9th grade Social Studies: how to help at home
What your child learns in 9th grade social studies in the Arizona Academic Standards, and simple things to try at home.
Focus areas this year
- Civics: how government works in the United States
- The Arizona Constitution and Arizona's governments
- Practice for the American civics test
Easy ways to practice social studies at home
- Follow a current event together and ask who is affected and why people see it differently.
- Build a timeline of a family event or a historical topic they are studying.
- Use an atlas or online map to trace a trade or travel route.
- Ask “Whose voice is missing from this story?” when reading about the past.
What each unit covers
Foundations of Democracy
Greek, Roman, English and Enlightenment roots of American government, Tocqueville's view of American democracy, republican and liberal ideas, the Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights as a limit on government.
Rights & Responsibilities
Unalienable rights, the freedoms in the Bill of Rights and later amendments, religious freedom, due process, the 14th Amendment, civil rights laws, and citizens' duties such as jury service and paying taxes.
Forms of Government
Democracies, monarchies, oligarchies and authoritarian states, federal, confederal and unitary systems, and the roots of American ideas about limited government.
Three Branches
The structure, powers and checks of Congress, the presidency and the federal courts, how each branch makes decisions, and Arizona's seats in Congress.
Elections & Voting
How people register and vote, primaries and parties, the Electoral College, polls, campaign money and the media, and redistricting, with Arizona's electoral votes and who runs its elections.
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Landmark decisions from Marbury v. Madison to recent cases, including Miranda v. Arizona, judicial activism and restraint, precedent, and how readings of the Bill of Rights and civil rights have changed, presented factually and from more than one side.
The Arizona Constitution
Arizona's constitution compared with the US Constitution: the 1910 convention and statehood, the Declaration of Rights and its privacy clause, the initiative, referendum and recall, how each constitution is amended, and how a state can add to federal rights.
Governing Arizona
How Arizona is governed: the Legislature, the Governor and the Secretary of State, merit selection of judges, the Independent Redistricting Commission, counties, cities and sovereign tribal governments, and how Arizonans register, vote early and take part.
The Civics Test
Practice with questions like those on the US citizenship civics test, which Arizona's American Civics Act asks high school students to pass with at least 60 of 100 correct: the Constitution, the branches of government, rights and responsibilities.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Beginning
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Arizona report card guide.
Common questions
Follow a current event together and ask who is affected and why people see it differently. Build a timeline of a family event or a historical topic they are studying. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
The Arizona Academic Standards 9th grade social studies units include Foundations of Democracy, Rights & Responsibilities, Forms of Government, Three Branches, Elections & Voting, Landmark Supreme Court Cases.
Free printable 9th grade social studies practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.