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Pennsylvania Social Studies Curriculum Guide

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Kavita Venkatesh
Updated

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ThinkCERCA's standards-aligned lessons provide engaging content and expert instruction to give all students the opportunity to grow their literacy skills. Our instructional designs were developed based on the research and practice of master teachers and nationally recognized literacy experts and meet the demands of new career and college readiness standards.

Use this list to find and assign lessons aligned to Pennsylvania state standards by grade. 

 

Download Guide as PDF 

 

Jump to Lessons by Grade:

Academic Standards and Aligned CERCA Sets

Grade 3

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.1.3 Principles and Documents of Government
CERCA Set

School Policy,

Student Free Speech, 

The U.S. Constitution 

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.2.3 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
CERCA Set

Voting Rights Act,

Supreme Court Decisions: Free Speech,

Technology and the Fourth Amendment

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.3.3 How Government Works
CERCA Set

The Electoral College, 

Voting,

School Policy

 

Standard Category

Geography
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 7.1.3 - 7.4.3 Basic Geographic Literacy Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions Human Characteristics of Places and Regions Interactions Between People and the Environment
CERCA Set

Ancient Maya,

Cultural Perception, 

The Art and Architecture of 
Ancient Greece

 

Standard Category

Economics
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 6.1.3 - 6.5.3 Scarcity and Choice Markets and Economic Systems Functions of Government Economic Interdependence Income, Profit, and Wealth
CERCA Set

Value

Economic Disasters,

Entrepreneurship

Money and Decisions

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.2.3 Pennsylvania History
CERCA Set

The Great Depression,

Jamestown, 

Immigration through Ellis Island

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.3.3 United States History
CERCA Set

Christopher Columbus, 

The Great Depression, 

Time in the Industrial Revolution

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.4.3 World History
CERCA Set

Afterlife in Ancient Egypt,

The Art of the Renaissance,

Societal Hierarchies

 

Grade 4

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.1.4 Principles and Documents of Government
CERCA Set

The U.S. Constitution,

School Policy,

Student Free Speech

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.2.4 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
CERCA Set

Supreme Court Decisions: Free Speech, 

Voting Rights Act,

Technology and the Fourth Amendment,

Social Responsibility

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.3.4 How Government Works
CERCA Set

The Electoral College, 

Voting,

Image and Impact

 

Standard Category

Geography
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 7.1.4 - 7.4.4 Basic Geographic Literacy Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions Human Characteristics of Places and Regions Interactions Between People and the Environment
CERCA Set

Ancient Maya,

Cultural Perception, 

The Art and Architecture of 
Ancient Greece

 

Standard Category

Economics
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 6.1.4 - 6.5.4 Scarcity and Choice Markets and Economic Systems Functions of Government Economic Interdependence Income, Profit, and Wealth
CERCA Set

Money and Decisions,

Value,

Economic Disasters,

Entrepreneurship

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.2.4 Pennsylvania History
CERCA Set

Jamestown, 

Immigration through Ellis Island,

Progressive Era Child Labor

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.3.4 United States History
CERCA Set

Paul Revere and the Revolutionary War,

Westward Expansion, 

Economic Strategies in the Civil War

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.4.4 World History
CERCA Set

The Black Death,

The Art of the Renaissance, 

World War II

 

Grade 5

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.1.5 Principles and Documents of Government
CERCA Set

Crime Prevention, 

The U.S. Constitution 

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.2.5 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
CERCA Set

School Policy,

Supreme Court Decisions: Free Speech,

Group Decision-Making,

Social Responsibility 

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.3.5 How Government Works
CERCA Set

Conflict and Character,

The Electoral College, 

Voting,

Nonverbal Communication

 

Standard Category

Geography
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 7.1.5 - 7.4.5 Basic Geographic Literacy Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions Human Characteristics of Places and Regions Interactions Between People and the Environment
CERCA Set

