Social Studies Skills IEP goals for middle school (grades 6 to 8)
29 of the social studies skills templates in the library are written for middle school (grades 6 to 8). Each opens in the builder, where the grade band is a starting point and the baseline comes from your own assessment.
29 templates · 1 skill · 6–8 · How we write and review goals
Goals by skill
Numbers are illustrative; set targets from the student's own baseline.
Social Studies Skills Science, Social Studies & Digital Literacy
Answer questions with a map key
Maps and globes
By the annual IEP review date, given a community or state map with a key of 6 to 8 symbols and 10 questions, the student will answer each question by finding the symbol in the key and locating it on the map independently with at least 80% accuracy on map key questions, in 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by curriculum-based measurement probes collected every two weeks.
Measure map distance with a scale bar
Maps and globes
By the annual IEP review date, given a map with a scale bar, a ruler or paper strip and 8 distance questions between labeled places, the student will measure the distance between the places on the map and use the scale bar to write the real distance with its unit independently with at least 75% accuracy on map distance questions, on 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected every two weeks.
Place dated events on a timeline
Timelines
By the annual IEP review date, given a timeline marked by decades and 8 event cards with years from the current unit, the student will place each event card at the correct spot on the timeline and name which event came first and last independently with at least 88% accuracy on timeline placements, in 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected every two weeks.
Answer five W questions about a historical photo
Primary source questions
By the annual IEP review date, given a historical photograph with a caption and 5 questions (who, what, when, where, why), the student will answer each question with a detail seen in the photo or read in the caption independently with at least 80% accuracy on photo source questions, in 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected every two weeks.
Compare two cultures on a Venn diagram
Comparing cultures
By the annual IEP review date, after reading two short texts about daily life in two places or time periods, given a Venn diagram, the student will write two differences for each side and two shared features in the middle using details from the texts independently, earning a score of at least 7 out of 9 on a 3-row comparison rubric scored 0 to 3 per row, on 3 of 4 consecutive scored comparisons, as measured by a defined scoring rubric collected every two weeks.
Match government branches to their jobs
Civics: branches of government
By the annual IEP review date, given 9 scenario cards about government actions (such as passing a law, a court ruling, signing a bill) and a three-branch mat, the student will sort each card to the branch of government that does that job independently with at least 78% accuracy on branch of government cards, in 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected every two weeks.
Middle school social studies skills goals account for multiple teachers, changing classes, and more independent work. They often pair the skill with a strategy or tool, and the data can be collected across settings by different staff or by the student.
Matching data sheets
Each goal above links to the blank sheet built for its measure. These are the sheets this set of goals uses:
- Accuracy trackerNumber correct out of number attempted, with percent accuracy and support level.Used by 16 goals here
- Rubric trackerScores each rubric criterion and totals the score for each sample.Used by 11 goals here
- Task-analysis checklistMarks each step of a routine as independent, with support, or not completed across sessions.Used by 1 goal here
- Opportunity trackerRecords each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.Used by 1 goal here
Frequently asked questions
How are social studies skills goals measured across several middle school classes?
By defining the task and the observation period so any teacher can use the same sheet, or by work samples collected from more than one class. Student self-monitoring with a weekly check is common.
Should middle school goals include study skills?
When assessment shows that organization, planning, or test preparation limits the student's progress, yes. Those goals are measured with task-analysis checklists and percent of assignments completed.
When does transition planning start?
The IEP in effect when the student turns 16 must include postsecondary goals and transition services, and many states start at 14. Middle school goals can build the self-advocacy and independence those plans rely on.
IEP Atlas Pro
Turn these goals into progress reports
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Count trials, prompts, and minutes live in the session; the graph and trend line draw themselves; progress reports are drafted from your data.