C3 Framework

The C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards provides a guide for enhancing the rigor of K-12 social studies instruction through an inquiry arc. Unlike the content-heavy standards of previous generations, C3 emphasizes the process of inquiry: developing questions and planning investigations, applying disciplinary concepts and tools, evaluating sources and using evidence, and communicating conclusions and taking informed action. The framework covers four disciplines -- civics, economics, geography, and history -- and is designed to be used alongside state social studies standards. The C3 inquiry arc begins with compelling and supporting questions that drive investigation. Students then apply discipline-specific concepts and tools: in civics, they analyze the principles of government; in economics, they examine production, distribution, and consumption; in geography, they explore human-environment interaction; in history, they interpret change and continuity over time. The framework's emphasis on evidence-based argumentation aligns closely with the Common Core ELA standards, creating natural cross-curricular connections. JamWise social studies jams are aligned to C3 dimensions and disciplinary concepts. A jam about the American Revolution, for example, might address D2.His.1 (Evaluate how historical events and developments were shaped by unique circumstances of time and place) while embedding key vocabulary like "independence," "tyranny," and "representation." Teachers can filter the library by C3 dimension, discipline, or historical era to find jams that support their inquiry units.