Ancient Maya,

Cultural Perception, 

The Art and Architecture of 
Ancient Greece

 

Standard Category

Economics
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 6.1.5 - 6.5.5 Scarcity and Choice Markets and Economic Systems Functions of Government Economic Interdependence Income, Profit, and Wealth
CERCA Set

Value,

Economic Disasters,

Entrepreneurship,

Money and Decisions

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.1.5 Historical Analysis and Skills Development
CERCA Set

Mahatma Gandhi

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.2.5 Pennsylvania History
CERCA Set

Jamestown

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.3.5 United States History
CERCA Set

Economic Strategies in the Civil War, 

Time in the Industrial Revolution,

The Great Depression

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.4.5 World History
CERCA Set

The Art of the Renaissance

 

Grade 6

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.1.5 Principles and Documents of Government
CERCA Set

The U.S. Constitution, 

Supreme Court Decisions: Free Speech, 

Technology and the Fourth Amendment 

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.2.5 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
CERCA Set

Social Responsibility, 

Modern Protest

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.3.5 How Government Works
CERCA Set

Voting,

The Electoral College

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.4.6 How International Relationships Function
CERCA Set

Perseverance,

Value 

 

Standard Category

Geography
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 7.1.6 - 7.4.6 Basic Geographic Literacy Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions Human Characteristics of Places and Regions Interactions Between People and the Environment
CERCA Set

Cultural Perception, 

Ancient Maya,

The Art and Architecture of 
Ancient Greece

 

Standard Category

Economics
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 6.1.6 - 6.5.6 Scarcity and Choice Markets and Economic Systems Functions of Government Economic Interdependence Income, Profit, and Wealth
CERCA Set

Economic Disasters,

Money and Decisions, 

Value, 

Entrepreneurship

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.1.6 Historical Analysis and Skills Development
CERCA Set

Crime Prevention,

Mahatma Gandhi 

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.2.6 Pennsylvania History
CERCA Set

Westward Expansion,

Jamestown

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.3.6 United States History
CERCA Set

Struggles of a New Nation

The Great Depression

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.4.6 World History
CERCA Set

Group Decision-Making,

Thomas Paine and the Philosophy
of Revolutions

 

Grade 7

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.1.7 Principles and Documents of Government
CERCA Set

Voting Rights Act,

Supreme Court Decisions: Free Speech,

Technology and the Fourth Amendment, 

The U.S. Constitution 

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.2.7 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
CERCA Set

Modern Protest,

Perseverance,

Voting,

Social Responsibility 

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.4.7 How International Relationships Function
CERCA Set

Cultural Perception,

Group Decision-Making

 

Standard Category

Geography
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 7.1.7 - 7.4.7 Basic Geographic Literacy Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions Human Characteristics of Places and Regions Interactions Between People and the Environment
CERCA Set

Ancient Maya,

Cultural Perception,

The Art and Architecture of 
Ancient Greece

 

Standard Category

Economics
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 6.1.7 - 6.5.7 Scarcity and Choice Markets and Economic Systems Functions of Government Economic Interdependence Income, Profit, and Wealth
CERCA Set

Value,

Economic Disasters,

Entrepreneurship,

Money and Decisions 

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.2.7 Pennsylvania History
CERCA Set

Jamestown,

Economic Strategies in the Civil War

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.3.7 United States History
CERCA Set

Immigration through Ellis Island,

Voting Rights Act,

World War II

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.4.7 World History
CERCA Set

Societal Hierarchies,

The Black Death,

The Transatlantic Slave Trade 

 

Grade 8

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.1.8 Principles and Documents of Government
CERCA Set

The U.S. Constitution,

Struggles of a New Nation, 

Image and Impact

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.2.8 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
CERCA Set

Modern Protest,

Voting

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.3.8 How Government Works
CERCA Set

Techonology and the Fourth Amendment

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.4.8 How International Relationships Function
CERCA Set

