9th grade Social Studies: how to help at home
What your child learns in 9th grade social studies in the California Content Standards, and simple things to try at home.
Focus areas this year
- Civics: principles of American democracy
- Rights and responsibilities of citizens
- Elections and federal, state and local government
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.
Three Branches
How Articles I, II and III set up Congress, the presidency and the courts, terms and numbers, amending the Constitution, and choosing and confirming justices.
Rights & Responsibilities
The rights in the Bill of Rights and later amendments, civil rights laws, citizens' duties such as jury service and paying taxes, and how rights are balanced with the common good.
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Landmark decisions from Marbury v. Madison to recent cases, 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.
Elections & Voting
How Californians register and vote, the top-two primary, parties and nominations, the Electoral College, polls and campaign money, and redistricting.
How Laws Are Made
How a bill becomes law in Congress and in Sacramento, committees, vetoes and overrides, regulations, and how citizens and interest groups influence lawmaking.
Taking Part
Ways to take part before and after 18, volunteering and civil society, petitions and peaceful protest, deliberating about tensions in our democracy, and checking news for reliability.
Forms of Government
Democracies, monarchies, oligarchies and authoritarian states, federal, confederal and unitary systems, and the roots of American ideas about limited government.
Governing California
California's initiative, referendum and recall, its legislature, governor and courts, state and local revenue, reserved and concurrent powers, the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, tribal governments, and how conflicts between levels of government are resolved.
Media & Democracy
Why a free and responsible press matters, broadcast, print and online media, how officials use media to shape opinion, and how to spot misinformation, bias and spin.
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 California 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 California Content Standards 9th grade social studies units include Foundations of Democracy, Three Branches, Rights & Responsibilities, Landmark Supreme Court Cases, Elections & Voting, How Laws Are Made.
Free printable 9th grade social studies practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.