Students at all grade levels in Wisconsin are required to learn about the principles and ideals upon which the United States is founded, and understand the world in which they live. Students at all levels should develop skills and understandings in all five strands found in the Wisconsin standards for social studies. These skills and understandings are embedded in the performance standards. The curriculum in elementary and middle schools establishes the foundation for the entire social studies program, and allows students to develop the attitudes and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in a democratic society and understand an increasingly complex world. It is also important to recognize that the designated levels, by grade four, grade eight, and grade twelve, lead students to higher and deeper levels of knowledge and skills as they progress through school. The organization of these standards allows the social studies curriculum to be developed as separate disciplines or in an integrated course. In elementary, and middle and junior high schools, the five strands of social studies are usually integrated in a time during the day called "social studies." In high schools, the social studies courses are given names such as United States History, Geography, Global Studies, World History, Economics, Civics, Social Studies, Current Events, Sociology, and Psychology. Courses with these names might include performance standards from one, several, or all of the social studies strands. The social studies strands are as follows: (1) "Social Studies Standard A (Geography)"; (2) "Social Studies Standard B (History)"; (3) "Social Studies Standard C (Political Science and Citizenship)"; (4) "Social Studies Standard D (Economics)"; and (5) "Social Studies Standard E (Behavioral Sciences)." (LB)