The State Education Department 
      The University of the State of New York 
                 
                            
                     New York State 
                                K-8 
             Social Studies Framework 
                                    
                                                                           
         Revised February 2017 
     Contents 
     Grades K – 4 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 
      Social Studies Practices: Vertical Articulation Grades K-4 ................................................................................................................ 4 
     Kindergarten ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 
      Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy............................................................................. 13 
       Reading Standards for Informational Text ................................................................................................................ 13 
       Writing Standards ...................................................................................................................................................... 13 
       Speaking and Listening Standards ............................................................................................................................. 13 
      Kindergarten: Social Studies Practices .................................................................................................................................................... 15 
      Grade K: Self and Others ............................................................................................................................................................................. 16 
     Grade 1 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 
      Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy............................................................................. 20 
       Reading Standards for Informational Text ................................................................................................................ 20 
       Writing Standards ...................................................................................................................................................... 20 
       Speaking and Listening Standards ............................................................................................................................. 21 
      Grade 1:  Social Studies Practices ............................................................................................................................................................. 22 
      Grade 1: My Family and Other Families, Now and Long Ago ....................................................................................................... 23 
     Grade 2 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 
      Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy............................................................................. 28 
       Reading Standards for Informational Text ................................................................................................................ 28 
       Writing Standards ...................................................................................................................................................... 28 
       Speaking and Listening Standards ............................................................................................................................. 28 
      Grade 2:  Social Studies Practices ............................................................................................................................................................. 30 
      Grade 2:  My Community and Other Communities ............................................................................................................................ 32 
     Grade 3 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36 
      Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy............................................................................. 37 
       Reading Standards for Informational Text ................................................................................................................ 37 
       Writing Standards ...................................................................................................................................................... 37 
       Speaking and Listening Standards ............................................................................................................................. 38
                                                            
      Grade 3:  Social Studies Practices ............................................................................................................................................................. 39 
      Grade 3: Communities around the World ............................................................................................................................................... 41 
     Grade 4 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 45 
      Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy............................................................................. 46 
       Reading Standards for Informational Text ................................................................................................................ 46 
     Grades K-8                                   Page 1 
      
                           Writing Standards ...................................................................................................................................................... 46 
                           Speaking and Listening Standards ............................................................................................................................. 47 
                       Grade 4:  Social Studies Practices ............................................................................................................................................................. 49 
                       Grade 4: Unifying Themes Aligned to Key Ideas ................................................................................................................................ 51 
                       Grade 4:  New York State and Local History and Government ...................................................................................................... 52 
                   Grades 5-8 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 58 
                       Common Core Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies .................................................................................. 59 
                       Common Core Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects ................... 59 
                       Common Core Standards for Speaking and Listening ........................................................................................................................ 61 
                       Vertical Articulation and Progression of Social Studies Practices Grades 5-8 ........................................................................... 62 
                   Grade 5 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 70 
                       Grade 5:  Social Studies Practices ............................................................................................................................................................. 71 
                       Grade 5: Unifying Themes Aligned to Key Ideas ................................................................................................................................ 73 
                       Grade 5: The Western Hemisphere ........................................................................................................................................................... 74 
                   Grade 6 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 78 
                       Grade 6:  Social Studies Practices ............................................................................................................................................................. 79 
                       Grade 6: Unifying Themes Aligned to Key Ideas ................................................................................................................................ 81 
                       Grade 6: The Eastern Hemisphere ............................................................................................................................................................ 82 
                   Grades 7 and 8: History of the United States and New York State ..................................................................................................... 87 
                   Grade 7 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 88 
                       Grade 7:  Social Studies Practices ............................................................................................................................................................. 89 
                       Grade 7: Unifying Themes Aligned to Key Ideas ................................................................................................................................ 91 
                       Grade 7 History of the United States and New York State I ............................................................................................................ 92 
                   Grade 8 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 99 
                       Grade 8:  Social Studies Practices .......................................................................................................................................................... 100 
                       Grade 8: Unifying Themes Aligned to Key Ideas ............................................................................................................................. 102 
                       Grade 8 History of the United States and New York State II ........................................................................................................ 103 
                                                                                                                                                                                        
                   Grades K-8                                                                                                                                                                      Page 2 
                    
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
     Grades K – 4                
     Grades K-8                                   Page 3