National Council for Social Studies (NCSS)
THEME ONE -- Culture and Cultural Diversity: Social Studies teachers should possess the knowledge, capabilities, and dispositions to
organize and provide instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of Culture and Cultural Diversity. Teachers of social
studies at all school levels should provide developmentally appropriate experiences as they guide learners in the study of culture and
cultural diversity. (NCSS.1.1)
THEME TWO -- Time, Continuity, and Change: Social Studies teachers should possess the knowledge, capabilities, and dispositions to
organize and provide instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of Time, Continuity, and Change. Teachers of social
studies at all school levels should provide developmentally appropriate experiences as they guide learners in the study of time,
continuity, and change. (NCSS.1.2)
THEME THREE -- People, Places, and Environment: Social Studies teachers should possess the knowledge, capabilities, and
dispositions to organize and provide instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of People, Places, and Environment.
Teachers of social studies at all school levels should provide developmentally appropriate experiences as they guide learners in the
study of people, places and environments. (NCSS.1.3)
THEME FOUR -- Individual Development and Identity: Social Studies teachers should possess the knowledge, capabilities, and
dispositions to organize and provide instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of Individual Development and Identity.
Teachers of social studies at all school levels should provide developmentally appropriate experiences as they guide learners in the
study of ideas associated with individual human development and identity. (NCSS.1.4)
THEME FIVE -- Individuals, Groups and Institutions: Social Studies teachers should possess the knowledge, capabilities, and
dispositions to organize and provide instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of Individuals, Groups, and Institutions.
Teachers of social studies at all school levels should provide developmentally appropriate experiences as they guide learners in the
study of interactions among Individuals, Groups, and Institutions. (NCSS.1.5)
THEME SIX -- Power, Authority, and Governance: Social Studies teachers should possess the knowledge, capabilities, and
dispositions to organize and provide instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of Power, Authority and Governance.
Teachers of Social Studies at all levels should provide developmentally appropriate experiences as they guide learners in the study of
power, authority, and governance. (NCSS.1.6)
THEME SEVEN -- Production, Distribution, and Consumption: Social Studies teachers should possess the knowledge, capabilities, and
disposition to organize and provide instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of Production, Distribution, and
Consumption. Teachers of Social Studies at all school levels should provide developmentally appropriate experiences as they guide
learners in the study of how people organize for the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. (NCSS.1.7)
THEME EIGHT -- Science, Technology and Society: Social Studies teachers should possess the knowledge, capabilities, and
dispositions to organize and provide instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of Science, Technology and Society.
Teachers of social studies at all school levels should provide developmentally appropriate experiences as they guide learners in the
study of science and technology. (NCSS.1.8)
THEME NINE -- Global Connections: Social Studies teachers should possess the knowledge, capabilities, and dispositions to organize
and provide instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of Global Connections. Teachers of social studies at all school
levels should provide developmentally appropriate experiences as they guide learners in the study of global connections and
interdependence. (NCSS.1.9)
THEME TEN -- Civic Ideals and Practices: Social Studies teachers should possess the knowledge, capabilities, and dispositions to
organize and provide instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of Civic Ideals and Practices. Teachers of social studies at
all school levels should provide developmentally appropriate experiences as they guide learners in the study of civic ideals and
practices. (NCSS.1.10)
DISCIPLINARY STANDARD -- History: Teachers who are licensed to teach history at all school levels should possess the knowledge,
capabilities, and dispositions to organize and provide instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of history. Teachers of
history at all school levels should provide developmentally appropriate experiences as they guide learners in their study. (NCSS.2.1)