Social Studies Framework

The new social studies framework is meant to be compatible with the Common Core state standards for reading and language arts. The idea is for these standards to support and reinforce the common core standards in the context of social studies.

So how does this work? First, it's important to understand that this is a frame work rather than a curriculum. It provides a way to approach the teaching of social studies along with giving the core competencies that students should achieve at various grade levels. It is not a detailed list of the content that schools should be covering. For example, students are expected to be able to develop claims using evidence. They can do this using a standard expanding horizons curriculum, the Core Knowledge curriculum (my personal favorite), or with any curriculum chosen by your particular state or district.

C3 Framework Organization

Dimension 1: Developing Questions and Planning Inquiries	Dimension 2: Applying Disciplinary Tools and Concepts	Dimension 3: Evaluating Sources and Using Evidence	Dimension 4: Communicating Conclusions and Taking Informed Action
Developing Questions and Planning Inquiries	Civics	Gathering and Evaluating Sources	Communicating and Critiquing Conclusions
	Economics
	Geography	Developing Claims and Using Evidence	Taking Informed Action
	History

Much of this will look familiar to anyone who has worked with the Common Core state standards. What I find interesting is the part about developing questions and planning inquiries. While these skills are not explicitly called for by Common Core, they should be very useful in leading to the type of deep learning that the Common Core is calling for.