Economic Disasters,

Value

 

Standard Category

Geography
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 7.1.8 - 7.4.8 Basic Geographic Literacy Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions Human Characteristics of Places and Regions Interactions Between People and the Environment
CERCA Set

Ancient Maya,

Cultural Perception,

The Art and Architecture of 
Ancient Greece

 

Standard Category

Economics
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 6.1.8 - 6.5.8 Scarcity and Choice Markets and Economic Systems Functions of Government Economic Interdependence Income, Profit, and Wealth
CERCA Set

Entrepreneurship,

Value,

Economic Disasters,

Money and Decisions

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.2.8 Pennsylvania History
CERCA Set

Paul Revere and the Revolutionary War,

Jamestown

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.3.8 United States History
CERCA Set

Thomas Paine and the Philosophy
of Revolutions,

Christopher Columbus

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.4.8 World History
CERCA Set

The Black Death,

The Art of the Renaissance,

World War II

 

Grade 9

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.1.9 Principles and Documents of Government
CERCA Set

The U.S. Constitution,

Risk Taking

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.2.9 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
CERCA Set

Social Responsibility,

Modern Protest,

Voting

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.3.9 How Government Works
CERCA Set

Government Role in Health,

School Policy,

Supreme Court Decisions: Free Speech

 

Standard Category

Geography
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 7.1.9 - 7.4.9 Basic Geographic Literacy Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions Human Characteristics of Places and Regions Interactions Between People and the Environment
CERCA Set

Ancient Maya,

Cultural Perception,

The Art and Architecture of 
Ancient Greece

 

Standard Category

Economics
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 6.1.9 - 6.5.9 Scarcity and Choice Markets and Economic Systems Functions of Government Economic Interdependence Income, Profit, and Wealth
CERCA Set

Money and Decisions,

Economic Disasters,

Entrepreneurship, 

Value

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.1.9 Historical Analysis and Skills Development
CERCA Set

Time in the Industrial Revolution,

The Art of the Renaissance

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.2.9 Pennsylvania History
CERCA Set

Jamestown

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.3.9 United States History
CERCA Set

Struggles of a New Nation,

Time in the Industrial Revolution,

Immigration through Ellis Island,

The Great Depression

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.4.9 World History
CERCA Set

The Art of the Renaissance,

Societal Hierarchies, 

World War II

 

U.S. History 1850 - Present

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.1.U Principles and Documents of Government
CERCA Set

Struggles of a New Nation,

The U.S. Constitution,

Modern Protest

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.2.U Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
CERCA Set

Social Responsibility,

Communities,

Bullying

 

Standard Category

Geography
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 7.1.U - 7.4.U Basic Geographic Literacy Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions Human Characteristics of Places and Regions Interactions Between People and the Environment
CERCA Set

Ancient Maya,

Cultural Perception,

The Art and Architecture of 
Ancient Greece

 

Standard Category

Economics
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 6.1.U - 6.5.U Scarcity and Choice Markets and Economic Systems Functions of Government Economic Interdependence Income, Profit, and Wealth
CERCA Set

Value,

Economic Disasters, 

Entrepreneurship,

Money and Decisions 

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.1.U Historical Analysis and Skills Development
CERCA Set

Westward Expansion,

Mahatma Gandhi 

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.2.U Pennsylvania History
CERCA Set

Jamestown,

Paul Revere and the Revolutionary War,

Struggles of a New Nation

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.3.U United States History
CERCA Set

Christopher Columbus, 

Time in the Industrial Revolution,

Immigration through Ellis Island,

Progressive Era Child Labor,

The Great Depression,

Voting Rights Act, 

Women in War

 

World History 1450 - Present

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.1.W Principles and Documents of Government
CERCA Set

Thomas Paine and the Philosophy of Revolutions,

Societal Hierarchies

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.2.W Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
CERCA Set

