The major focus of social studies instruction in the twelfth grade is to provide students with the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they have gained in grades pre-K through 11. The students will participate in projects that will provide them the opportunity to conduct academic research and to utilize the results of this research in considering solutions to real problems or issues. As participatory citizens, they will attempt to get their solutions implemented.

Objectives which correlate to the learning outcomes of the Proficiency Tests are marked with the bold numbers 4, 6, 9, and/or 12 which denotes the grade level Proficiency Test which that objective supports. Some objectives may be marked with multiple numbers in that they are included in learning outcomes at multiple grade levels. Complete listing and correlation to the total learning outcomes may be found in the appendix.

1. Given an issue, the learner will demonstrate an ability to solve problems by being able to conduct research, develop alternative strategies, determine the strategy most likely to result in a successful resolution, communicate with appropriate people, act on the strategy determined to resolve the issue, and evaluate the impact of the strategy undertaken

2. Given an issue, the learner will demonstrate the ability to use knowledge and skills from appropriate social studies disciplines in researching and developing solutions to the issue

3. Given an issue, the learner will demonstrate an ability to consider various perspectives when researching and developing solutions to the issue

4. Given an issue, the learner will propose alternative solutions to problems associated with the issue

The learner will:

1. use appropriate resources to research antecedent developments to current issues

2. identify, analyze, and synthesize arguments, explanations, or interpretations of antecedent developments to current issues

3. hypothesize the influence of past decisions on current issues

Comments/Activities: Past developments often affect the range of options open in particular situations

4. project the consequences of different decisions based on past experiences

5. create explanations of how current issues originated and developed

The learner will:

1. consider the perspectives of various cultures when analyzing current issues

2. create alternative scenarios to determine the impact and reaction of various cultures to proposed solutions to current issues

3. justify proposed solutions to current issues from the perspectives of various cultural groups

The learner will:

1. consider the perspectives of other nations when analyzing current issues that have international implications

2. create alternative scenarios to determine the impact and reaction of various regions or nations to proposed solutions to current issues

3. justify proposed solutions to international problems by explaining how the solutions would be acceptable to the parties involved

The learner will:

1. relate scarcity and distribution of resources to current issues

2. create alternative scenarios pertaining to current issues to determine the impact of personal and social economic decisions on the allocation of resources

3. justify proposed solutions to current issues by considering the costs and benefits of the reallocation of resources

The learner will:

1. consider democratic principles when designing solutions to current issues

2. create alternative scenarios pertaining to current issues to determine the impact of proposed solutions on democratic principles

3. justify proposed solutions to current issues by explaining how they adhere to democratic principles.

The learner will:

1. consider the importance of registering to vote and voting in a democratic society

 2. work as an individual or as part of a group on a significant issue

A. identify the issue to be addressed

B. research the issue utilizing the methods of social studies disciplines

C. plan a strategy and possibly develop alternative strategies for addressing the issue and determine which strategy will be utilized

D. identify significant people that are part of the issue or may impact the issue and communicate with them according to the strategy developed

E. act on the strategy

F. assess the impact of the strategy based on the results of the actions taken

3. participate in a project designed to serve the community

Comments/Activities: This project may be associated with the issue study in Objective 2 or it may be a project independent of that effort.