7th Grade Social Studies Scope and Sequence

In 7th grade, the 5 units in social studies are guided overarching questions that support the standards and content listed below.

Unit: How does creating a budget make an individual financially responsible?

PowerStandards

Financial Literacy

• SS.EC.FL1.6-8:MdC: Identify how people choose to buy goods and services while still maintaining a budget based on income, taxes, savings, and fixed and variable interest rates.

Supporting Questions and Essential Understandings

• • How can a budget be used to achieve financial goals as well as manage spending? 
  • What are the steps in planning a budget? 
  • What is the difference between gross and net pay?
  • What are the differences between fixed, variable, and occasional expenses?

  Students will be able to… 

  • Explain how income and savings relate to budget.
  • Create a basic budget
  • Explain how a budget affects choices individuals make in the market
  • Understand how a budget is created and how it can support good financial decision making

Unit: How does the ability of societies to provide for the needs and wants of people depend on availability, management, distribution, and consumption of resources?

PowerStandards

Economic Decision Making

• SS.EC.1.6-8.MdC: Explain how external benefits and costs influence choices

Exchange and Markets

• SS.EC.2.6-8.MC: Explain how changes in supply and demand cause changes in prices and quantities of goods and services, labor, credit, and foreign currencies

The National and Global Economy

• SS.EC.3.6-8.LC: Explain why standards of living increase as productivity improves.

Supporting Questions and Essential Understandings

• How does the economy of one country affect the economy of another?
• What are the effects of choice and competition on consumers, producers and the economy as a whole?
• What are the effects of various incentives to produce a good or service?
• What is the relationship between the cost of a product to the consumer versus the cost of the product to the producer?
• How are natural resources used throughout the world?

Students will be able to… 

• Describe the factors of production that lead to the creation of goods & services
• Explain how supply and demand impact economic decisions

• Explain how scarcity affects economic choices/decisions
• Explain  how consumers drive the market
• Describe how profit, productivity & wage, affect choices producers make

Unit: How are economic and political systems interdependent?

PowerStandards

Civics & Political Institutions

• SS.CV.1.6-8.MdC: Describe the roles of political, civil, and economic organizations in shaping people’s lives
• SS.CV.2.6-8.MdC – Explain the origins, functions, and structure of government with reference to the U.S. Constitution, Illinois Constitution, and other systems of government.

Supporting Questions and Essential Understandings

• How does change within a system cause conflict?
• How does the economy of one country affect the economy of another?
• How do laws and government policies influence the function of an economy?
• How does a country’s governmental system directly impact their economic system?

Students will be able to… 

• Explain the different types of economic systems
• Explain how a country’s government affects its citizens
• Explain the roles and responsibilities of citizens/leaders in the different government/economic systems.

Unit: How have historical events affected trade over the years?

PowerStandards

Change, Continuity, and Context

• SS.H.1.6-8.MdC: Analyze connections among events and developments in broader historical contexts

Perspectives

• SS.H.2.6-8.MdC: Analyze multiple factors that influenced the perspectives of people during different historical eras

Perspectives

• SS.H.3.6-8MdC: Detect possible limitations in the historical record based on evidence collected from different kinds of historical sources.

Financial Literacy

• SS.EC.FL2.6-8.MdC: Explain the correlation between investors, investment options (and associated risks), and income/wealth.

Supporting Questions and Essential Understandings

• How does unemployment affect the economy of a nation?
• How does specialization and advanced technology influence trade?
• How does trade impact an economy?
• What are the effects of increasing and declining imports and exports to an individual and the nation’s economy as a whole?

Students will be able to… 

•  Explain how global trade impacts an economy
• Explain the different barriers to trade
• Describe the different perspectives surrounding child labor
• Describe the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution and the Great Depression
• To explain how the impact of inventions in society led to child labor and the creation of labor unions

Unit: How do the experiences of immigrants in various periods of United States history compare to those of immigrants today?

PowerStandards

History Standards 

Perspectives

• SS.H.2.6-8.LC: Explain how and why perspectives of people have changed over time.
• SS.H.3.6-8MdC: Detect possible limitations in the historical record based on evidence collected from different kinds of historical sources.

Geography Standards

Human Population: Spatial Patterns and Movements

• SS.G3.6-8.MdC: Explain how changes in transportation and communication influence the spatial connections among human settlements and affect the spread of ideas and culture.

Global Interconnections: Changing Spatial Patterns

• SS.G.4.6-8.MdC: Explain how global changes in population distribution patterns affect changes in land use.

Supporting Questions and Essential Understandings

• How has the movement of people impacted society?
• How is human activity affected by geographic factors and how are geographic factors affected by human activity?
• How have geographic factors influenced settlement patterns?
• How did America fulfill the dreams of immigrants?
• How has immigration influenced the laws we have in the United States today?
• What were (are) the economic, social, and political effects of immigration on the United States?
• What were the different perspectives people held about immigration?

Students will be able to… 

• To explain the difference between immigration, migration, and emigration
• To explain the reasons people leave their countries and the challenges they face (on their journey as well as in their new country/location)

• Describe the causes and consequences of mass migrations of people
• Explain current immigration issues and the impact on society