YourStateStandards

Kentucky K–6 social studies standards

Kentucky writes its own social studies standards. They are published as Kentucky Academic Standards: Social Studies, adopted 2022 and are not a version of a national framework. 171 of 235 are matched to a national standard.

Framework
Kentucky Academic Standards: Social Studies
Adopted
2022
Source last checked
July 24, 2026
Read the official document

235 standards, kindergarten through 6th grade

  • K.C.CP.1K

    Explain the purpose of local government.

  • K.C.CV.1K

    Explain ways people can work together effectively to make decisions.

  • K.C.KGO.1K

    Identify leaders in the local community, and explain their roles and responsibilities.

  • K.C.KGO.2K

    Identify local and Kentucky state symbols and events.

  • K.C.PR.1K

    Identify examples of rules that apply in the school and community, and explain why they exist.

  • K.C.PR.2K

    Describe consequences of following or not following rules.

  • K.C.RR.1K

    Identify roles and responsibilities of self and others at home, in school and neighborhood settings.

  • K.C.RR.2K

    Identify symbols and events that represent American patriotism.

  • K.E.IC.1K

    Differentiate between needs and wants.

  • K.E.KE.1K

    Explain how various jobs affect communities.

  • K.E.MA.1K

    Identify places in communities that provide goods and services.

  • K.E.MI.1K

    Describe why people purchase goods and services.

  • K.E.ST.1K

    Demonstrate ways trade can be used to obtain goods and services.

  • K.G.GR.1K

    Create maps of familiar areas, such as the classroom, school and community.

  • K.G.HE.1K

    Identify ways humans interact with their environment.

  • K.G.HI.1K

    Identify and describe the culture of communities.

  • K.G.KGE.1K

    Identify physical and environmental characteristics of communities.

  • K.G.MM.1K

    Identify why and how people and goods move to and within communities.

  • K.H.CE.1K

    Identify the cause and effect of an event in a community.

  • K.H.CH.1K

    Identify and describe how communities change over time.

  • K.H.CH.2K

    Compare traditions found in communities over time, including those from diverse backgrounds.

  • K.H.CO.1K

    Describe interactions that occur between individuals/groups in families, classrooms and communities.

  • K.H.KH.1K

    Compare life in the past to life today in communities.

  • K.I.CC.1K

    Construct an explanation about their community's civic life, history, geography and/or economy.

  • K.I.CC.2K

    Construct an argument to address a problem in the classroom or school.

  • K.I.CC.3K

    Identify ways to civically engage at school.

  • K.I.CC.4K

    Use listening skills to decide on and take action in their classrooms.

  • K.I.Q.1K

    Ask compelling questions about their community.

  • K.I.UE.1K

    Identify information from two or more sources to investigate characteristics of a community.

  • K.I.UE.2K

    Construct responses to compelling questions about oneself and one's community.

  • 1.C.CP.11

    Describe the purpose of Kentucky government.

  • 1.C.CV.11

    Describe basic democratic principles.

  • 1.C.CV.21

    Describe civic virtues.

  • 1.C.KGO.11

    Identify Kentucky leaders, and explain their roles and responsibilities.

  • 1.C.KGO.21

    Investigate how civic identity is shaped by symbolic figures, places and events.

  • 1.C.PR.11

    Investigate rules and laws in Kentucky to understand their purpose.

  • 1.C.RR.11

    Identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

  • 1.E.IC.11

    Predict a person's change in behavior in response to incentives and opportunity costs.

  • 1.E.IC.21

    Explain how choices are made as a result of scarcity.

  • 1.E.KE.11

    Identify and describe what goods and services are produced in different places and regions in Kentucky.

  • 1.E.MA.11

    Describe how different jobs, as well as public and private institutions, help people in the community.

  • 1.E.MI.11

    Differentiate between buyers (consumers) and sellers (producers).

  • 1.E.MI.21

    Give an example of a cost or benefit of an event.

  • 1.E.ST.11

    Explain why the goods and services people in a community produce are traded with those produced in other communities.

