Welcome to 8th Grade Social Studies!!!

Welcome!

“Children must be taught HOW to think, not WHAT to think.” - Margaret Mead

 

ALL CLASSES WILL NEED A NOTEBOOK TO WRITE IN EVERYDAY AND A FOLDER FOR THEIR PAPERS!

 

During the course of the year, students will be writing, analyzing, identifying, investigating, evaluating, explaining, and constructing thoughts, ideas, and opinions based on different content areas that make up Social Studies. The major topics that will be covered during 8th Grade Social Studies class will be American History, Geography, Economics and Government. 

Below are some of the topics, events, and information that may be covered throughout the course of the year!

 

American History:

  • Native American, European Immigrants, and African culture
  • Early Settlement of America
  • American Revolution
  • Formation of the New Nation and the Constitution
  • Westward Expansion
    • Louisiana Purchase
    • Lewis and Clark
    • Missouri Compromise
    • Texas and Mexican War
    • Oregon Territory
    • California Gold Rush
  • Reform Movemens
    • Abolitionism
    • Women's Movement
    • Jacksonian Democracy
  • Causes and consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction

 

Geography:

  • Geographic Research (reporting information, solving problems, and making predictions)
  • Construct Maps
  • States of the United States (cities and topographic features)
  • Geographic Placces (absolute and relative location)
  • Physical Characteristics (climate, topography, relationships to water, ecosystems)
  • Human Characteristics (education, diversity, language, economies, religions, settlement patterns, ethnic background, political systems)

 

Economics:

  • Economic Concepts (business cycles, unemployment, market economy)
  • How government, businesses, groups, and individuals affect one another in a market economy
  • Different forms of taxes (tariffs, sale taxes, income taxes, and purposes of taxes)
  • Role of technology in the economy (changes in agricultural economy to industrial economy)
  • Interpret the past, explain the present, and predict the future consequences of economic decisions

 

Government:

  • Important Principles (including vocabulary, voting, government systems, and governemtn processes)
    • Declaration of Independence
    • The United States and State of Missouri Constitution
    • Bill of Rights
  • Branches of Government
  • Local, State, and National Government

 

At the end of 8th grade, students will be able to:

  1. Explain how changes in transportation, communications, and other technoligies affect movement of people, products, and ideas.
  2. Explain how regions of the United States relate to one another and change over time.
  3. Compare major patterns of population distribution, demographics, and migrations in the United States and the impact of those patterns on cultures and community life.
  4. Analyze how a person becomes a member of a group or institution and what factors influence inclusion or exclusion from a group. 
  5. Describe and assess how laws and events influence people's perceptions and judgements and vice versa. 
  6. Analyze how ideas, concepts, and traditions have changed over time (e.g. women's role in society).

 

At the end of 8th grade, students will be able to fullfil and complete the above Missouri standards by:

  1. Selecting, investigating, and presenting a topic using primary and secondary resources, such as oral interviews, artifacts, journals, documents, photos and letters.
  2. Using and creating maps, graphs, statistical data, timelines, charts, and diagrams to interpret, draw conclusions, make predictions and communicate information. 
  3. Distinguishing between fact and opinion, recognizing bias, and understanding different points of view. 
  4. Using technological tools for research and presentation.
  5. Identifying, researching, and defending a point of view/position.