Common Planner
K–12 Standards

Grade 7

Other Alabama Social Studies sets

Geography

  • 1.

    Describe the world in spatial terms using maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies.7.1

    1. a.

      Explaining the use of map essentials, including type, projections, scale, legend, distance, direction, grid, and symbols7.1.a

    2. b.

      Identifying geospatial technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective7.1.b

    3. c.

      Utilizing maps to explain relationships and environments among people and places, including trade patterns, governmental alliances, and immigration patterns7.1.c

    4. d.

      Applying mental maps to answer geographic questions, including how experiences and cultures influence perceptions and decisions7.1.d

    5. e.

      Categorizing the geographic organization of people, places, and environments using spatial models7.1.e

  • 2.

    Determine how regions are used to describe the organization of Earth's surface.7.2

    1. a.

      Identifying physical and human features used as criteria for mapping formal, functional, and perceptual regions7.2.a

    2. b.

      Interpreting processes and reasons for regional change, including land use, urban growth, population, natural disasters, and trade7.2.b

    3. c.

      Analyzing interactions among regions to show transnational relationships, including the flow of commodities and Internet connectivity7.2.c

    4. d.

      Comparing how culture and experience influence individual perceptions of places and regions7.2.d

    5. e.

      Explaining globalization and its impact on people in all regions of the world7.2.e

  • 3.

    Compare geographic patterns in the environment that result from processes within the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere of Earth's physical systems.7.3

    1. a.

      Comparing Earth-Sun relationships regarding seasons, fall hurricanes, monsoon rainfalls, and tornadoes7.3.a

    2. b.

      Explaining processes that shape the physical environment, including long-range effects of extreme weather phenomena7.3.b

    3. c.

      Describing characteristics and physical processes that influence the spatial distribution of ecosystems and biomes on Earth's surface7.3.c

    4. d.

      Comparing how ecosystems vary from place to place and over time7.3.d

    5. e.

      Comparing geographic issues in different regions that result from human and natural processes7.3.e

  • 4.

    Evaluate spatial patterns and the demographic structure of population on Earth's surface in terms of density, dispersion, growth and mortality rates, natural increase, and doubling time.7.4

    1. a.

      Predicting reasons and consequences of migration, including push and pull factors7.4.a

  • 5.

    Explain how cultural features, traits, and diffusion help define regions, including religious structures, agricultural patterns, ethnic enclaves, ethnic restaurants, and the spread of Islam.7.5

  • 6.

    Illustrate how primary, secondary, and tertiary economic activities have specific functions and spatial patterns.7.6

    1. a.

      Comparing one location to another for production of goods and services7.6.a

    2. b.

      Analyzing the impact of economic interdependence and globalization on places and their populations7.6.b

    3. c.

      Explaining why countries enter into global trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), the European Union (EU), the Mercado Común del Sur (MERCOSUR), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)7.6.c

  • 7.

    Classify spatial patterns of settlement in different regions of the world, including types and sizes of settlement patterns.7.7

    1. a.

      Explaining human activities that resulted in the development of settlements at particular locations due to trade, political importance, or natural resources7.7.a

    2. b.

      Describing settlement patterns in association with the location of resources7.7.b

    3. c.

      Describing ways in which urban areas interact and influence surrounding regions7.7.c

  • 8.

    Determine political, military, cultural, and economic forces that contribute to cooperation and conflict among people.7.8

    1. a.

      Identifying political boundaries based on physical and human systems7.8.a

    2. b.

      Identifying effects of cooperation among countries in controlling territories7.8.b

    3. c.

      Describing the eruption of territorial conflicts over borders, resources, land use, and ethnic and nationalistic identity7.8.c

  • 9.

    Explain how human actions modify the physical environment within and between places, including how human-induced changes affect the environment.7.9

  • 10.

    Explain how human systems develop in response to physical environmental conditions.7.10

    1. a.

      Identifying types, locations, and characteristics of natural hazards, including earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and mudslides7.10.a

    2. b.

      Differentiating ways people prepare for and respond to natural hazards, including building storm shelters, conducting fire and tornado drills, and establishing building codes for construction7.10.b

  • 11.

    Explain the cultural concept of natural resources and changes in spatial distribution, quantity, and quality through time and by location.7.11

    1. a.

      Evaluating various cultural viewpoints regarding the use or value of natural resources7.11.a

    2. b.

