Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science
Each standard below is explained in plain language, with lesson ideas and a free generator that builds a full lesson plan aligned to it. Standard text is verified against doe.virginia.gov.
Grade 1
- 1.1
The student will apply history and social science skills to practice citizenship in the classroom by
- 1.1.a
practicing honesty and showing kindness to oneself and others
- 1.1.b
recognizing the purpose of rules and practicing self-control
- 1.1.c
being respectful of others and celebrating differences in ethnic origins, customs, and traditions
- 1.1.d
working respectfully with one another to achieve a goal
- 1.1.e
contributing one’s time and talents to help others in their homes, schools, and communities through jobs
- 1.1.f
participating in classroom decision-making by voting; and
- 1.1.g
understanding that local and state government representatives are elected by citizens who vote
- 1.2
The student will apply history and social science skills to explain how communities honor local and national traditions ...
- 1.2.a
Labor Day;
- 1.2.b
Columbus Day (also known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day*) and Yorktown Victory Day;
- 1.2.c
Election Day
- 1.2.d
Veterans Day
- 1.2.e
Thanksgiving Day
- 1.2.f
Christmas Day
- 1.2.g
New Year’s Day
- 1.2.h
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- 1.2.i
George Washington Day (commonly known as Presidents’ Day)
- 1.2.j
Memorial Day
- 1.2.k
Juneteenth; and
- 1.2.l
Independence Day
- 1.3
The student will apply history and social science skills to describe the symbols and traditions that honor and foster pa...
- 1.3.a
learning the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem and the ways people express respect for the American flag
- 1.3.b
explaining the symbolism of the colors, stars, and stripes of the American flag
- 1.3.c
identifying the Virginia flag, state capitol building, the cardinal as the state bird, and the dogwood as the state flow...
- 1.3.d
explaining why people use symbols and have traditions
- 1.4
The student will apply history and social science skills to understand Virginia’s history by
- 1.4.a
identifying and describing important events and locations throughout the early history of the Commonwealth, including, b...
- 1.4.b
describing how life in various Virginia communities has changed over time; and
- 1.4.c
identifying local cities or counties on a map of Virginia
- 1.5
The student will apply history and social science skills to describe contributions of Virginia’s diverse people and the ...
- 1.5.a
Indigenous people: Chief Powhatan and Pocahontas;
- 1.5.b
Explorers: John Smith and Christopher Newport
- 1.5.c
Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe; and
- 1.5.d
Barrier Breakers: John Mercer Langston, Booker T. Washington, Maggie L. Walker, Barbara Johns, Arthur R. Ashe, Jr., and ...
- 1.6
The student will apply history and social science skills to develop geographic skills by
- 1.6.a
using basic map symbols, including references to land, water, cities, and roads
- 1.6.b
using cardinal directions on maps
- 1.6.c
locating Virginia, the United States, continents, and oceans on maps and globes; and
- 1.6.d
constructing simple maps and including a title, map legend or key, and a compass rose.
- 1.7
The student will apply history and social science skills to connect geography to historic events of Virginia and the Uni...
- 1.7.a
identifying landforms and bodies of water of Virginia and describing how they affect the way people live
- 1.7.b
understanding that the location of Virginia determines its climate and its four distinct seasons;
- 1.7.c
locating the site of the Jamestown colony; and
- 1.7.d
locating Richmond and Washington, D.C., on Virginia and United States maps
- 1.8
The student will apply history and social science skills to explain how individuals make economic choices to meet their ...
- 1.8.a
identifying the difference between goods and services
- 1.8.b
describing how people can be both consumers and producers
- 1.8.c
describing ways people work to earn and save money to purchase goods and services
- 1.8.d
describing goods produced and services provided in Virginia; and
- 1.8.e
describing why people must make choices, prioritizing needs over wants
Grade 2
- 2.1
The student will apply history and social science skills to distinguish between the rights and responsibilities that ind...
- 2.10
The student will describe the contributions and roles of changemakers in United States history, including, but not limit...
- 2.10.a
Scholars and Inventors: Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Banneker, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington Carver, Booker T. Wash...
- 2.10.b
Explorers and Adventurers: Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Sacagawea, Neil Armstrong, and Amelia Earhart;
- 2.10.c
Reformers and Champions: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robins...
- 2.11
The student will apply history and social science skills to develop geographic mapping skills using world maps and globe...
- 2.11.a
locating the countries of North America and the bordering oceans
- 2.11.b
identifying major rivers, mountain ranges, lakes, and other physical features in the United States
- 2.12
The student will apply history and social science skills to connect geography to landmarks and historic events, includin...
- 2.12.a
the Jefferson Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial;
- 2.12.b
Valley Forge and George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River; and
- 2.12.c
Yellowstone National Park
- 2.13
The student will apply history and social science skills to understand basic economic principles by
- 2.13.a
identifying natural resources (e.g., water, soil, wood, coal), human resources (i.e., people at work), and capital resou...
- 2.13.b
distinguishing between needs and wants
- 2.13.c
distinguishing between the use of barter and the use of money in the exchange for goods and services and describing how ...
- 2.13.d
explaining that scarcity (having limited resources) requires people to make choices about producing and consuming goods ...
- 2.1.a
exercising freedom of expression
- 2.1.b
exercising freedom of religion
- 2.1.c
understanding equal protection
- 2.1.d
voting for local, state, and national representatives
- 2.1.e
respecting and following laws
- 2.1.f
practicing honesty and trustworthiness; and
- 2.1.g
respecting the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others