History & Social Science
Updates to the History and Social Science 2015 Curriculum Framework
Visit History & Social Science Standards of Learning to view updated History and Social Science 2015 Curriculum Framework documents for Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Virginia Studies, USI, USII and VUS courses based on the Final Report of the African American History Education Commission-This is a PDF document. recommendations.
Virginia Civics Education Survey for High School Students
VDOE is administering the Virginia Civics Education Survey for High School Students in the Spring of 2021 as required by Item 134.I. of the Virginia General Assembly’s 2019 Appropriation Act and in collaboration with the Virginia Commonwealth University Survey and Evaluation Research Lab (VCU-SERL). The purpose of the survey is to understand how students feel about civics and government education and also to get a sense of their community engagement.
High school students at participating schools will be asked to provide their perspectives on the content and quality of their civics and government courses, their level of participation in community activities within the past year, and how often they discuss current events or politics with others. The results of the survey will be presented to policymakers and used to improve civics and government education in Virginia public schools.
A review copy of the survey can be accessed through the link below:
VDOE History and Social Science State Developed Common Rubrics posted!
The VDOE HSS State Developed Common Rubrics are available for use and shared on the HSS main page.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Learning in Place History & Social Science Resources
On March 23, 2020
, Governor Ralph Northam extended his order that all public and private K-12 schools in Virginia close in response to the continued spread of COVID-19 for the remainder of the school year.
The Virginia Department of Education’s History and Social Science Team has created Learning in Place History & Social Science Resources to assist teachers, parents and students during this unprecedented time.
Includes:
- Curriculum Frameworks
- Test Blueprints
- Released Tests & Sample Items
The History & Social Science Standards of Learning (SOL) are designed to develop knowledge and skills in history, geography, civics and economics to prepare students for informed participation in shaping the nation’s future.
History and Social Science State Developed Common Rubrics
- HSS State Developed Common Rubric-Early Elementary (2020)-This is a Word document.
- HSS State Developed Common Rubric-Upper Elementary (2020)-This is a Word document.
- HSS State Developed Common Rubric-Middle School (2020)-This is a Word document.
- HSS State Developed Common Rubric-Early Secondary (2020)-This is a Word document.
- HSS State Developed Common Rubric-Upper Secondary (2020)-This is a Word document.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Learning in Place History and Social Science Resources
Virginia Standards of Learning – History and Social Science Tracking Logs
Virginia Standards of Learning tracking logs for grades Kindergarten-Virginia & US Government have been developed to assist teachers with determining which standards students have had sufficient exposure and experience with prior to the COVID-19 school closure on March 13, 2020 and to make decisions regarding when and how experience with new standards might occur moving forward. Each log includes space for teachers to check off the standards that had been addressed before March 13 (the initial school closure date), those standards addressed during the closure, and those which have not yet been addressed (by the end of the ‘school year’).
- Kindergarten-This is a Word document.
- Grade 1-This is a Word document.
- Grade 2-This is a Word document.
- Grade 3-This is a Word document.
- Virginia Studies-This is a Word document.
- US History to 1865-This is a Word document.
- US History 1865 to Present-This is a Word document.
- Civics & Economics-This is a Word document.
- World Geography-This is a Word document.
- World History & Geography to 1500-This is a Word document.
- World History & Geography 1500 to Present-This is a Word document.
- Virginia & US History-This is a Word document.
- Virginia & US Government-This is a Word document.
Professional Development Resources – History & Social Science SOL Institutes
VDOE provided targeted professional development through History and Social Science Standards of Learning Institutes. Teachers and school divisions are encouraged to utilize the professional development resources to improve student achievement through quality instruction.
- 2017 History & Social Science Standards of Learning (SOL) Institutes – The K-12 History and Social Science SOL Institutes provided training that utilized a train-the-trainer model to provide professional development focused on the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning, which will lead to the creation of performance assessments.
- 2016 History & Social Science Standards of Learning (SOL) Institutes – VDOE provided professional development for school divisions and their teachers to support the increased rigor and the history and social science skills emphasized in the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework.
