Core Curriculum: Social Science

Eight grade students will be exposed to a broad range of materials and experiences in social science.  The basal textbook, America: History of Our the American Nation, takes a chronological approach to American history from early America to 2003 with abundant activities to expose students to our rich heritage.  Coupled with the textbook, each student experiences living history through field trips and guest speakers that take the study of American history beyond the textbook.

Goals and Objectives:

1. Students will know the major events and personalities that helped shape American history.
2. Students will improve their skills in test-taking, graph reading, map reading, note taking, recognizing cause-and-effect relationships, and applying critical thinks skills to history and current events.
3. Students will enjoy American history more in June than they did in August!

Major Topics of Study:

1. Exploration/Colonization
2. The American Revolution           
3. The Constitutional Era   
4. Jacksonian Democracy 
5. Westward Expansion
6. The Civil War
7. American Industry
8. Immigration
9. The Age of Reform
10. World War I
11. The Great Depression
12. World War II
13. The Cold War
14. The 1960s
15. Major Current Events