Indiana Social Studies S.6.11

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Sociology of Groups

The Standard

Investigate how incorrect communications, such as rumors or gossip, can influence group behavior.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students trace how an unverified message changes as people pass it along. They explain how it can affect a group's choices and how checking a source could change the response.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a fictional rumor and a record of group reactions, a student identifies the unsupported claim. They link specific actions to that claim and explain how a correction might change what the group does next.
Common Misconceptions: Students may treat a message repeated by several people as confirmed. They may think a rumor matters only if everyone believes it, missing how a few people can change a group's plans.
How to Assess It: Use this exit ticket: “Someone texts five club members that Friday's meeting is canceled. Three stay home, but the adviser never canceled it. What should members check, and how did the text affect the group?”

Lesson moves

Whisper a fictional meeting update down a line, then compare the final message with the original and list decisions each might cause.
Give students a fictional group chat rumor and ask: Who might act on it, and what evidence would you want first?
Play a source-check game with rumor cards: teams choose a source to check, then revise a group's planned action.
Show a made-up school closure post beside the district calendar; ask how families might respond before and after checking.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to S.6.11, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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