- 2012 History & Social Science Standards of Learning (SOL) Institutes – VDOE provided professional development for school divisions and their teachers to support the implementation of the 2008 History and Social Science Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework.
Elementary School Instructional Resources
In addition to the standards, curriculum frameworks, enhanced scope and sequence guides, test blueprints and released tests, other elementary instructional resources include:
- An Economy at Work: The Production and Consumption of Goods and Services (PDF) – staff development and teaching module for elementary and middle school teachers on SOL-based economics concepts
- Virginia Maps of the Five Geographic Regions (2001)
- Outline Map (PDF)
- Map with Counties (PDF)
- Map without Counties (PDF)
- North American Map of Selected Geographic Regions (PDF) – correlates with Standard USI.2b
- Documents of American History (PDF) – text of the Constitution of Virginia, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States of America with Amendments and the Virginia Charters
- Virginia Animals and their Habitats – a model comprehensive, cross-curricular second-grade unit that addresses 40 grade-two Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) in science, mathematics, English, and history and social science.
- Civil Rights Education – resources and information from the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Committee, as well as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission
- Everyday Civics – classroom resources including lesson plans, discussion boards, primary documents, Internet links and media Partnership Resources
- Ice Age Discoveries – recent archaeological digs have provided compelling evidence that humans inhabited Virginia at least 18,000 years ago
- Mali: Ancient Crossroads of Africa – lesson plans, literature links and online resources on the West African empire of Mali
- Virginia's First People Past and Present – guide for teaching the history, geography and economic systems of Virginia Indians, both past and present, with links to Virginia's eleven state-recognized tribes
Middle School Instructional Resources
In addition to the standards, curriculum frameworks, enhanced scope and sequence guides, test blueprints and released tests, other middle school instructional resources include:
- Economics and Financial Literacy – instructional resources to assist in meeting the requirements economics education and financial literacy requirements for all middle and high school students
- North American Map of Selected Geographic Regions (2001) (PDF) – correlates to Standard USI.2b
- Documents of American History (PDF) – text of the Constitution of Virginia, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States of America with Amendments and the Virginia Charters
- Civil Rights Education – resources and information from the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Committee, as well as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission
- Everyday Civics – classroom resources including lesson plans, discussion boards, primary documents, Internet links and media Partnership Resources
- Ice Age Discoveries – recent archaeological digs have provided compelling evidence that humans inhabited Virginia at least 18,000 years ago
- Mali: Ancient Crossroads of Africa – lesson plans, literature links and online resources on the West African empire of Mali
- Virginia's First People Past and Present – guide for teaching the history, geography and economic systems of Virginia Indians, both past and present, with links to Virginia's eleven state-recognized tribes
High School Instructional Resources
In addition to the standards, curriculum frameworks, enhanced scope and sequence guides, test blueprints and released tests, other middle school instructional resources include:
- Postwar Germany and the Growth of Democracy – A Resource Guide (PDF) – lessons and resources to assist teachers and students to explore Germany's social, political and economic experiences since 1945
- Documents of American History (PDF) – text of the Constitution of Virginia, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States of America with Amendments and the Virginia Charters
- Civil Rights Education – resources and information from the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Committee, as well as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission
- Everyday Civics – classroom resources including lesson plans, discussion boards, primary documents, Internet links and media Partnership Resources
- Ice Age Discoveries – recent archaeological digs have provided compelling evidence that humans inhabited Virginia at least 18,000 years ago
- Mali: Ancient Crossroads of Africa – lesson plans, literature links and online resources on the West African empire of Mali
- Virginia's First People Past and Present – guide for teaching the history, geography and economic systems of Virginia Indians, both past and present, with links to Virginia's eleven state-recognized tribes
Miscellaneous
- Technology Sparks, Ideas for Teachers: Integrating Technology with the Virginia Standards of Learning (PDF) – resources and suggestions for incorporating technology into the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) middle school core curricular subjects
Additional History & Social Science Resources