BPS District Social Studies Standards Book

6-8 Grade Level

BPS-S SST Logo glossary iconMS Standards
"I can ... statements"
BPS-S SST-Civics Logo BPS-S SST-Civics Logo BPS-S SST-Geography Logo
BPS-S SST-History Logo BPS-S SST-History Logo BPS-S SST-History Logo

Grade Band 6-12 logoA high-quality Social Studies program is essential for all students. It provides a foundation for intelligent and precise thinking. Social Studies should also prepare every student to contribute to society as an informed citizen. To be a responsible and productive member of today’s society, a student needs to have a broad, connected, and useful knowledge of Social Studies.

6TH GradeWith Glossary Icon6th Grade Standards, your child will be studying about the western civilizations. 

7th GradeWith Glossary Icon7th Grade Standards, your child will be studying about North Dakota.

8th GradeWith Glossary Icon8th Grade Standards, your child will be studying about America's past and ND Studies.


SST-MS.C Civics Domain

SST-MS.C.01 Explain the historical and philosophical foundations of government.
SST-MS.C.02 Analyze the structures and functions of governments.
SST-MS.C.03 Describe the rights and liberties of individuals.
SST-MS.C.04 Investigate the role and responsibilities of citizenship in society.

SST-MS.E Economics Domain

SST-MS.E.01 Analyze the concept of scarcity when making economic decisions.
SST-MS.E.02 Compare and contrast how varying economic systems impact a nation and its citizens.
SST-MS.E.03 Analyze how supply and demand impact the allocation of goods and services.
SST-MS.E.04 Analyze the various institutions that drive and support the market economy.
SST-MS.E.05 Evaluate the various macroeconomic measurements available to determine an economy’s size and strength.
SST-MS.E.06 Analyze how globalization has impacted various aspects of economies around the world.
SST-MS.E.07 Evaluate the elements of responsible personal finance.


SST-MS.G Geography Domain

SST-MS.G.01 Describe the physical processes that shape the Earth’s surface and how these affect the lives of people who live there.
SST-MS.G.02 Analyze the movement of people, goods, ideas, technology, etc. throughout the world.
SST-MS.G.03 Analyze the unifying physical and human characteristics of a region and their formal and informal boundaries.
SST-MS.G.04 Use geographic tools to locate both the absolute and relative location of places and regions around the world.
SST-MS.G.05 Analyze how human beings are dependent upon, adapt to, and modify their environment to meet their needs.

SST-06.WH World History

SST-06.WH_a (A) Domain: World History Anchor Standards
  • SST-06.WH_a.01 - Analyze historical achievements related to science and technology.
  • SST-06.WH_a.02 - Explain historical changes related to religions and ideologies.
  • SST-06.WH_a.03 - Analyze the effects of different political systems on people.
  • SST-06.WH_a.04 - Analyze the influence of social, cultural, and economic developments on individuals.
  • SST-06.WH_a.05 - Analyze causes and effects of global events in the past using primary and/or secondary sources.
  • SST-06.WH_a.06 - Explain how past events connect to the present.
SST-06.WH_e1.b Era 1: Emergence of Civilizations and Religions Around the Globe
  • SST-06.WH_e1.b1 Explain multiple achievements of civilizations and connect them to the present.
  • SST-06.WH_e1.b2 Describe the belief systems or religions of early civilizations.
  • SST-06.WH_e1.b3 Explain the impact of the development of agriculture on the social, cultural, and economic lives of individuals.
  • SST-06.WH_e1.b4 Explain how political systems impacted the people in Greece and Rome and how those political systems connect to the present
SST-06.WH_e2.b Era 2: Middle Ages and the Renaissance
  • SST-06.WH_e2.b1 Explain the causes and effects of Medieval social structures using primary and secondary sources.
  • SST-06.WH_e2.b2 Explain how the relationship between religious and political bodies impacted the social, cultural, or economic developments of individuals.
  • SST-06.WH_e2.b3 Explain the emergence of cultural interaction between Europe and other civilizations.

