Continuity of Resources for Teaching Social Studies
In an effort to help schools plan for educational continuity in the event of significant staff absences and extended school closures several additional resources and webpages have been developed to support the teaching of social studies.
Check out the wide-variety of online resources (identified in the various links on this page) that support the teaching of social studies through the collecting and sharing of lesson plans and additional curricular resources. For a more tailored collection, check out this collection of searchable curricular resources sorted by grade band and content strand that can be used to support the creation of asynchronous learning experiences for your students. There is also a Continuity of Learning - Social Studies specific page that highlights ways to think about creating asynchronous learning experiences for your students.
As part of the scheduled periodic review of the Maine Learning Results, the Maine Department of Education completed a revision of the Social Studies component of the Maine Learning Results. See button below for the 2019 version of the Maine Learning Results for Social Studies. The 2007 version of the Maine Learning Results for Social Studies are available at the bottom of this web page.
Maine Learning Results for Social Studies - Revised 2019
The social studies standards include four content areas (Civics & Government, Personal Finance & Economics, Geography, History) with performance expectations that embed the application of social studies processes, knowledge, and skills. Each content strand breaks down the standard into performance expectations for each separate grade K-5 and grade bands for grades 6-8 and 9-Diploma. The standards also include an introduction with more information about the Guiding Principles and a section of key ideas in the social studies standards.
Local schools make decisions about the identification of resources that will support teachers and students in their learning and understanding in social studies. The Maine Department of Education offers materials on this page to assist schools in their local efforts.
Standards Revision Overview August 2019
Check out the introductory videos below to learn more about the standards
Revision Process
Overall Document
Changes to Elementary Framework
Guiding Principles & Introduction
The Embedding of Skills and Processes
Addition of Foundational & Developing Notations
Grade Level and Content Specific Versions of the Revised Social Studies Standards
- In order to streamline the standards for teacher and district use, check out the links below for the standards and performance expectations based on grade level:
- In order to streamline the standards for teacher and district use, check out the links below for more information about the individual content strands:
Video and Resources of Standards Rollout
Maine Native American
During the standards roll out that took place Fall of 2019, all-day workshops were held related to teaching of Maine Native Americans. Check out this page for a collection of videos of the speakers as well as their presentations.
Learn More about Maine Native American StudiesPersonal Finance - Coming Soon
During the standards roll out that took place Fall of 2019, all-day workshops were held related to teaching of Personal Finance. Check out this page for a collection of videos of the speakers as well as their presentations.
Learn More about Personal FinanceStandards Overview - Coming Soon
During the standards roll out that took place Fall of 2019, all-day workshops were held related to teaching of revised Maine Learning Results for Social Studies. Check out this page for a collection of videos and presentations from the day.
Learn More about the Standards OverviewVoices from the Standards Revision Writing Team
Strengthening the teaching of Maine Native Americans
During the revision process, effort was given to strengthen the teaching of Maine Native Americans. There is a Maine Department of Education resource page related to teaching about Maine Native Americans. You can learn more about the work that was done in the video below:
Emphasizing the role of Personal Finance
During the revision process, effort was given to emphasize the role of teaching Personal Finance. In order to support teachers and districts in teaching about Personal Finance, the Maine Department of Education in partnership with the Maine Jump$tart Coalition, has created a financial education resource, titled the Maine Financial Literacy Framework & Resource Guide. The Maine Department of Education also maintains a web page devoted to resources and organizations that support the teaching of financial literacy. You can learn more about the work that was done in the video below:
What to "Look For" in Quality Social Studies Instruction
Supporting Materials Specific to Social Studies
- Social Studies Major Enduring Themes (PDF, 136KB). Framework options for school systems.
- National Social Studies Standards & Frameworks. Links to information and standards documents developed by national disciplinary organizations. The Maine Department of Education does not endorse these standards and frameworks, however, this compiled list of resources is provided for educators' consideration.
- Maine Learning Results for Social Studies - 2007 Version