      Identifying issues regarding depletion of nonrenewable resources and the sustainability of renewable resources7.11.b

  • 12.

    Explain ways geographic features and environmental issues have influenced historical events.7.12

Civics

  • 1.

    Compare influences of ancient Greece, the Roman Republic, the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Magna Carta, federalism, the Mayflower Compact, the English Bill of Rights, the House of Burgesses, and the Petition of Rights on the government of the United States.C7.1

  • 2.

    Explain essential characteristics of the political system of the United States, including the organization and function of political parties and the process of selecting political leaders.C7.2

    1. a.

      Describing the influence of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Paine, Niccolò Machiavelli, Charles de Montesquieu, and François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire) on the political system of the United StatesC7.2.a

  • 3.

    Compare the government of the United States with other governmental systems, including monarchy, limited monarchy, oligarchy, dictatorship, theocracy, and pure democracy.C7.3

  • 4.

    Describe structures of state and local governments in the United States, including major Alabama offices and officeholders.C7.4

    1. a.

      Describing how local and state governments are fundedC7.4.a

  • 5.

    Compare duties and functions of members of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Alabama's local and state governments and of the national government.C7.5

    1. a.

      Locating political and geographic districts of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Alabama's local and state governments and of the national governmentC7.5.a

    2. b.

      Describing the organization and jurisdiction of courts at the local, state, and national levels within the judicial system of the United StatesC7.5.b

    3. c.

      Explaining concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances among the three branches of state and national governmentsC7.5.c

  • 6.

    Explain the importance of juvenile, adult, civil, and criminal laws within the judicial system of the United States.C7.6

    1. a.

      Explaining rights of citizens as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights under the Constitution of the United StatesC7.6.a

    2. b.

      Explaining what is meant by the term rule of lawC7.6.b

    3. c.

      Justifying consequences of committing a civil or criminal offenseC7.6.c

    4. d.

      Contrasting juvenile and adult laws at local, state, and federal levelsC7.6.d

  • 7.

    Determine how people organize economic systems to address basic economic questions regarding which goods and services will be produced, how they will be distributed, and who will consume them.C7.7

    1. a.

      Using economic concepts to explain historical and current developments and issues in global, national, state, or local contextsC7.7.a

    2. b.

      Analyzing agriculture, tourism, and urban growth in Alabama for their impact on economic developmentC7.7.b

  • 8.

    Appraise the relationship between the consumer and the marketplace in the economy of the United States regarding scarcity, opportunity cost, trade-off decision making, and the stock market.C7.8

    1. a.

      Describing effects of government policies on the free marketC7.8.a

    2. b.

      Identifying laws protecting rights of consumers and avenues of recourse when those rights are violatedC7.8.b

    3. c.

      Comparing economic systems, including market, command, and traditionalC7.8.c

  • 9.

    Apply principles of money management to the preparation of a personal budget that addresses housing, transportation, food, clothing, medical expenses, insurance, checking and savings accounts, loans, investments, credit, and comparison shopping.C7.9

  • 10.

    Describe individual and civic responsibilities of citizens of the United States.C7.10

    1. a.

      Differentiating rights, privileges, duties, and responsibilities between citizens and noncitizensC7.10.a

    2. b.

      Explaining how United States' citizenship is acquired by immigrantsC7.10.b

    3. c.

      Explaining character traits that are beneficial to individuals and societyC7.10.c

  • 11.

    Compare changes in social and economic conditions in the United States during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.C7.11

    1. a.

      Determining benefits of Alabama's role in world tradeC7.11.a

    2. b.

      Tracing the political and social impact of the modern Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to the present, including Alabama's roleC7.11.b

  • 12.

    Describe how the United States can be improved by individual and group participation in civic and community activities.C7.12

    1. a.

      Identifying options for civic and community actionC7.12.a

    2. b.

      Determining ways to participate in the political processC7.12.b

  • 13.

    Identify contemporary American issues since 2001, including the establishment of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the enactment of the Patriot Act of 2001, and the impact of media analysis.C7.13

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 7
When were these standards adopted?
2013
Where can I read the official document?
Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies

Keep exploring

Keep exploring Social Studies standards

Sibling grade bands, other subjects in this jurisdiction, and the same subject across other states.

More Alabama Social Studies sets

Social Studies