C3 Framework

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards

The C3 Framework emphasizes the acquisition and application of knowledge to prepare students for college, career, and civic life.

It intentionally envisions social studies instruction as an inquiry arc of interlocking and mutually reinforcing elements that speak to the intersection of ideas and learners, including critical thinking and collaborative effort.

The Four Dimensions (Civics, Economics, Geography, and History) center on the use of questions to spark curiosity, guide instruction, deepen investigations and participatory skills, acquire rigorous content knowledge, and apply knowledge and ideas in real-world settings to become active and engaged citizens in the 21st century.

NOW MORE THAN EVER, students need the intellectual power to recognize societal problems; ask good questions and develop robust investigations into them with critical thinking; consider possible solutions and consequences; separate evidence-based claims from parochial opinions; and communicate and act upon what they learn. And most importantly, they must possess the capability and commitment to repeat that process as long as is necessary. Young people need strong tools for, and methods of, clear and disciplined thinking, problem solving, and planning inquiries in order to traverse successfully the worlds of college, career, and civic life.

The C3 Framework is centered on an inquiry arc, a set of interlocking and mutually supportive ideas that frame the ways students learn social studies content. By focusing on the inquiry design model, the framework emphasizes the disciplinary concepts and practices that support students as they develop the capacity to know, analyze, explain, and argue about interdisciplinary challenges in our social world.

C3 Framework Collections

Examples from C3 Framework Kindergarten Classroom Collection
C3 Framework Grade K Classroom Collection
Examples of C3 Framework Grade K Classroom Library
C3 Framework Grade K Classroom Library
Examples of C3 Framework Grade 1 Classroom Collection
C3 Framework Grade 1 Classroom Collection
Examples of C3 Framework Grade 1 Classroom Library
C3 Framework Grade 1 Classroom Library
Examples of C3 Framework Grade 2 Classroom Collection
C3 Framework Grade 2 Classroom Collection
Examples of C3 Framework Grade 2 Classroom Library
C3 Framework Grade 2 Classroom Library
Examples of C3 Framework Grade 3 Classroom Collection
C3 Framework Grade 3 Classroom Collection
Examples of C3 Framework Grade 3 Classroom Collection
C3 Framework Grade 3 Classroom Library
Examples of C3 Framework Grade 4 Classroom Collection
C3 Framework Grade 4 Classroom Collection
Examples of C3 Framework Grade 4 Classroom Library
C3 Framework Grade 4 Classroom Library
Examples of C3 Framework Grade 5 Classroom Collection
C3 Framework Grade 5 Classroom Collection
Examples of C3 Framework Grade 5 Classroom Library
C3 Framework Grade 5 Classroom Library

Dear Educators,

Why do we think that social studies education is more important than ever? Capstone believes that students need the power to recognize societal problems, to ask good questions and develop investigations into those questions, to separate evidence-based claims from opinions, and to communicate and act upon what they’ve learned. 

C3 means “College, Career, and Civic Life”— the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards is a guide that helps each state strengthen instruction in social studies programs by establishing fewer, clearer, and higher standards for instruction in civics, economics, geography, and history. 

Our texts match the social studies standards in C3 and rigor of the social studies disciplines to prepare learners for college, career, and civic life. Each text in our C3 Collections has been rigorously aligned not only to the content standards and four dimensions, but also to the reading level appropriate for the grade. Each high quality collection provides robust yet engaging content for today’s learners in a variety of nonfiction formats, from early content readers and short chapter books to graphic nonfiction and primary sources. Teaching supports allow for easy implementation and creation of lesson plans for social studies teachers; and photos, tables, timelines and other text features bring concepts to life! 

We’re certain that these collections will help C3 teachers and your learners have a richer understanding and content knowledge of history, economics, and geography, but, even more important, have a deeper understanding of what it means to be an aware and informed citizen!