Sweden Grundskola Social Studies Curriculum

This information is based on the Swedish national curriculum, Lgr22, effective from July 1, 2022.

Overall Purpose of Social Studies Education:

Social studies education aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to navigate an increasingly complex world. It emphasizes understanding societal structures, promoting responsible citizenship, and fostering sustainable development. The curriculum focuses on democracy, human rights, and the interplay between individuals and society. It encourages critical thinking, source analysis, and informed participation in civic discourse.

Year 9 Curriculum:

The Year 9 social studies curriculum builds upon the foundation laid in earlier years, delving deeper into complex societal issues.

Key Concepts:

• Individuals and Communities: Explores concepts of identity, power, justice, equality, and equity. Examines how factors like socioeconomic background, gender, age, and ethnicity can influence opportunities and resources. Addresses migration, integration, and segregation in Sweden.
• Societal Resources and Distribution: Investigates the interconnectedness of households, businesses, banks, and public finances. Analyzes the causes and effects of economic change, including global interdependence and unequal distribution of wealth. Explores labor market dynamics, including wages, working conditions, and labor laws.
• Decision-Making and Political Ideologies: Defines and compares different political systems, such as democracy and dictatorship, monarchy and republic, and parliamentarism and presidential systems. Examines political ideologies and party platforms in Sweden. Studies Sweden's political system, including the EU, parliament, government, Sami Parliament, regions, and municipalities. Explores the UN and Nordic cooperation.
• Rights and Justice: Addresses human rights violations globally and international efforts to protect these rights. Examines the situation of national minorities in Sweden and Sami rights as an indigenous people. Discusses rights and responsibilities in democratic societies, including dilemmas related to freedom of expression. Explores the Swedish legal system and the principles of legal certainty, as well as the causes and consequences of various types of crime.
• Information and Communication: Analyzes media production, distribution, and consumption, and its role in a democratic society. Explores news evaluation and its influence on perceptions of the world. Examines media representation of individuals and groups and its impact on norms and values.
• Critical Analysis of Societal Issues: Encourages critical examination of information, perspectives, and arguments related to local, national, and global issues, using source analysis skills.

Assessment Criteria:

Assessment in Year 9 focuses on students' ability to demonstrate knowledge of democratic values, decision-making processes, and human rights. It also evaluates their understanding of societal structures and their ability to analyze societal issues from different perspectives, using critical thinking and source evaluation skills. Specific criteria for grades A-E are outlined in the curriculum document.