Indiana Social Studies S.9.1

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Social Problems

The Standard

Identify characteristics of a social problem as opposed to an individual problem.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students decide whether a problem affects one person, many people, or both. They look for patterns and shared causes, such as rules, costs, or access to services.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain how one missed bus is a personal setback, while a canceled bus route can affect a whole neighborhood. They can name who else is affected and what shared condition causes the problem.
Common Misconceptions: Students may call any conflict between people a social problem. They may also blame one person's choices without checking whether others face the same barrier.
How to Assess It: Ask: “The city cancels the only early bus in a neighborhood. One student now misses a 7 a.m. shift. Is this only an individual problem, a social problem, or both? Give two reasons.”

Lesson moves

Give pairs cards showing a lost wallet, one missed bus, and a canceled bus route; have them sort the cards and explain each choice.
Ask students to write two sentences about the canceled route: Who faces a personal setback, and who else might be affected?
Play Pattern or One-Off: read cases about one lost wallet and a factory layoff; pairs hold up a choice and name their evidence.
Use a local bus timetable to check whether a 7 a.m. shift is reachable from two neighborhoods; compare the barriers workers face.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to S.9.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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