Social Responsibility,

Mahatma Gandi, 

Modern Protest

 

Standard Category

Geography
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 7.1.W - 7.4.W Basic Geographic Literacy Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions Human Characteristics of Places and Regions Interactions Between People and the Environment
CERCA Set

Ancient Maya,

Cultural Perception,

The Art and Architecture of 
Ancient Greece

 

Standard Category

Economics
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 6.1.W - 6.5.W Scarcity and Choice Markets and Economic Systems Functions of Government Economic Interdependence Income, Profit, and Wealth
CERCA Set

Entrepreneurship,

Value,

Economic Disasters,

Money and Decisions

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.1.W Historical Analysis and Skills Development
CERCA Set

Christopher Columbus,  

Thomas Paine and the Philosophy 
of Revolutions

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.4.W World History
CERCA Set

Afterlife in Ancient Egypt,

The Black Death,

The Art of the Renaissance,

Christopher Columbus,

Thomas Paine and the Philosophy 
of Revolutions,

Societal Hierarchies,

The Transatlantic Slave Trade,

Mahatma Gandhi,

World War II

 

Civics and Government

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.1.C Principles and Documents of Government
CERCA Set

Risk Taking,

The U.S. Constitution 

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.2.C Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
CERCA Set

Social Responsibility,

Modern Protest,

Voting

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.3.C How Government Works
CERCA Set

Progressive Era Child Labor,

Government Role in Health,

Voting Rights Act

 

Standard Category

Geography
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 7.1.3 - 7.4.3 Basic Geographic Literacy Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions Human Characteristics of Places and Regions Interactions Between People and the Environment
CERCA Set

Ancient Maya,

Cultural Perception,

The Art and Architecture of 
Ancient Greece

 

Standard Category

Economics
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 6.1.C - 6.5.C Scarcity and Choice Markets and Economic Systems Functions of Government Economic Interdependence Income, Profit, and Wealth
CERCA Set

Value

Economic Disasters,

Entrepreneurship,

Money and Decisions 

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.1.C Historical Analysis and Skills Development
CERCA Set

The Electoral College

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.2.C Pennsylvania History
CERCA Set

The U.S. Constitution

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.4.C United States History
CERCA Set

Paul Revere and the Revolutionary War,  

Struggles of a New Nation

 

Grade 12

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.1.12 Principles and Documents of Government
CERCA Set

Personal Identity, 

The U.S. Constitution 

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.2.12 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
CERCA Set

Crime Prevention,

Progressive Era Child Labor,

Social Responsibility

 

Standard Category

Civics and Government
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 5.3.12 How Government Works
CERCA Set

Struggles of a New Nation,

Voting,

The Electoral College

 

Standard Category

Geography
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 7.1.12 - 7.4.12 Basic Geographic Literacy Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions Human Characteristics of Places and Regions Interactions Between People and the Environment
CERCA Set

Ancient Maya,

Cultural Perception,

The Art and Architecture of 
Ancient Greece

 

Standard Category

Economics
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 6.1.12 - 6.5.12 Scarcity and Choice Markets and Economic Systems Functions of Government Economic Interdependence Income, Profit, and Wealth
CERCA Set

Money and Decisions,

Value, 

Economic Disasters,

Entrepreneurship

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.1.12 Historical Analysis and Skills Development
CERCA Set

Societal Hierarchies,

Thomas Paine and the Philosophy
of Revolutions

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.2.12 Pennsylvania History
CERCA Set

Economic Strategies in the Civil War, 

Jamestown

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.3.12 United States History
CERCA Set

Christopher Columbus,

Westward Expansion, 

Time in the Industrial Revolution,

The Great Depression

 

Standard Category

History
Pennsylvania Social Studies Standard Number and Organizing Category 8.4.12 World History
CERCA Set

The Black Death,

The Art of the Renaissance,

The Transatlantic Slave Trade,

Mahatma Gandhi,

World War II

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