BOE APPROVED 11.26.13 Curriculum Scope & Sequence Subject/Grade Level: SOCIAL STUDIES /GRADE 10-12 Course: Contemporary Issues Unit Media Literacy and Society 3 weeks 6.2.12.D.5.c Effectively evaluate bias and perspective when consuming media. Media outlets are generally created for profit purposes; however, the growth of blogs and free media has changed standard trends. Media coverage varies based on corporate ownership, access to sources, and perception of consumer taste. Media perspective and bias can impact stories, and requires the evaluation of multiple sources. The media is forced to choose which issues it is able to cover due to scarcity of personnel and print resources. What are the goals of media outlets? Why does media coverage vary? How do people respond to media stories? Why is it important to understand media perspective and bias? Why are some events not covered by the media?
Geopolitics and Regional Issues 6.1.12.C.3.b 6.1.12.B.13.b 6.1.12.A.14.e 6.1.12.B.14.a 6.1.12.B.14.b 6.1.12.B.16.a 6.2.12.C.6.b 6.2.12.B.6.a 6.2.12.B.5.e Analyze why regional voting patterns exist in state and national elections. The establishment of boundaries through geography transfers to politics. Location impacts priorities and opinions of individuals due to presence of opportunities, social structures, and resources. America has a history of regionalism that is perpetuated due to the existence of contemporary issues. Demographics impact voting patterns based on shared history, individual needs, and group priorities. How does geography impact politics? How does location impact the priorities and opinions of individuals? Why does America maintain regional identities? How do demographics impact politics? Science and Technology in Society 6.1.12.C.14.d 6.1.12.C.16.a 6.1.12.C.16.b 6.1.12.B.16.a 6.1.12.D.16.b learning to Predict the social and ethical implications of future innovations. Corporations innovate in order to change society, increase profits, and to preempt the success of Why do individuals and corporations innovate? Why do technological innovations have both positive and negative impacts?
6.2.12.C.6.d other firms. The labor savings progress caused by technology presents ethical, social, and economic challenges. Scientific innovation is a theoretical and progressive process that renders imperfect results. Why are desired scientific innovations not currently attainable? Politics, Special Interests, and Citizens 6.1.12.A.2.f 6.1.12.A.14.a 6.1.12.A.14.d 6.1.12.A.14.f 6.1.12.D.14.c 6.1.12.A.16.c 6.2.12.A.6.c learning to Evaluate literature distributed by political candidates and special interest groups. Special interests promote their agendas through the use of personnel organization and finances. Government priorities and programs vary depending on the political composition of the executive and legislative branches. Significant government issues create polarization that limits compromise. How do special interests impact government policy? How do party politics impact individual lives? Why are there unresolved differences with respect to major government initiatives?
Law, Freedom, and Civil Liberties in Modern Society 3 weeks 6.1.12.A.2.e 6.1.12.D.2.b 6.1.12.A.13.b 6.1.12.A.14.b 6.1.12.A.14.c 6.1.12.A.14.h 6.1.12.D.14.b 6.2.12.A.6.c 6.2.12.A.6.b 6.3.12.A.1 6.3.12.D.1 learning to Write a model law that addresses a contemporary local, state, or national issue. Laws are created in order to meet perceived public policy needs, often in response to or in fear of an incident or issue. The rights of individuals are balanced with the rights of others. The needs of the government and the needs of the state are balanced using precedent and Constitutional interpretation guided by contemporary concerns. Civil liberties change when faced with concerns over security and previously unseen issues. The courts interpret the constitution and spirit of laws created by What influences the creation of laws? How are the lengths of individual rights determined? How are the needs of the individual and the state balanced? Why do interpretations of civil liberties change? How do the court systems change the nature of laws?
legislatures. Economics, Personal, and Corporate Wealth 6.1.12.B.14.c 6.1.12.B.14.d 6.1.12.C.14.a 6.1.12.C.14.b 6.1.12.C.14.c 6.1.12.C.14.d 6.1.12.D.16.c 6.2.12.D.6.a 6.2.12.C.6.c 6.2.12.C.6.a 6.2.12.C.5.g Formulate alternatives to the growing problem of scarcity in the world. Scarcity of resources forces firms and consumers to make decisions. Concentration of wealth is caused by a variety of issues including effort, decision making, and birth. The actions of corporations create new issues that must be analyzed and responded to by individuals and the government. Fiscal and monetary policy impact personal wealth, interest rates, and market conditions. How does scarcity impact society? Why are some individuals wealthier than others? How do corporations impact individuals and the government? How do fiscal and monetary policies impact markets and personal investment? Individuals and Social Issues 3 weeks 6.1.12.D.3.d 6.1.12.D.3.e 6.1.12.A.14.c Debate government Individual actions create a ripple effect that How do the actions of individuals impact others and groups? Why do groups conduct
6.1.12.D.14.d 6.1.12.D.14.e 6.1.12.D.14.f 6.3.12.C.1 involvement in and response to social issues using multiple stakeholder perspectives. impacts others on small or large scales. Groups conduct public demonstrations in order to create awareness and activism. Inequity exists due to historic trends and limited access to government. Social values change and evolve based on differences in economics, world issues, legal structures, and politics. Schools are used as tools of social and ethical education. Organized religion is a method of social control and influence. public demonstrations? Why does inequity exist in society? Why do societal values change or evolve? How does education impact social values? How does religion impact society? America and the World 6.1.12.D.14.a 6.1.12.A.15.b 6.1.12.A.15.c 6.1.12.C.15.a 6.1.12.C.16.c 6.2.12.D.6.a Create a metric by which to judge the appropriateness of U.S. involvement in American interests are tied to the world due to security and economic issues. Why are American interests tied to the world? How do international issues impact American policy?
6.2.12.A.6.d 6.2.12.A.6.c international affairs. International issues impact American policy due to scarcity, military deployment, and political ideology. International issues cause individuals to frame their existence through a larger lens. The interdependence created by globalization promotes positive growth and negative reliance. How do international issues impact individual lives? Why is globalization both a positive and negative force?