MONTANA STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES
Social studies is an integrated study of the social sciences and humanities designed to foster citizenship
in an interdependent world. Social studies provides coordinated, systematic study of such disciplines as
economics, history, geography, government, sociology, anthropology, psychology and elements of the humanities.
Social studies addresses political, economic, geographic, and social processes that allow students
to make informed decisions for personal and public good.
Social studies develops the knowledge, skills, and processes necessary to understand historical and
present day connections among diverse individuals and groups. A study of Montana’s rich past and geographic
diversity includes the distinct cultural heritage and contemporary perspectives of Montana’s American
Indians and other cultural groups.
Content Standards indicate what all students should know, understand and be able to do in a specific content area.
Benchmarks define our expectations for students’ knowledge, skills and abilities along a developmental continuum in
each content area.
That continuum is focused at three points—at the end of grade 4, the end of grade 8, and grade 12.
Content Standard 1—Students access, synthesize, and evaluate information to communicate
and apply social studies knowledge to real world situations.
Content Standard 2—Students analyze how people create and change structures of power,
authority, and governance to understand the operation of government and to demonstrate
civic responsibility.
Content Standard 3—Students apply geographic knowledge and skills (e.g., location,
place, human/environment interactions, movement, and regions).
Content Standard 4—Students demonstrate an understanding of the effects of time,
continuity, and change on historical and future perspectives and relationships.
Content Standard 5—Students make informed decisions based on an understanding of
the economic principles of production, distribution, exchange, and consumption.
Content Standard 6—Students demonstrate an understanding of the impact of human
interaction and cultural diversity on societies.
