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The early years in middle school begin to build college-ready skills for students. The Social Studies curriculum is based on the Iowa Core standards and focuses on key concepts in civic responsibility, contemporary global issues, geography, history, and culture in global regions.
As a parent, the best thing you can do for your child is to stay engaged in their learning. Each day, take time to ask your child about their school day. Ask open-ended questions to encourage interaction. Then, you can build on their daily learning with some of the activities suggested on this webpage. Here are specific areas to focus on when working with your child.
You can also view suggested learning resources for students. These learning resources offer both digital activities and printable practice materials.
6th Grade
Encourage your child to read every day and to especially seek out rich nonfiction materials related to social studies. Use the National Council for the Social Studies Notable Trade Book List at as a resource to help your child select reading materials.
Work with your child to do authentic research in the field of social studies. Work to ensure resources are credible and students are able to formulate an argument based on evidence from research.
Visit local museums and cultural institutions and discuss the cause and effect of historical issues and events, from local, state, national, and international perspectives.
Use a variety of news sources, both print and digital, to discuss current global issues with your child. Discuss how these global issues might have an impact on the state and local level.
Encourage your child to participate in social studies programs such as National History Day, mock trial, We the People, etc.
Read the Iowa Core Parent Guide (English) and Iowa Core Parent Guide (Spanish).
7th Grade
Encourage your child to read every day and to especially seek out rich nonfiction materials related to social studies. Use the National Council for the Social Studies Notable Trade Book List at as a resource to help your child select reading materials.
Visit local museums and cultural institutions and discuss how local, state, or national issues play a role in the global world.
Work with your child to do authentic research in the field of social studies. Work to ensure resources are credible and students are able to formulate an argument based on evidence from research.
Use a variety of news sources, both print and digital, to discuss current global issues with your child. Discuss how these global issues might have an impact on the state and local level.
Encourage your child to participate in social studies programs such as National History Day, mock trial, We the People, etc.
Discuss the importance of thinking about post-secondary plans now and how financial goals are connected to these plans.
Read the Iowa Core Parent Guide (English) and Iowa Core Parent Guide (Spanish).
8th Grade
Encourage your child to read every day and to especially seek out rich nonfiction materials related to social studies. Use the National Council for the Social Studies Notable Trade Book List at as a resource to help your child select reading materials.
Visit local museums and cultural institutions and look for information on early American history and any role Iowa played in that history.
Work with your child to do authentic research in the field of social studies. Work to ensure resources are credible and students are able to formulate an argument based on evidence from research.
Use a variety of news sources, both print and digital, to discuss current events and their connection to early American history.
Encourage your child to participate in social studies programs such as National History Day, mock trial, We the People, etc.
Discuss the role of borrowing money and the cost of it.
Read the Iowa Core Parent Guide (English) and Iowa Core Parent Guide (Spanish).
Source: Iowa Core Parent Guides from the Iowa Department of Education.
Read the complete standards on the Iowa Core website.