Big History Course Standards Alignment
The Big History curriculum provides an opportunity for middle-school and junior-high-school students to develop a well-grounded foundation for a deep understanding of historical, geographical, and scientific topics through its readings, videos, and activities. One benefit of the BH course is that its structure also supports teacher and curricular flexibility while aligning with the rigor and standards of the C3 Framework. Teachers are encouraged to revise or include additional materials at any point in the course in order to focus on, or dig more deeply into, specific topics or historical periods. BH emphasizes the development of social studies skills such as causal thinking, claim testing, reading, writing, and spatial analysis. Students learn how to evaluate secondary sources and primary-source excerpts, assess and write claims supported by evidence, analyze causes and effects, develop their geographic skills through map analysis, and think across scales as they consider change over time. In addition, the BH curriculum provides students with multiple opportunities to engage in inquiry-based learning as they develop questions, create arguments, and deliver presentations in a variety of formats. Students will hone these skills while focusing on the history of humanity from foraging communities to the future, and how humans fit into the history of our planet and Universe. BIG HISTORY COURSE STANDARDS ALIGNMENTExplain multiple causes and effects of events and developments in the past.Maryland State Standards and Frameworks in Social Studies D. 6.0-D.1-4Explain multiple causes and effects of events and developments in the past.Maryland State Standards and Frameworks in Social Studies D. 6.0-D.1-4Use, interpret, and create maps and graphs representing places and regions in the era being studied.Michigan Student Learning Standards for Social Studies 7 – G1.2.3A selection of course materials supporting causal thinking, claim testing, reading, writing, and spatial analysis.