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Academics → Social Studies

Social Studies

Vision Statement

MCPS students will be engaged in rigorous, accessible, relevant, and inclusive social studies inquiry that utilizes primary sources--including multiple perspectives from historically marginalized voices--to develop their capacity to think critically, read closely, communicate clearly, and take action to improve their community, country, and world.

Mission Statement

The MCPS Social Studies team provides:

  • Advocacy for aligned and engaging social studies education at every school and level.
  • Professional development and school support to build the content and pedagogical expertise of teachers and teacher leaders to equitably and effectively engage our learners.
  • Anti Bias and antiracist curriculum that engages students in inquiry focused on learning historical truths, developing critical literacy skills, and taking informed action.

Goal

The goal of social studies is to help create literate and well-informed citizens who actively participate in a democratic society. Students learn how to become effective citizens through:

  • active engagement in the learning processes and skills of the social sciences and history;
  • development of a useful knowledge base in culture, economics, geography, history, and politics;
  • learning the fundamental structures of human systems of interaction and how these systems have developed over time;
  • application of concepts and knowledge of the past to problem-solving real-world issues of the present;
  • application and evaluation of the role of an effective citizen, including putting citizen participation theory into practice;
  • effective use of multiple sources of investigation for research and learning, including technology, primary and secondary source materials, the arts, film, and oral history; and
  • development and communication of social studies concepts and knowledge using a variety of formats, with a special emphasis on analytic and argumentative writing.

Resources

Teacher Resources

Social Studies Diverse Perspectives Curriculum Nights

Curriculum nights were held during the first semester of the 2024-25 school year to inform community members about social studies instruction, how it is taught, and how Montgomery County Public Schools includes diverse perspectives in its social studies curricula.

Black and African American History

Arab Global and American History

Jewish Global and American History

Asian Global and American History

Hispanic/Latine Global and American History

LGBTQ+ Global and American History

Español

Indigenous American History

2024 Remembrance and Reconciliation Month Learning

K-2

3-5

6-12

2023 Rememberance and Reconciliation Month Learning

Maryland History Videos

The following videos were created by student interns in the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs. 

2023 Remembrance and Reconciliation Month Learning

2022 Remembrance and Reconciliation Month Lessons

K-2

3-5

6-8

9-12

Additional Resources