Indiana Social Studies S.3.3

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Socialization

The Standard

Explain how symbolic communication allows for socialization and cultural transmission.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain how words, gestures, and images carry shared meanings. They show how people learn rules and values through these symbols, then pass them to others.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain why raising a hand means asking to speak in a classroom. They can describe how a new student learns that meaning by watching others and using the gesture.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think a symbol means the same thing to everyone. They may also think people learn social rules only when someone explains them aloud.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A new student sees classmates raise their hands before speaking. Explain what the gesture means, how the student learns it, and how the habit gets passed on.

Lesson moves

Pairs invent three signs for a classroom routine, then teach another pair the routine without speaking.
Ask students to write how a graduation cap gets its meaning and what it tells younger students about school.
Play charades with school gestures; after each guess, students name the rule the gesture communicates.
Show a priority seating sign from a bus and ask what it teaches new riders about helping others.

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