  • 1.E.ST.21

    Investigate how people can benefit themselves and others by developing special skills, strengths and goods.

  • 1.G.GR.11

    Create geographic representations to identify the location of familiar places, and organize information regarding familiar places at different scales.

  • 1.G.HE.11

    Describe ways people modify their environment.

  • 1.G.HI.11

    Describe how culture and experience influence the cultural landscape of places and regions within their community and state.

  • 1.G.KGE.11

    Compare the physical and human characteristics of communities in Kentucky.

  • 1.G.MM.11

    Explain why and how people and goods move to and within communities.

  • 1.H.CE.11

    Predict the causes and effects of events in their community and state.

  • 1.H.CH.11

    Describe how events, people and innovation of the past affect their present lives, community and state.

  • 1.H.CO.11

    Describe interactions that occur between individuals as members of groups, the community and/or state.

  • 1.H.KH.11

    Compare life in Kentucky in the past to life in Kentucky today.

  • 1.H.KH.21

    Identify Kentucky symbols, songs and traditions.

  • 1.I.CC.11

    Construct an explanation about a specific community in Kentucky.

  • 1.I.CC.21

    Construct an argument with reasons to address how to improve the local community and Kentucky.

  • 1.I.CC.31

    Identify ways to civically engage in the local community.

  • 1.I.CC.41

    Use listening and voting procedures to decide on and take action in their school, local community or Kentucky.

  • 1.I.Q.11

    Ask compelling questions about communities in Kentucky.

  • 1.I.Q.21

    Identify supporting questions to investigate compelling questions about communities in Kentucky.

  • 1.I.UE.11

    Identify information from two or more sources to describe multiple perspectives about communities in Kentucky.

  • 1.I.UE.21

    Construct responses to compelling and supporting questions about communities in Kentucky.

  • 2.C.CP.12

    Explain the need for civic and political structures in North America.

  • 2.C.CP.22

    Explain that the functions of effective government are to create order, establish justice and meet the needs of their citizens.

  • 2.C.CV.12

    Evaluate how civic virtues guide governments, societies and communities.

  • 2.C.CV.22

    Evaluate how democratic principles guide governments, societies and communities.

  • 2.C.KGO.12

    Describe how Kentucky's laws change over time.

  • 2.C.PR.12

    Describe how societies changed and continue to change through processes, rules and laws in North America.

  • 2.C.RR.12

    Describe the importance of civic participation.

  • 2.C.RR.22

    Compare the rights and responsibilities of citizens in North America.

  • 2.E.IC.12

    Categorize different limited resources as renewable and non-renewable resources.

  • 2.E.KE.12

    Provide examples of each of the factors of production in Kentucky.

  • 2.E.MA.12

    Identify the cost of everyday, common goods.

  • 2.E.MA.22

    Explain the role of prices in an economic market.

  • 2.E.MI.12

    Describe how examples of capital, human, and natural resources are related to goods and services.

  • 2.E.MI.22

    Describe how people are both producers and consumers.

  • 2.E.ST.12

    Explain why people specialize in the production of goods and services.

  • 2.G.GR.12

    Examine geographic features of places in North America, using a variety of geographic data, including maps, photos and other geographic tools.

  • 2.G.HE.12

    Explain the ways human activities impact the physical environment of North America.

  • 2.G.HI.12

    Compare the ways various cultural groups connect and interact within North America.

  • 2.G.KGE.12

    Analyze reasons for similarities and differences in the settlement patterns of North America and Kentucky.

  • 2.G.MM.12

    Explain patterns of human settlement in North America.

  • 2.H.CE.12

    Describe events in North America shaped by multiple cause and effect relationships.

  • 2.H.CE.22

    Describe the events and innovations that had effects on North America.

  • 2.H.CH.12

    Identify and compare the diverse North American cultural groups of the past and today.

  • 2.H.CO.12

    Describe events in North America that illustrate how people from diverse cultural groups attempted to work through conflicts to solve a problem.

  • 2.H.KH.12

    Explain how events in North America impacted Kentucky.

