History & Social Science
African American State-Developed Elective Course
- Dissemination of African American History Elective Course-This is a PDF document. - Superintendent's Memo 191-21
- Course Map-This is a PDF document.
- Instructions to access the distribution online course map-This is a Word document.
VDOE 2021 Teaching Black History Conference and Equity Summer Institute
Includes:
- Curriculum Frameworks
- Test Blueprints
- Released Tests & Sample Items
The History & Social Science Standards of Learning (SOL) are designed to develop knowledge and skills in history, geography, civics and economics to prepare students for informed participation in shaping the nation’s future.
2022 Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework Revision
At the January 28, 2021 Virginia Board of Education meeting, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) was authorized to proceed with the History and Social Science Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework review process. For more information, refer to History and Social Science Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework Revision and Superintendent's Memo #025-21-This is a Word document.
Dr. Carter G. Woodson Collaborative
Dr. Carter G. Woodson Collaborative was formed as a joint venture between the Virginia Social Studies Leaders Consortium (VSSLC), the Virginia Association of Museums (VAM), the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), and #GoOpenVA. Support Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s vision for African American history by curating existing resources and creating original learning experiences that address the technical edits to the Virginia Standards of Learning developed by the Commission on African American History Education.
- Collection of Learning Experiences
- Resources created through the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Collaborative project for K-2, Virginia Studies, US History to 1865, US History 1865 to Present, and Virginia and US History.
- Woodson Collaborative Curated Links
- These links were curated by the members of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Collaborative, in order to support the approved edits to the SOL curriculum framework made by the Governor’s Commission on African American History Education.
- Kindergarten

