Indiana Social Studies S.4.3

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Social Stratification

The Standard

Explore stratification from both functionalist and conflict perspectives.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain why functionalists think higher rewards can encourage people to train for certain roles. They explain why conflict theorists focus on who controls resources and who can keep higher rewards.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a pay gap between a surgeon and a hospital cleaner, students give one explanation from each view. They use training and incentives in one explanation, and bargaining power or access to training in the other.
Common Misconceptions: Students may assume functionalists think every high earner works harder or deserves more. They may assume conflict theorists think training does not matter, rather than questioning who gets access to it and who sets pay.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A surgeon earns more than a hospital cleaner. Write one functionalist explanation and one conflict explanation for the pay gap.

Lesson moves

Give pairs surgeon, nurse, and custodian cards with pay, training, and decision power; have them sort the cards by each measure.
Ask, 'How would each perspective explain a surgeon earning more than a hospital cleaner? What might each overlook?'
Read four claims about wages aloud; students hold up F or C cards and name the clue that identifies each view.
Project two job postings with posted pay, one for a hospital cleaner and one for a nurse; compare training requirements and bargaining power.

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