  • 2.I.CC.12

    Construct an explanation, using correct sequence and relevant information, to provide information on a community in North America.

  • 2.I.CC.22

    Construct an argument with reasons and details to address a civic issue on a community in North America.

  • 2.I.CC.32

    Identify ways to civically engage in Kentucky.

  • 2.I.CC.42

    Use listening and consensus-building procedures to discuss how to take action in the local community or Kentucky.

  • 2.I.Q.12

    Ask compelling questions about communities found in North America.

  • 2.I.Q.22

    Identify supporting questions that help answer compelling questions about communities found in North America.

  • 2.I.UE.12

    Identify characteristics of primary and secondary sources.

  • 2.I.UE.22

    Determine whether the evidence in primary and secondary sources is fact or opinion.

  • 2.I.UE.32

    Identify a primary and secondary source, and explain who created it, when they created it, where they created it and why they created it.

  • 2.I.UE.42

    Construct responses to compelling and supporting questions, using reasoning, examples and details, about the diversity of communities in North America.

  • 3.C.CP.13

    Explain the basic purposes and functions of differing governing bodies in the world.

  • 3.C.CP.23

    Compare how diverse societies govern themselves.

  • 3.C.CV.13

    Compare civic virtues and democratic principles within a variety of diverse world communities.

  • 3.C.PR.13

    Explain how processes, rules and laws influence how individuals are governed and how diverse world communities address problems.

  • 3.C.RR.13

    Examine how the government maintains order, keeps people safe, and makes and enforces rules and laws in diverse world communities.

  • 3.E.IC.13

    Explain how people use incentives and opportunity costs to inform economic decisions.

  • 3.E.KE.13

    Explain how trade between people and groups can benefit Kentucky.

  • 3.E.MA.13

    Differentiate between private property and public property.

  • 3.E.MA.23

    Investigate how the cost of things changes over time.

  • 3.E.MI.13

    Explain how producers and consumers interact to determine the prices of goods and services in markets.

  • 3.E.MI.23

    Describe the relationship between supply and demand.

  • 3.E.ST.13

    Describe examples of economic interdependence.

  • 3.G.GR.13

    Explain how physical and cultural characteristics of world regions affect people, using a variety of maps, photos and other geographic representations.

  • 3.G.HE.13

    Explain how the culture of places and regions influence how people modify and adapt to their environments.

  • 3.G.HI.13

    Explain how the cultural aspects of a region spread beyond its borders.

  • 3.G.KGE.13

    Describe the impact of cultural diffusion and blending on Kentucky in the past and today.

  • 3.G.MM.13

    Analyze how human settlement and movement impact diverse groups of people.

  • 3.H.CE.13

    Compare diverse world communities in terms of members, customs and traditions to the local community.

  • 3.H.CH.13

    Create and use chronological reasoning to learn about significant figures, traditions and events of diverse world communities.

  • 3.H.CH.23

    Identify contributions made by inventors in diverse world communities.

  • 3.H.CO.13

    Evaluate the effects of people, goods and ideas that diffused from one world community into other world communities and the effects of the people, goods and ideas on these communities.

  • 3.H.KH.13

    Explain how world events impact Kentucky, both in the past and today.

  • 3.I.CC.13

    Construct an explanation, using relevant information, to address a local, regional or global problem.

  • 3.I.CC.23

    Construct an argument with reasons and supporting evidence to address a local, regional or global problem.

  • 3.I.CC.33

    Identify strategies to address local, regional or global problems.

  • 3.I.CC.43

    Use listening, consensus-building and voting procedures to determine the best strategies to take to address local, regional and global problems.

  • 3.I.Q.13

    Ask compelling questions about the interactions of diverse groups of people.

  • 3.I.Q.23

    Develop supporting questions that help answer compelling questions about the interactions of diverse groups of people.

  • 3.I.UE.13

    Describe how multiple perspectives shape the content and style of a primary and secondary source.

  • 3.I.UE.23

    Explain the relationship between two or more sources on the same theme or topic.

