Students will explore various aspects of social studies, including history, geography, economics, civics, and personal financial literacy. The course aims to develop students' understanding of the world around them, their place within it, and the importance of making informed decisions. Students will engage with primary and secondary sources, analyze historical events, explore maps and geographic tools, examine economic concepts, investigate civic roles and responsibilities, and develop financial literacy skills.  Students will investigate how ideas and actions can improve communities and understand the roles and characteristics of people who govern communities.  Students will identify the role(s) of government and the roles and characteristics of various leaders at the local, state, and national levels.  Students will be able to explain the concept of scarcity and how it affects individuals' access to goods and services, and explain the choices people make when resources are scarce.  Students will identify local historical sources from diverse perspectives and generate questions about their functions, significance, and perspectives.  They also compare and contrast neighborhoods and communities, past and present, through the study of people and events.  Students will use map keys, legends, symbols, intermediate directions, and a compass rose to locate and describe spaces and places, and explain how the environment influences settlement patterns in certain areas.  Throughout the course, students will actively engage in discussions, investigations, projects, and real-world applications to reinforce their understanding of the various social studies concepts. They will develop critical thinking skills, cultural awareness, geographic literacy, economic knowledge, civic engagement, and personal financial literacy to become active and informed participants in their communities.