04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

BENCHMARK

GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATIONS

G-1A-M1

identifying and describing the characteristics, functions, and applications of various types of maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies

G-1A-M2

interpreting and developing maps, globes, graphs, charts, model, and databases to analyze spatial distributions and patterns

1.   Analyze various types of maps, charts, graphs, and diagrams related to U.S. history.

G-1A-M3

organizing and displaying information about the location of geographic features and places by using mental mapping skills

G-1B-M1

explaining and analyzing both the physical and human phenomena associated with specific places, including precipitation and settlement patterns

2.  Explain how physical features and climate affected migration, settlement patterns, and land use in the United States through 1877.

G-1B-M2

identifying and describing significant physical features that have influenced historical events

3.  Identify and describe significant physical features that have influenced U.S. historical events (e.g., Ohio River Valley in the American Revolution)

G-1B-M3

identifying criteria used to define regions and explaining how and why regions change

G-1B-M4

describing and explaining how personal interests, culture, and technology affect people’s perceptions and uses of places and regions

4.  Explain ways in which goals, cultures, interests, inventions, and technological advances have affected people’s perceptions and uses of places or regions in the United States.

G-1C-M1

predicting and explaining how physical features help to shape patterns and arrangements in the physical environment

G-1C–M2

identifying the characteristics and patterns of human settlement in different regions of the world and analyzing the impact of urbanization

G-1C-M3

describing the characteristics and patterns of human settlement in different regions of the world and analyzing the impact of urbanization

5.  Explain patterns of rural/urban migration and the positive and negative consequences of urban development in the United States

G-1C-M4

analyzing types, patterns, and effects of human migration over time

6.  Identify selected racial, ethnic, and religious groups that settled in the United States and explain the political, cultural, or economic reasons for immigration.

G-1C-M5

tracing local and worldwide patterns of cultural diffusion and analyzing their causes and effects

G-1C-M6

comparing historical and contemporary patterns of economic interdependence

7.  Compare the interdependence of Great Britain and the American colonies to the global economy.

G-1C-M7

explaining how cooperation and conflict among people contribute to the political divisions on Earth’s surface

8.  Explain how cooperation and conflict affected the changing political boundaries in the United States to 1877 (e.g., Missouri Compromise)

G-1D-M1

analyzing and evaluating the effects of human actions upon the physical environment

G-1D-M2

explaining and giving examples of how characteristics of different physical environments affect human activities

9.  Explain how the different physical environments in the American North and South led to different economic activities.

G-1D-M3

analyzing the worldwide distribution and utilization of natural resources

G-1D-M4

identifying problems that relate to contemporary geographic issues and researching possible solutions

C-1A-M1

explaining major ideas about why governments are necessary and evaluating competing positions on the purposes government should serve

10.  Explain and evaluate the major purposes of government

C-1A-M2

describing the essential characteristics of various systems of government

11.  Explain the meaning of the term “federalism.”

12.  Distinguish between various forms of government (e.g., monarchy, totalitarian) and describe their characteristics and organization.

C-1A-M3

explaining how the powers of government are distributed, shared, and limited by the United States and Louisiana constitutions

13.  Explain how separation of powers limits government and describe the U.S. government system of checks and balances.

14.  Identify the powers of the U.S. federal government, and the powers it shares with state governments according to the U.S. Constitution.

C-1A-M4

explaining the purposes of sate constitutions and describing the relationship of state constitutions to the federal constitution

C-1A-M5

describing the organization and major responsibilities of local, state, and national government

15.  Identify the structure and powers of the three branches of the federal government, the limits of those powers, and key positions within each branch.

C-1A-M6

identifying government leaders and representatives at the local, state, and national levels and explaining their powers and the limits on their powers

16.  Identify qualifications and terms of office for elected officials at the national level.

17.  Identify current government leaders at the national level

18.  Describe the powers/responsibilities and limits of power for government officials at the national level.

C-1A-M7

explaining the importance of law in the American constitutional system and applying criteria to evaluate rules and laws

19.  Explain how a bill becomes law at the federal level.

20.  Examine a given law or court ruing and evaluate it based on given criteria. (E.g., Dred Scott decision).

C-1A-M8

explaining how public policy is formed, debated, and carried out at local, state, and national levels

C-1A-M9

explaining the necessity of taxes and describing the purposes for which tax revenues are used

C-1A-M10

identifying and evaluating different types of taxes

21.  Evaluate a type of tax in an historical context (e.g., Stamp Act and Tea Tax).

C-1B-M1

explaining the essential ideas and historical origins of American constitutional government

22.  Identify problems the United States faced after the American Revolution that led to the writing of the U.S. Constitution.

23.  Compare and contrast the Articles of Confederation with the U.S. Constitution.

24.  Identify the roles of the Continental Congress and the Great Compromise in forming the American Constitutional government and the federal union.

25.  Identify the arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

26.  Explain how historical English documents, such as the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights, influenced the American democracy.

27.  Explain how ancient governments influenced American democracy and culture.

C-1B-M2

identifying and describing the historical experiences and the geographic, social and economic factors that have helped to shape American political culture

28.  Describe historical experiences and factors that defined, influenced, and helped shape American political culture.

C-1B-M3

explaining the meaning and importance of basic principles of American constitutional democracy as reflected in core documents

29.  Define and explain the ideas expressed in the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence

30.  Explain the principles of government embodied in the U.S. Constitution.

C-1B-M4

analyzing the ways in which political and social conflict can be peacefully resolved

31.  Analyze methods used to institute change or resolve social conflict in U.S. history (e.g., War of 1812, states’ rights theory).

C-1B-M5

analyzing democratic processes used to institute change

32.  Explain how changes are made in a democratic society.

C-1B-M6

analyzing the importance of political parties, campaigns, and elections in the American political system

33.  Describe the role of political parties in the American political system.

C-1C-M1

describing how the world is organized politically and explaining the means by which nation-states interact

34.  Describe political divisions of the world (nations-states).

35.  Explain various processes/strategies nations use to interact.

C-1C-M2

explaining the formation, implementation, and impact of United States foreign policy

36.  Explain how United States foreign policy is formed and carried out

C-1C-M3

identifying types of foreign policy issues, using current and historical examples

37.  Identify types of foreign policy issues and characterize the means by which they have been addressed with reference to current and historical examples (e.g., Middle East conflicts).

C-1D-M1

explaining the meaning of citizenship and the requirements of citizenship and naturalization in the United State

38.  Identify the qualifications or requirements for U.S. citizenship, including naturalization.

C-1D-M2

identifying the rights and responsibilities of citizens and explaining their importance to the individual and to society

39.  Explain the importance of various rights and responsibilities of citizenship to the individual or to society at large(e.g., Bill of Rights)

C-1D-M3

discussing issues involving the rights and responsibilities of individuals in American society

40.  Explain issues involving rights and responsibilities of individuals in American society (e.g., rights of individuals with disabilities, responsibility to pay taxes).

C-1D-M4

describing the many ways by which citizens can organize, monitor, and help to shape politics and government at local, state, and national levels

C-1D-M5

communicating the importance of knowledge to competent and responsible political participation and leadership

E-1A-M1

describing how the scarcity of resources necessitates decision making at both personal and societal levels

E-1A-M2

analyzing consequences of economic decisions in terms of additional benefits and additional costs

E-1A-M3

analyzing the consequences and opportunity cost of economic decisions