  • 3.I.UE.33

    Construct responses to compelling and supporting questions about the interactions of diverse groups of people using evidence and reasoning.

  • 4.C.CP.14

    Describe diverse forms of self-government used by various groups in Colonial America.

  • 4.C.CP.24

    Compare the political form of monarchy with the self-governing system developed in Colonial America.

  • 4.C.CV.14

    Assess the ability of various forms of government to foster civic virtues and uphold democratic principles.

  • 4.C.KGO.14

    Explain how the development of rules improves communities and attempts to meet the needs of citizens.

  • 4.C.PR.14

    Describe the processes people use to change rules and laws.

  • 4.C.RR.14

    Describe the importance of civic participation, and locate examples in past and current events.

  • 4.E.IC.14

    Describe and evaluate the relationship between resource availability, opportunity costs, migration and settlement.

  • 4.E.KE.14

    Predict how producers in colonial Kentucky used the factors of production to make goods, deliver services and earn profits.

  • 4.E.MA.14

    Compare and contrast different ways that the government interacts with the economy.

  • 4.E.MI.14

    Explain the role of producers, consumers, products and labor in economic markets.

  • 4.E.MI.24

    Investigate the relationship between supply and demand.

  • 4.E.ST.14

    Explain how trade leads to increasing economic interdependence.

  • 4.G.GR.14

    Analyze how location and regional landforms affect human settlement, movement and use of various national resources, using maps, photos and other geographic representations.

  • 4.G.HE.14

    Analyze how geographic features created challenges and opportunities for the development of Colonial America.

  • 4.G.HI.14

    Explain how cultural, economic and environmental characteristics affect the interactions of people, goods and ideas from European Exploration to the Thirteen Colonies.

  • 4.G.KGE.14

    Compare how the movement of people, goods and ideas in Colonial America and modern Kentucky were affected by technology.

  • 4.G.MM.14

    Compare the distinctive cultural characteristics of groups that immigrated or were brought forcibly to the United States from other nations from European Exploration to the Thirteen Colonies.

  • 4.H.CE.14

    Utilize chronological sequences of events to explain causes and effects of historical developments from European Exploration to the Thirteen Colonies.

  • 4.H.CH.14

    Describe how migration and settlement impacted diverse groups of people as they encountered one another from European Exploration to the Thirteen Colonies.

  • 4.H.CH.24

    Describe the impact innovation and human ingenuity had on the development of the United States from European Exploration to the Thirteen Colonies.

  • 4.H.CO.14

    Explain examples of conflict and collaboration among various groups of people from European Exploration to the Thirteen Colonies as they encountered one another.

  • 4.H.KH.14

    Identify and describe the significance of diverse groups of people in Kentucky from European Exploration to the Thirteen Colonies.

  • 4.I.CC.14

    Construct an explanation, using reasoning and relevant information, to examine the causes and effects of an issue around migration and settlement.

  • 4.I.CC.24

    Construct an argument with reasons and supporting evidence on the challenges and opportunities people face when transitioning to a new community.

  • 4.I.CC.34

    Describe different strategies that can be taken to address issues of migration and settlement.

  • 4.I.CC.44

    Use listening and consensus-building to determine ways to support people in transitioning to a new community.

  • 4.I.Q.14

    Ask compelling questions about migration and settlement.

  • 4.I.Q.24

    Develop supporting questions to answer compelling questions about migration and settlement.

  • 4.I.UE.14

    Integrate evidence from two or more sources to answer compelling and supporting questions.

  • 4.I.UE.24

    Determine the value and limitations of primary and secondary sources.

  • 4.I.UE.34

    Develop claims with evidence to answer compelling and supporting questions.

  • 5.C.CP.15

    Analyze the development and establishment of the U.S. federal government.

  • 5.C.CP.25

    Analyze the structure of the U.S. government, including separation of power and its system of checks and balances.

  • 5.C.CP.35

    Describe how the Constitution of the United States upholds popular sovereignty, ensures rule of law and establishes a federal system.

