Indiana Social Studies S.6.9

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Sociology of Groups

The Standard

Explore the formation of group norms.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain how groups come to expect certain behavior. They trace how repeated actions, imitation, and other people's reactions turn a habit into a shared expectation.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can use a group chat example to show how one behavior catches on and how others reinforce it. They can tell a group expectation from one person's habit.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think a group norm starts only when a leader announces a rule. They may call one person's habit a norm even when no one else follows or expects it.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A study group starts meeting five minutes early. Soon, late arrivals get annoyed looks. Explain how the norm formed and what keeps it going.

Lesson moves

Give groups index cards and tape to build a tower, then have them name one unspoken expectation and trace how it caught on.
Ask students to write how a new teammate would learn that everyone claps after a missed shot, naming the cues they would notice.
Give teams three group chat cards: one friend replies fast, others copy, late replies draw complaints. Have teams order how the norm formed.
Compare an unwritten cafeteria seating habit with a posted lunch rule, then ask how a new student learns each.

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