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
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