  • 5.C.CV.15

    Describe the democratic principles of equality before the law, inalienable rights, consent of the governed and right to alter or abolish the government.

  • 5.C.KGO.15

    Explain the roles and responsibilities of a Kentucky citizen.

  • 5.C.PR.15

    Evaluate whether various rules and laws promote the general welfare, using historical and contemporary examples.

  • 5.C.RR.15

    Analyze responsibilities of U.S. citizens by explaining and demonstrating ways to show good citizenship.

  • 5.C.RR.25

    Analyze the personal rights conferred by citizenship, and find examples of citizenship, using a variety of sources.

  • 5.E.IC.15

    Analyze how incentives and opportunity costs impact decision making, using examples from history.

  • 5.E.KE.15

    Analyze how incentives and opportunity costs impact decision making, using examples from Kentucky history.

  • 5.E.MA.15

    Describe why the government collects taxes and what goods and services it provides society.

  • 5.E.MA.25

    Explain how the United States developed into a market economy.

  • 5.E.MI.15

    Explain the relationship between supply and demand.

  • 5.E.ST.15

    Explain how specialization, comparative advantage and competition influence the production and exchange of goods and services in an interdependent economy.

  • 5.G.GR.15

    Use a variety of maps, satellite images and other models to explain the relationships between the location of places and regions and their human and environmental characteristics.

  • 5.G.HE.15

    Explain how cultural and environmental changes impact population distribution and influence how people modify and adapt to their environments.

  • 5.G.HI.15

    Describe the traditions diverse cultural groups brought with them when they moved to and within the United States.

  • 5.G.HI.25

    Analyze how and why cultural characteristics diffuse and blend with migration and settlement.

  • 5.G.KGE.15

    Compare the lives of Kentucky settlers to those living in other areas during the early years of the United States.

  • 5.G.MM.15

    Analyze how cultural, economic and environmental factors encouraged and restricted the movement of people, ideas and goods to and within the United States.

  • 5.H.CE.15

    Analyze the causes of the American Revolution and the effects individuals and groups had on the conflict.

  • 5.H.CE.25

    Analyze the role religion played in early colonial society.

  • 5.H.CE.35

    Describe the social and economic impact of the slave trade on diverse groups.

  • 5.H.CH.15

    Describe the impact of fundamental documents on the development of the United States.

  • 5.H.CH.25

    Analyze the impact innovation and human ingenuity had on the development of the United States from Colonization to Constitution.

  • 5.H.CO.15

    Analyze the role conflict and collaboration played in the founding of the United States.

  • 5.H.KH.15

    Describe the role of Kentucky settlers in the American Revolution.

  • 5.I.CC.15

    Construct explanatory products, using reasoning, correct sequence, examples and details with relevant information and data, to convey the diverse perspectives that impacted the founding of the United States.

  • 5.I.CC.25

    Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources on how a founding principle(s) is applicable today.

  • 5.I.CC.35

    Explain different approaches people can take to address local, regional and global problems, using examples from U.S. history.

  • 5.I.CC.45

    Use a range of deliberative and democratic procedures to identify strategies on how to address a current issue.

  • 5.I.Q.15

    Ask compelling questions about the founding of the United States.

  • 5.I.Q.25

    Generate supporting questions to answer compelling questions about the founding of the United States.

  • 5.I.Q.35

    Identify the types of supporting questions each of the social studies disciplines uses to answer compelling and supporting questions.

  • 5.I.UE.15

    Use evidence to develop claims in response to compelling and supporting questions.

  • 5.I.UE.25

    Analyze primary and secondary sources on the same event or topic, noting key similarities and differences in the perspective they represent.

  • 5.I.UE.35

    Integrate evidence that draws information from multiple sources to answer compelling and supporting questions.

