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    The Signing of the Declaration of Independence
     
    What is 8th Grade Social Studies all about?
     
    Enduring Understandings
     
     
    What are the

    "BIG IDEAS"

    also known as

    "Enduring Understandings"

    we will focus on this year?
     
     
    What are our
    "LEARNING TARGETS"?
     
     
    The 8th Grade Social Studies program is a history course that continues the story of America, from the time leading up to the American Revolution through the causes of the Civil War.
     
     
    The 8th Grade Social Studies course will cover six (6) units of study:
    • The Road towards Revolution
    • From Confederation to Constitution
    • The Early Republic
    • A Changing Country
    • The Dividing Nation
    • A More Perfect Union (A Mini Civics Course)
     
     
    Click Here to Download a Copy of
    the Curriculum Overview
     
    Click Here to Download a Copy of
    the Enduring Understandings and Learning Targets
     
     
     
     
    BIG IDEAS and LEARNING TARGETS
     
    Unit 1: The Road towards Revolution
    • A brief study of the rising tension between England and its American colonies, analysis of the Declaration of Independence, and a brief survey of the American Revolution is covered in this unit.  We may read and discuss a work of historical fiction, My Brother Sam Is Dead.
    • This Unit's Enduring Understandings (Big Ideas) are:
      • People have natural rights and governments are created to protect those rights.
      • When a government is destructive of the natural rights of men, the people have the right and duty to overthrow that government.
      • Governing documents reflect the values of society.
      • Failure to find a compromise leads to conflict.
    • This Unit's Learning Targets are:
      • I understand the rights all people have.
      • I understand one purpose of government is to protect the natural rights of people.
      • I understand why the colonists thought it necessary to rebel.
      • I understand how the Declaration of Independence and the concept of “liberty” justified rebellion.
      • I understand the conflicting viewpoints in the colonies about rebellion.
      • I understand why the war was necessary and why the US won.
      • I understand the terms of the Treaty of Paris ending the war.
     
     
     
    Unit 2: From Confederation to Constitution
    • The first government of the United States, the Articles of Confederation, struggled to keep order and run our new country.  Students will examine the features of our first government, including its strengths and weaknesses.  As the nation reaches a crisis point, the young country calls a special convention in Philadelphia to look at and improved the government.
    • This Unit's Enduring Understandings (Big Ideas) are:
      • The seat of power in a government must be balanced to ensure that the government is effective at managing the affairs of the country without being abusive.
      This Unit's Learning Targets are:
      • I understand the eight features of the Articles of Confederation.
      • I understand the first government's strengths and weaknesses.
      • I understand the events led to the calling of a national convention to improve our government.
      • I understand the key issues presented during the Constitutional Convention.
      
     
     
    Unit 3: The Early Republic
    • An analysis of the key issues facing our young nation, both domestic and foreign will be explored.
    • This Unit's Enduring Understandings (Big Ideas) are:
      • All nations must adapt to both domestic and foreign challenges if those countries are to endure.
      • Citizens participate in the U.S. government through political parties that have their own platforms to solve problems.
      This Unit's Learning Targets are:
      • I understand the domestic challenges to the new government’s authority to rule.
      • I understand the foreign challenges of remaining neutral.
      • I understand government policy is developed to answer the challenges of governing the country.
      • I understand the role of political parties in the United States.
      
     
    Unit 4: The Changing Country
    • A detailed study of the growing nation, the rise of nationalism, the driving force of Manifest Destiny, and the reform movements are included in this unit.
    • This Unit's Enduring Understandings (Big Ideas) are:
      • Social and technological advancements change and challenge the face of a nation.
      • American nationalism leads Manifest Destiny and expansion across the continent.
      This Unit's Learning Targets are:
      • I understand the effect of the Industrial Revolution on the North and the South.
      • I understand as the nation developed, conflict occurred among social groups.
      • I understand the change and growth of American nationalism.
      • I understand how Manifest Destiny fueled the growth of the United States from ocean to ocean.
     
     
    Unit 5: A Dividing Nation
    • A detailed study of the Worlds of the North and the South, African Americans, and a Dividing Nation concludes the course.
    • This Unit's Enduring Understandings (Big Ideas) are:
      • When a government is destructive of the natural rights of men, the people have the right and duty to overthrow that government.
      • Failure to find a compromise leads to conflict.
      This Unit's Learning Targets are:
      • I understand the two distinct worlds of the North and the South.
      • I understand the role the institution of slavery had in the growing crisis.
      • I understand why the southern secessionists thought it necessary to rebel.
      • I understand the conflicting viewpoints between the North and the South about rebellion.
      • I understand why the war was necessary for the South.

     

     

     

    Unit 6: A More Perfect Union (A Mini Civics Course)

    • A brief study of the founding principles of our government, the three branches of government, how laws are made, amending our Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
    • This Unit's Enduring Understandings (Big Ideas) are:
      • The seat of power in a government must be balanced to ensure that the government is effective at managing the affairs of the country without being abusive.
      • In a democratic society, all citizens have rights and responsibilities.
      This Unit's Learning Targets are:
      • I understand how the framework for our government developed.
      • I understand how government power is shared.
      • I understand how government power is divided.
      • I understand how government power is limited.
      • I understand the role of citizens in the United States.
      • I understand the rights of citizens in the United States.
      • I understand the responsibilities of citizens in the United States.

     

      

     
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