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Level III ESSA Instructure Badge
Validated through a third-party ESSA Level III study by Instructure, K12 meets strict federal research standards to provide effective learning solutions that make a measurable and meaningful difference for students.
K12 Social Studies
Delve into the chronicles of our world—past and present—with an illuminating social studies curriculum.
History Informed; Future Focused
Drawing Connections Across Cultures and Times
Discover curriculum grounded in historical thinking that fosters 3C skills. The K12 Social Studies curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong understanding of human history and the systems of society and government that have shaped our world. Studying a thorough progression of topics results in the depth of learning required to draw connections from past events to present times. The K12 Social Studies curriculum strives to reflect the world in which students live, offering broad representation to all learners, preparing them for college and/or career and civic life, and encouraging exploration and critical thinking through real-world connections.
Trusted, award-winning excellence.
As an industry leader with more than two decades of experience, our K12 curriculum combines online learning with effective teaching methods trusted by education experts. We’re always striving to improve, so students get the best experience possible. See the difference in some of our achievements below.
EdTech Digest
EdTech Digest recognized K12’s parent company, Stride Learning, as a 2025 finalist for multiple EdTech Cool Tool Awards. They also named Niyoka McCoy as “Visionary” finalist for the EdTech Leadership Awards.
EdTech Breakthrough Awards
The EdTech Breakthrough Awards recognizes educational technology solutions that push the boundaries to deliver winning results. We are proud to be recognized in 2025 for the K12 Skills Arcade, as well as a top solution provider in the years 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Digital Education Awards
Awards for Digital Education celebrate the people, products, and platforms that use technology to transform education globally. We’re proud to be recognized as the 2024 Gold Award Winner alongside 2024’s Learning Product of the Year, Institution of the Year, and Team of the Year.
American Business Awards
The Gold Stevie Award recognizes achievement in business, and K12 has been named a 2025 Gold Winner for our Skills Arcade and Virtual Learning Solution, as well as 6 Product and Event 2024 Stevie Awards and the 2023 People’s Choice Stevie Award.
The Merit Awards
The Merit Awards recognize companies that are shaping today’s world through technological breakthroughs. K12’s K–5 curriculum recently won the top prize in the edtech category.
Relevant education for informed citizenship
Student-Centric Curriculum
Key ways the K12 Social Studies program supports the depth of knowledge required by today’s academic standards:
Historical Thinking and C3 Skills
K12 Social Studies courses allow students to make connections between past and present events and understand content relevant to their future civic life and college and/or career engagement. Students also co-develop and apply ELA skills.
Responsible Citizenship
K12 curriculum promotes empathy and social engagement and strives to be reflective of the world in which students live. Through inclusive representation and trusted, age-appropriate content, students gain insight into systems of governance and the histories behind them.
Varied Learning Components
A variety of assignments and assessments showcase students’ knowledge by engaging different modes of thinking. From self-paced computer-graded quizzes to teacher-graded assignments and discussions, students build knowledge, explore concepts, and exercise critical thinking.
Core Programs
The K12 Social Studies curriculum offers rich content that helps students form a historical context and procedural understanding of the societies around them.
Core Programs
K12 Social Studies curriculum offers rich content that helps students form historical context and procedural understanding of the societies around them.
Elementary (K–5)
Starting with introducing skills, vocabulary, and concepts, students build an understanding of how we analyze topics, including:
· Community and culture
· Physical and human geography
· Chronology and historical events
· Civics and citizenship
· Economics
Middle School (6–8)
Students advance their skills and understanding of past and present events and social constructs with a focus on the following:
· American history
· World history
· Intermediate civics and economics
· Intermediate global studies
High School (9–12)
In the higher grade levels, students can explore more deeply in specialized courses :
· World History
· Economics
· Geography
· Civics
· U.S. History
· U.S. Government and Politics
· Modern World Studies
A Leader in Online Learning
3
M+
Students have chosen K12-powered education
100
+
Collective years of education experience of K12’s subject-matter curriculum development experts
20
+
Years that K12 has been developing high-quality curriculum aligned with state academic standards
Tools for Deeper Learning
K12 curriculum and Learning Hub activities help students understand key concepts through games, videos, and interactive lessons. Playable on mobile or desktop, these are ideal for learning and engagement!
Elementary
River Civilizations
Explore river civilizations and learn more about ancient settlements that grew near rivers.
Middle School
The Election of Abraham Lincoln
Utilize augmented reality to examine President Lincoln’s life mask and read about the presidential election of 1860.
High School
Geography and Trade
Learn with Professor Strider about how geography influences trade around the world.
More Digital Learning Technologies
K12 Social Studies courses allow students to practice critical-thinking skills using adaptive remediation tools or complete additional lessons based on individual needs.
Skills Arcade
These games are arcade-style, adaptive remediation tools that can be sprinkled into courses or assigned separately. Teachers select skills for students to work on and receive real-time student data.
K12 Learning Hub
Dive into a vast library of more than 15,000 dynamic online lessons that engage students through reading, games, videos, research opportunities, and interactive components that go beyond memorizing names and dates.
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