  • 6.C.CP.16

    Explain the origins, functions and structures of governments in River Valley Civilizations and Classical Empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.C.CP.26

    Explain connections between government and religion in River Valley Civilizations and Classical Empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.C.CP.36

    Describe the political institutions of monarchy, democracy, republic, empire and theocracy in River Valley Civilizations and Classical Empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.C.CV.16

    Analyze how historical, economic, geographic and cultural characteristics influence social and government structures in River Valley Civilizations and Classical Empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.C.PR.16

    Analyze the purposes and effects of laws in River Valley Civilizations and Classical Empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.C.RR.16

    Evaluate the rights, roles, responsibilities and limitations of the concept of citizen in Classical Greece and Rome.

  • 6.E.IC.16

    Analyze the economic choices of individuals, societies and governments.

  • 6.E.MA.16

    Describe how civilizations used bartering to establish mediums of exchange to meet their wants.

  • 6.E.MA.26

    Explain how market conditions and economic activity affected the growth of River Valley Civilizations and Classical Empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.E.MI.16

    Trace the chain of supply for a needed product.

  • 6.E.MI.26

    Predict and analyze unintended costs and benefits of economic decisions.

  • 6.E.MI.36

    Explain how markets exist whenever there is an exchange of goods and services.

  • 6.E.MI.46

    Compare the markets of River Valley Civilizations and Classical Empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.E.ST.16

    Compare specialization in two or more civilizations or empires.

  • 6.E.ST.26

    Examine how new knowledge, technology and specialization increase productivity.

  • 6.G.GR.16

    Use maps and other geographic representations, geospatial technologies, and spatial thinking to determine similarities and differences among River Valley Civilizations and Classical Empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.G.HE.16

    Analyze how physical environments shaped the development of River Valley Civilizations and Classical Empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.G.HE.26

    Analyze how River Valley Civilizations and Classical Empires impacted the environment, both positively and negatively, between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.G.HI.16

    Explain how population changes in River Valley Civilizations and Classical Empires affected land use between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.G.HI.26

    Analyze the impact of interactions between various River Valley Civilizations and between various Classical Empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.G.MM.16

    Compare how human and environmental characteristics of a region influenced the movement of people, goods and ideas during the rise of River Valley Civilizations and Classical Empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.H.CE.16

    Analyze the causes and effects of the rise of River Valley Civilizations.

  • 6.H.CH.16

    Describe how River Valley Civilizations transitioned to empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.H.CH.26

    Compare the origins and development of early world religions from River Valley Civilizations to Classical Empires 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.H.CO.16

    Explain the role conflict played in the development and expansion of Classical Empires between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.H.CO.26

    Analyze the impact trade networks had on interactions among various human societies between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.H.KH.16

    Determine the influences of Classical Greece and Rome on the structures of Kentucky's state government.

  • 6.I.CC.16

    Construct explanations, using reasoning, correct sequence, examples and details with relevant information and data, while acknowledging the strengths and weaknesses of the explanations concerning the development of civilizations.

  • 6.I.CC.26

    Construct arguments, using claims and evidence from multiple credible sources, while acknowledging the strengths and limitations of the arguments, to address how a specific problem can manifest itself at local, regional and global levels over time.

  • 6.I.CC.36

    Evaluate how individuals and groups addressed local, regional and global problems throughout the development of civilizations.

  • 6.I.CC.46

    Engage in a range of deliberative and democratic procedures to discuss current local, regional and global issues.

  • 6.I.CC.56

    Describe a specific problem from the development of civilizations using each of the social studies disciplines.

  • 6.I.Q.16

    Develop compelling questions related to the development of civilizations between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.I.Q.26

    Generate supporting questions related to the development of civilizations between 3500 BCE-600 CE.

  • 6.I.Q.36

    Identify the types of supporting questions each of the social studies disciplines uses to answer compelling and supporting questions.

  • 6.I.UE.16

    Develop claims, citing relevant evidence, in response to compelling and supporting questions.

  • 6.I.UE.26

    Compare evidence from primary and secondary sources to assist in answering compelling and supporting questions.

  • 6.I.UE.36

    Gather primary and secondary sources, and determine their relevance and intended use to answer compelling and supporting questions.

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