history they produced

evaluate how historiography is influenced by perspective and available historical sources

develop questions

plan inquiries

compare and evaluate sources for relevance, perspective, and accuracy

use sources to gather evidence to develop and refine claims

communicate conclusions

take informed action