Public commitment requires that the public receive information that clearly demonstrates the importance of social studies programs for the education of all children. Public commitment also requires that the public recognize all that it takes to support excellence in social studies programs. All of this requires more adequate funding for social studies programs. The curriculum standards presented in this document describe major themes and outcome expectations to assure excellence in social studies. That document identifies and describes those principles of teaching and learning that must undergird all social studies programs of excellence.
Social studies teaching and learning are powerful when they are meaningful.
Students learn connected networks of knowledge, skills, beliefs, and attitudes that they will find useful both in and outside of school. Instruction emphasizes depth of development of important ideas within appropriate breadth of topic coverage and focuses on teaching these important ideas for understanding, appreciation, and life application. The significance and meaningfulness of the content is emphasized both in how it is presented to students and how it is developed through activities. Classroom interaction focuses on sustained examination of a few important topics rather than superficial coverage of many. Meaningful learning activities and assessment strategies focus students' attention on the most important ideas embedded in what they are learning.