SST-08.US United States History

SST-08.US_a US History Anchor Domain
  • SST-08.US_a.01 Analyze primary and secondary sources with attention to reliability, impact, and purpose.
  • SST-08.US_a.02 Examine the impact of multiple perspectives on social, political, and cultural development.
  • SST-08.US_a.03 Explain the relationship of events focusing on the link(s) between cause and effect.
  • SST-08.US_a.04 Compare how historical elements change over time.
  • SST-08.US_a.05 Analyze the significant contributions of people and policy, and the influence on an era.
  • SST-08.US_a.06 Connect the past to the present using current events.
SST-08.US_e1.b (1754-1814) Era 1: Creation and Foundation of United States Government.
  • SST-08.US_e1.b1 - Explain the social, political, and cultural causes and immediate consequences of the American Revolution.
  • SST-08.US_e1.b2 - Explain the development of early United States government.
  • SST-08.US_e1.b3 - Explain the development of United States society after the American Revolution.
  • SST-08.US_e1.b4 - Explain the importance of foreign and domestic decisions of the early United States government, its leaders, and political parties.
SST-08.US_e2.b (1814-1877) Era 2: Growth and Division in the Union.
  • SST-08.US_e2.b1 - Analyze the impacts of social, religious, and/or cultural movements.
  • SST-08.US_e2.b2 - Compare and contrast how the causes of the sectional divide within the United States impacted federal policy.
  • SST-08.US_e2.b3 - Explain how westward expansion affected the social, economic, and political landscape of the United States.
  • SST-08.US_e2.b4 - Explain the changing Native American federal policy and the impact on tribal sovereignty.
  • SST-08.US_e2.b5 - Explain the social, economic, and political causes and effects of the Civil War.
  • SST-08.US_e2.b6 - Explain the social, economic, and political effects of Reconstruction.
SST-08.US_e3.b (1877-1941) Era3:
  • SST-08.US_e3.b1 - Explain the causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution on American society.
  • SST-08.US_e3.b2 - Explain the social, cultural, and economic impact of local, state, and federal government policy on American people.
  • SST-08.US_e3.b3 - Explain the impact of the United States’ transformation into an imperialist power.
  • SST-08.US_e3.b4 - Explain the causes and effects of the United States’ entrance into World War I.
  • SST-08.US_e3.b5 - Explain the political, social and economic changes of the 1920s.
  • SST-08.US_e3.b6 - Explain the political, social and economic events of the 1930s.

SST-08.ND North Dakota History

SST-08.ND.01 Examine the physical and human geography of North Dakota and how it has changed.
  • SST-08.ND.01.1 Identify the three landscape regions of North Dakota and describe the major features of the regions and the forces that formed them.
  • SST-08.ND.01.2 Explain the human settlement patterns in North Dakota.
  • SST-08.ND.01.3 Interpret current thematic maps to identify where people live and work, and how land is used.
SST-08.ND.02 Explain the development and functions of North Dakota’s state and local governments, tribal governments and the role of citizens.
  • SST-08.ND.02.1 Describe the structure, role, and formation of tribal governments, both present and past, in North Dakota.
  • SST-08.ND.02.2 Describe the formation, structure, and modern role of the territorial, state, county, and local government of North Dakota.
  • SST-08.ND.02.3 Explain the impact of political organizations and individual citizens on the political systems and institutions of North Dakota.
SST-08.ND.03 Evaluate the major industries and economic activities in North Dakota.
  • SST-08.ND.03.1 Describe the early economic activities of our state prior to 1900 and how they developed into North Dakota's modern economy.
  • SST-08.ND.03.2 Identify the current economic activities in the state of North Dakota and evaluate their positive and negative impact.
SST-08.ND.04 Analyze the historical and current events and their impact on the development of North Dakota.
  • SST-08.ND.04.1 Identify the Native American groups in North Dakota before European contact and describe their culture.
  • SST-08.ND.04.2 Analyze European exploration and early settlement of North Dakota and its impact on Native American groups.
  • SST-08.ND.04.3 Describe the major factors that brought settlers to North Dakota.
  • SST-08.ND.04.4 Analyze the effect of government policy, both historical and modern, toward Native American groups in North Dakota.
  • SST-08.ND.04.5 Evaluate the growth and struggles of the modernization of North Dakota and the role the state has played in modern America.
  • SST-08.ND.04.6 Use various primary and secondary resources to acquire, analyze, and evaluate information.