- First Grade

- Second Grade

- Virginia Studies

- US History to 1865

- US History 1865 to Present

- Virginia and US History

- Support and Guidance for Selecting and Enacting Resources
- As there are few resources that are entirely free of cultural bias, the Collaborative suggests using the Support and Guidance in Selecting and Enacting Resources document in order to consider how these materials can best be utilized.
- Kindergarten
History and Social Science State Developed Common Rubrics
- HSS State Developed Common Rubric-Early Elementary (2020)-This is a Word document.
- HSS State Developed Common Rubric-Upper Elementary (2020)-This is a Word document.
- HSS State Developed Common Rubric-Middle School (2020)-This is a Word document.
- HSS State Developed Common Rubric-Early Secondary (2020)-This is a Word document.
- HSS State Developed Common Rubric-Upper Secondary (2020)-This is a Word document.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Learning in Place History and Social Science Resources
Virginia Standards of Learning – History and Social Science Tracking Logs
Virginia Standards of Learning tracking logs for grades Kindergarten-Virginia & US Government have been developed to assist teachers with determining which standards students have had sufficient exposure and experience with prior to the COVID-19 school closure on March 13, 2020 and to make decisions regarding when and how experience with new standards might occur moving forward. Each log includes space for teachers to check off the standards that had been addressed before March 13 (the initial school closure date), those standards addressed during the closure, and those which have not yet been addressed (by the end of the ‘school year’).
- Kindergarten-This is a Word document.
- Grade 1-This is a Word document.
- Grade 2-This is a Word document.
- Grade 3-This is a Word document.
- Virginia Studies-This is a Word document.
- US History to 1865-This is a Word document.
- US History 1865 to Present-This is a Word document.
- Civics & Economics-This is a Word document.
- World Geography-This is a Word document.
- World History & Geography to 1500-This is a Word document.
- World History & Geography 1500 to Present-This is a Word document.
- Virginia & US History-This is a Word document.
- Virginia & US Government-This is a Word document.
Professional Development Resources – History & Social Science SOL Institutes
VDOE provided targeted professional development through History and Social Science Standards of Learning Institutes. Teachers and school divisions are encouraged to utilize the professional development resources to improve student achievement through quality instruction.
- 2017 History & Social Science Standards of Learning (SOL) Institutes – The K-12 History and Social Science SOL Institutes provided training that utilized a train-the-trainer model to provide professional development focused on the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning, which will lead to the creation of performance assessments.
- 2016 History & Social Science Standards of Learning (SOL) Institutes – VDOE provided professional development for school divisions and their teachers to support the increased rigor and the history and social science skills emphasized in the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework.
- 2012 History & Social Science Standards of Learning (SOL) Institutes – VDOE provided professional development for school divisions and their teachers to support the implementation of the 2008 History and Social Science Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework.
Elementary School Instructional Resources
In addition to the standards, curriculum frameworks, enhanced scope and sequence guides, test blueprints and released tests, other elementary instructional resources include:
- An Economy at Work: The Production and Consumption of Goods and Services (PDF) – staff development and teaching module for elementary and middle school teachers on SOL-based economics concepts
- Virginia Maps of the Five Geographic Regions (2001)
- Outline Map (PDF)
- Map with Counties (PDF)
- Map without Counties (PDF)
- North American Map of Selected Geographic Regions (PDF) – correlates with Standard USI.2b
- Documents of American History (PDF) – text of the Constitution of Virginia, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States of America with Amendments and the Virginia Charters
- Virginia Animals and their Habitats – a model comprehensive, cross-curricular second-grade unit that addresses 40 grade-two Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) in science, mathematics, English, and history and social science.
- Civil Rights Education – resources and information from the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Committee, as well as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission
- Everyday Civics – classroom resources including lesson plans, discussion boards, primary documents, Internet links and media Partnership Resources
- Ice Age Discoveries – recent archaeological digs have provided compelling evidence that humans inhabited Virginia at least 18,000 years ago
- Mali: Ancient Crossroads of Africa – lesson plans, literature links and online resources on the West African empire of Mali
- Virginia's First People Past and Present – guide for teaching the history, geography and economic systems of Virginia Indians, both past and present, with links to Virginia's eleven state-recognized tribes
Middle School Instructional Resources
In addition to the standards, curriculum frameworks, enhanced scope and sequence guides, test blueprints and released tests, other middle school instructional resources include:
- Economics and Financial Literacy – instructional resources to assist in meeting the requirements economics education and financial literacy requirements for all middle and high school students
- North American Map of Selected Geographic Regions (2001) (PDF) – correlates to Standard USI.2b
- Documents of American History (PDF) – text of the Constitution of Virginia, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States of America with Amendments and the Virginia Charters
- Civil Rights Education – resources and information from the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Committee, as well as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission
- Everyday Civics – classroom resources including lesson plans, discussion boards, primary documents, Internet links and media Partnership Resources
- Ice Age Discoveries – recent archaeological digs have provided compelling evidence that humans inhabited Virginia at least 18,000 years ago
- Mali: Ancient Crossroads of Africa – lesson plans, literature links and online resources on the West African empire of Mali
- Virginia's First People Past and Present – guide for teaching the history, geography and economic systems of Virginia Indians, both past and present, with links to Virginia's eleven state-recognized tribes
High School Instructional Resources
In addition to the standards, curriculum frameworks, enhanced scope and sequence guides, test blueprints and released tests, other middle school instructional resources include:
- Postwar Germany and the Growth of Democracy – A Resource Guide (PDF) – lessons and resources to assist teachers and students to explore Germany's social, political and economic experiences since 1945
- Documents of American History (PDF) – text of the Constitution of Virginia, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States of America with Amendments and the Virginia Charters
- Civil Rights Education – resources and information from the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Committee, as well as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission
- Everyday Civics – classroom resources including lesson plans, discussion boards, primary documents, Internet links and media Partnership Resources
- Ice Age Discoveries – recent archaeological digs have provided compelling evidence that humans inhabited Virginia at least 18,000 years ago
- Mali: Ancient Crossroads of Africa – lesson plans, literature links and online resources on the West African empire of Mali
- Virginia's First People Past and Present – guide for teaching the history, geography and economic systems of Virginia Indians, both past and present, with links to Virginia's eleven state-recognized tribes
Miscellaneous
- Technology Sparks, Ideas for Teachers: Integrating Technology with the Virginia Standards of Learning (PDF) – resources and suggestions for incorporating technology into the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) middle school core curricular subjects
Additional History & Social Science Resources
