Boise Schools Curriculum

District Standards for Psychology
01	Understand the historical and methodological components of psychology that allow students to develop skills of critical thinking and problem solving.
02	Understand and apply the language of psychology as it pertains to understanding, predicting, describing and controlling behavior.
03	Understand the processes through which individuals develop mental patterns and thought processes leading to an understanding of behavior.
04	Understand the different psychological disorders, their treatments, and the long-term ramifications of these disorders on the individual and society.

Unit 1

The Foundations of Psychology

1 Week

Instructional Objective 1363.01 Recognize that psychology involves the development of a perspective that applies knowledge from various theoretical views.			Standard Reference 136301
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Define psychology and justify why it is important to study.	Ch. 1		TMA, EOC
02	Discuss the philosophical and scientific basis of psychology.			TMA
03	Apply historical and contemporary psychological perspectives that shape views on human thoughts and behaviors.			TMA, EOC
04	Apply psychology to different careers.			TMA

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Unit 2	Research in Psychology	2 Weeks

Instructional Objective 1363.02 Understand the elements of psychology as a science in relation to research methods.			Standard Reference 136302
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Assess the advantages measuring and gathering information in a scientific way.	Ch. 2		TMA, EOC
02	Define and differentiate between the concepts of validity and reliability.			TMA
03	Demonstrate the difference between independent, dependent, and confounding variables.			TMA, EOC
04	Examine the difference between biased and unbiased ways of seeking to understand human behavior.			TMA
05	Identify the ethical issues that may arise in the course of conducting psychological research.			TMA, EOC
06	Utilize the critical thinking skills necessary when studying research methods.			TMA
Instructional Objective 1363.03 Explore the major methods by which psychologists conduct research and assess the primary strengths and weaknesses of each.			Standard Reference 136303
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Apply the different methods of research utilized in psychology.	Ch. 2		TMA, EOC
02	Describe the basic components of experiments, surveys, naturalistic observations, case studies, correlations, and interviews.
03	Define hypothesis.
04	Outline the principles that guide the selection of a sample.			TMA

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Unit 3	The Brain, Biology, and Behavior	2 Weeks

Instructional Objective 1363.04 Discuss, define, and depict the basic components of the nervous system.			Standard Reference 136304
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Identify and define the different parts of the neuron and synapse.	Ch. 3
02	Discuss how and why neurons fire.
03	Demonstrate and categorize the functions and divisions of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Instructional Objective 1363.05 Examine the functions of the various parts of the brain.			Standard Reference 136305
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Identify and distinguish between the hemispheres of the brain.	Ch. 3		TMA, EOC
02	Locate and differentiate the four lobes of the cerebral cortex.
03	Identify and define the functions of the divisions of the subcortex (hindbrain and midbrain).
04	Compare and contrast the different methods of brain imaging (MRI, EEG, PET, CT).
05	Explain how the endocrine system works in cooperation with the nervous system.			TMA

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Unit 4	Lifespan Development	2 Weeks

Instructional Objective 1363.06 Describe the major developmental stages and important milestones of prenatal development and infancy.			Standard Reference 136306
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Debate, apply, and provide evidence for the nature versus nurture issue.	Ch. 4 & 5		TMA, EOC
02	Identify the different teratogens affecting prenatal development.			TMA
03	Explain the process of childbirth and discuss the effects of postpartum depression.			TMA
04	Recognize the importance of motor and emotional development in infancy.			TMA, EOC
05	Identify and distinguish between the reflexes critical to infant development.			TMA
06	Discuss the importance of the critical periods in development, including attachment.			TMA, EOC
07	Compare the different theories behind language acquisition. (Chomsky & Skinner)			TMA
08	Depict the contributions made by Piaget, Vygotsky, and Harlow in development.			TMA, EOC
Instructional Objective 1363.07 Describe the major developmental stages and important milestones of childhood and adolescence.			Standard Reference 136307
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Recognize and discuss various childhood and adolescent developmental issues (i.e., toilet training and puberty).	Ch. 4 & 5		TMA, EOC
02	Analyze and debate different parenting styles and forms of discipline.
03	List and give examples Erikson�s eight stages of development.
04	Explore the different stages of Kohlberg�s theory of moral development.
05	Discuss the definition of intelligence and the historical understanding and impact of the intelligence quotient (IQ).	Ch. 12		TMA
Instructional Objective 1363.08 Describe the major developments and important milestones of adulthood.			Standard Reference 136308
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Investigate the effects of marriage, children, and careers on adult development (i.e., empty-nest syndrome and midlife crisis).	Ch. 4 & 5		TMA
02	Recognize the biological and emotional aspects of aging.			TMA
03	List and describe the five stages of death and dying according to Kubler-Ross.			TMA, EOC

