CORE Social Studies and Fine Arts
Resource Guide
Page 1 of 4
How do I use this document?
This document combines the Social Studies and Fine Arts checklist with related study resources. The hyperlinks for each
resource will launch you to a variety of scholarly and research quality articles; academic blogs; digital presentations;
digital flashcards, videos, and so forth. As you prepare to take the Pearson exam, you should be able to check off the
majority of the listed standards and have a working knowledge of the vocabulary, concepts, and processes detailed in
each one. The resources is not an exhaustive list – you are encouraged to go beyond the resources provided in this
document in order to target and strengthen areas of needed study.
Domain VIII – Social Studies
0006
Social Studies (Standard 6)
Standard 6: Social Studies Content and Concepts
I can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts and processes of social studies and
can provide content-specific instruction in Social Studies, including:

I am able to define the main purposes and intended outcomes related to the integration of social studies in the
elementary education classroom.
 NCSS: Powerful and Purposeful Teaching and Learning in Elementary School Social Studies
 NCSS: Social Studies for Early Childhood and Elementary School Children: Preparing for the 21st Century

I recognize the major concepts and processes related to social studies inquiry.
 I can apply and teach chronological thinking skills as they are related to social studies.
o
National Center for History in Schools (PDF - page 1)
o
Pennsbury: Best Practices of Teaching Social Studies Overview
o
Teaching History: Historical Thinking Blog
 I possess and can teach the skills related to spatial thinking.
o
National Geographic: Spatial Thinking in Grades K-6
o
Visual and Spatial Thinking Across All Content Categories

I have knowledge of the major events, developments, and perspectives in Indiana and US history.
 I understand how these developments are relevant to current times.
o
History.com: Indiana – Interesting Historical Facts
o
Indiana Historical Society: Fun Historical Facts
o
Indiana Historical Society: Industrial Age
o
Conner Prairie: The Lives of Women
o
Conner Prairie: Travel and Transportation
o
Conner Prairie: Politics of the 1870s and 1880s
o
The Columbian Exchange

Plants

Technology

Disease

Animals

I have knowledge of the major events, developments, and perspectives in the development of world
civilization.
 I am familiar with the development of the major world religions.
o
Origin of Major Religions
 I can identify the consequences of global exploration, expansion of territories, and colonization.
CORE Social Studies and Fine Arts
Resource Guide
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Standard 6: Social Studies Content and Concepts
I can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts and processes of social studies and
can provide content-specific instruction in Social Studies, including:

I understand the main purpose of government and its processes.
 I understand the concept of democratic citizenship and civic responsibility.
o
Teaching Citizenship to Children
o
The Concept of Citizenship in Education for Democracy
 I understand the structure of US government.
o
Branches of Government
 I understand the structure of Indiana government.
o
Structure of Indiana government

I recognize the processes of geography.
 National Geographic: The Physical Processes that Shape the Patterns of Earth’s Surface
 I can identify and describe the characteristics of physical systems designed by humans and those
designed by nature.
o
Human and Physical Geography
o
Human Impact
o
National Geographic: How Physical Systems Affect Human Systems
 I understand the interactions between natural and human systems.

I have knowledge of the concepts and theories that are applied in economics.
 Four Types of Economics Systems Explained
 Scholastics: Economy for Kids
 I can define the basic principles of a market economy.
o
Basic Principles of Economics
 I can apply what I know about market economies and how they relate to historical and contemporary
issues.
o
Free Markets: What’s the Cost?
o
10 Significant Pros and Cons of the Market Economy
o
Crash Course: Capitalism and Socialism (video)

I can apply the principles and strategies of inquiry in social studies.
 Inquiry-Based Learning in a Literacy and Social Studies Classroom
 I can identify resources and the tools used in social studies inquiry.
o
Social Studies Inquiry Toolkit

I am able to analyze central ideas, assumptions, and questions related to social studies resources.
 I can identify and appreciate multiple perspectives.

I have a working knowledge of the Indiana Academic Standards and Core Standards for Social Studies.
 I can apply and utilize these standards and related resources during the instruction of social studies.
o
Indiana Academic Standards for Social Studies
 I understand the general progression of skills and concepts by grade level, from K-6 grades.

I understand how to plan for and deliver evidenced-based instructional strategies that foster student
understanding and mastery of social studies concepts.
 I recognize that students to develop critical-thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
 I recognize that students need to develop skills that include:
o
Reading of maps, globes, charts, graphs, etc.
o
Understanding locational and directional terms
o
Researching (collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data)
o
Critical Thinking (hypothesizing, making comparisons, inferring meaning, and drawing conclusions)
CORE Social Studies and Fine Arts
Resource Guide
Page 3 of 4
Standard 6: Social Studies Content and Concepts
I can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts and processes of social studies and
can provide content-specific instruction in Social Studies, including:

I have the skills needed to assess student learning and mastery of social studies content.
 I am familiar with the multiple categories of assessments and know how and when each is used.
o
Edudemic: A Teacher’s Guide to Assessment
 I understand how to utilize on-going assessment and progress monitoring to inform my instruction.

I understand RtI (Response to Intervention) procedures.
 Response to Intervention: A Tiered Approach to Instructing All Students
Domain IX – Fine Arts
0007
Fine Arts (Standard 7)
Standard 7: Fine Arts
I can demonstrate knowledge of the concepts and processes related to the Fine Arts and provide content-specific
instruction, including:

I understand the foundational development of the fine arts in education.
 I can identify how skills related to the fine arts influence academic, cognitive, and social skills.
o
How Arts Training Improves Attention and Cognition
o
Arts and Smarts
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How the Arts Develop the Young Brain

I understand the basic skills and processes utilized for the creation, refining, and presentation of works of art in
all genres.
o
Learning to Look at Art
 I can integrate these skills and processes with other content-related learning experiences.
o
How Integrating Arts Into Other Subjects Makes Learning Come Alive
o
Use Arts Integration to Enhance Common Core
o
What is Integrated Curriculum?

I can identify the principles and skills related the viewing, analyzing, and responding to the fine arts and how
they represent cultural perspectives.

I recognize that the art forms represent communication as well as expressions of self and society.

I understand the role of the fine arts in cultures worldwide, that each form of art whether dance, music,
theater, or visual, reflects a cultural perspective.
o
The Importance of Fine Arts Education
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The Necessary Role of Arts in Education and Society
o
The Role of the Visual Arts in Enhancing the Learning Process
o
The Role of Art in Society

I can recognize the connections between the fine arts and other disciplines.
o
Visual Art
o
Making Connections Between Arts and Other Disciplines

I have a working knowledge of the Indiana Academic Standards for Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Art
 I can apply and utilize these standards and related resources during the instruction of fine arts as they
are related to creative-thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, and performance skills.
o
Indiana Academic Standards for Fine Arts
 I understand the general progression of skills and concepts by grade level, from K-6 grades.
CORE Social Studies and Fine Arts
Resource Guide
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Standard 7: Fine Arts
I can demonstrate knowledge of the concepts and processes related to the Fine Arts and provide content-specific
instruction, including:

I have the skills needed to assess student learning and mastery of fine arts content.
 I am familiar with the multiple categories of assessments and know how and when each is used.
o
Edudemic: A Teacher’s Guide to Assessment
 I understand how to utilize on-going assessment and progress monitoring to inform my instruction.
o
National Center on Student Progress Monitoring

I understand RtI (Response to Intervention) procedures.
o
RtI Action Network