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Unit 5	Learning	1 Week

Instructional Objective 1363.09 Differentiate and demonstrate the various types of learning.			Standard Reference 136309
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Define and apply the terms and concepts of classical conditioning.	Ch. 9		TMA, EOC
02	Describe the contributions made by Pavlov and Watson in classical conditioning.
03	Apply the terms and concepts of operant conditioning.
04	Apply the technique of shaping.
05	Demonstrate the schedules of reinforcement and discuss the applications of each.
06	Describe the contributions made by Skinner in operant conditioning.
07	Describe and demonstrate observational (social) learning.
08	Describe observational learning. (modeling)
09	Explore the basics of cognitive learning.			TMA

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Unit 6	Memory	1 Week

Instructional Objective 1363.10 Describe the process of encoding, storing, and retrieving memory.			Standard Reference 136310
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Define sensory memory and identify real-life examples of its application.	Ch. 10		TMA
02	List and describe the components and processes involved in short-term memory.			TMA, EOC
03	Comprehend and describe the organizations and types of long-term memory.			TMA, EOC
04	Identify how memory is measured.			TMA
05	Describe and apply the processes involved in forgetting.			TMA, EOC
06	Explore ways to improve memory.			TMA, EOC

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Unit 7	Personality	2 Weeks

Instructional Objective 1363.11 Define personality and discuss and differentiate the various theorists and the testing methods involved in personality.			Standard Reference 136311
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Compare and contrast the different theories of personality.	Ch. 15		TMA
02	Debate the contributions of the major personality theorists.
03	Comprehend Freud�s structure of personality.			TMA, EOC
04	Define Freud�s levels of awareness.
05	Debate and critique Freud�s psychosexual stages of personality development.
06	Illustrate and apply the various defense mechanisms outlined by Freud.	Ch. 16
07	Discuss the nature versus nurture debate in relationship to personality.	Ch. 15
08	Compare and contrast the differences in various personality tests or assessments.			TMA
09	Investigate the validity and reliability of intelligence tests.	Ch. 12

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Unit 8	States of Consciousness	1 Week

Instructional Objective 1363.12 Characterize and define the different states of consciousness.			Standard Reference 136312
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Identify and comprehend the different stages of sleep.	Ch. 8		TMA, EOC
02	Evaluate the importance of sleep and recognize the problems associated with sleep deprivation.
03	Define and differentiate the various sleep disorders.
04	Examine the impact and uses of hypnosis, meditation, and drugs.

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Unit 9	Psychological Disorders and Therapies	3 Weeks

Instructional Objective 1363.13 Describe the complexity of defining abnormality and psychological disorders.			Standard Reference 136313
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Describe and apply the criteria for abnormality.	Ch. 17		TMA, EOC
02	Debate the application and uses of the DSM IV.			TMA, EOC
03	Explore the history of psychological disorders.			TMA
04	Differentiate and discuss the various categories of psychological disorders.			TMA, EOC
05	List and define the specific psychological disorders.			TMA, EOC
Instructional Objective 1363.14 Describe the various types of therapies and applications.			Standard Reference 136314
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Differentiate among the various psychological therapies.	Ch. 18		TMA, EOC
02	Apply therapeutic techniques to different psychological disorders.			TMA
03	Discuss the contributions of various individuals associated with the development of different therapeutic approaches.			TMA, EOC
04	Examine the benefits and limitations of psychopharmacology.			TMA, EOC
05	Discuss the different extremes of intelligence. (giftedness and mental retardation)	Ch. 12		TMA

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Unit 10	Social Psychology	2 Weeks

Instructional Objective 1363.15 Explore how individuals and groups behave, think, and feel in various social situations.			Standard Reference 136315
No.	Performance Objective	Resource Reference		Assessment Correlation
01	Discuss how individuals fit into different roles within society.	Ch. 19		TMA
02	Discuss why groups form and why they are maintained.
03	Differentiate between intimate, personal, social, and public distance.
04	Explain and apply the attribution theory.			TMA, EOC
05	Discuss the need for affiliation.			TMA
06	Discuss the components involved in interpersonal attraction.
07	Discuss the components involved in intimate relationships.
08	Discuss social influences on human behavior. (social comparison theory, situational demands, and social exchange theory)			TMA, EOC
09	Debate the ethical issues involved in Milgram�s obedience study and the Stanford prison experiment of Zimbardo�s.
10	Examine and apply the conformity study of Asch.
11	Discuss and apply the techniques utilized in compliance.			TMA

Social Studies - Psychology I

Course Description

A Note on the Standards

Adopted Materials

Copyright Resources

K – 12 Social Studies Scope and Sequence

Course Scope