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Social Studies>8th Grade early American history
TITLE
Eighth Grade Early American History
TEXTBOOK
The American Nation, Third Edition, by James West, Davidson and John E.Batchelor,
Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1995.
DESCRIPTION
American History for eighth graders is a required course and is part of the
eighth grade core curriculum. It meets three times per week for 68 minutes per
sessions. This program concentrates on the time period from the Colonial times
to the early 1900’s. This time period will be covered chronologically and
sequentially. Other areas to be covered will include current events, geography,
multiculturalism (Native American and African-American) and the development of
the democratic system.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Students will examine the acquisition of New World colonies by Spain, France
and England. Students will label maps enabling them to relate areas of the New
World and its European influence. (8.1.1, 8.1.2, 8.1.9, 8.3.10)
2. Students will illustrate the different eastern Native Americans and cite the
influence the Europeans had on them. (8.1.3, 8.1.9,8.3.10)
3. Students will outline and examine the events leading to the Revolutionary War
and the war itself, focusing on people, places and events.(8.1.3, 8.1.9, 8.1.10,
8.3.10)
4. Students will point the differences between the Articles of Confederation and
the Constitution. (8.1.4, 8.1.5, 8.1.9, 8.3.1, 8.3.3)
5. Students will examine the Amendments. (8.1.4, 8.3.9)
6. Students will paraphrase and examine the basic fundamentals of how our
government was created including the development of the Constitution, and the
Bill of Rights. (8.1.4, 8.3.1, 8.3.3, 8.3.4, 8.3.8, 8.3.9)
7. Students will examine the expansion of the United States, including the
Louisiana Purchase, Oregon Country, Spanish Territories, Texas and various
events that lead up to their acquisition. (8.1.9, 8.1.10)
8. Students will describe and distinguish various aspects of the Industrial
Revolution, including new inventions in agriculture, communications, and
transportation. (8.1.6, 8.2.1, 8.3.10)
9. Students will analyze events that lead up to and caused the Civil War.
(8.1.7, 8.1.8, 8.1.9, 8.1.10, 8.2.1, 8.3.10)
10. Students will break down and examine the changes brought about by
Reconstruction. This will include the growth of racism and Civil Rights. (8.1.9,
8.1.10, 8.3.8, 8.3.10)
11. Students will present currents events to the class through out the year.
(8.2.8)
WRITING ACTIVITIES
1. Students will write reports and give presentations of various lengths for
various topics through out the year.
2. Students will be required to take notes over reading material.
3. Students will complete essays on tests and quizzes.
MULTICULTURE ACTIVITIES
1. Students shall create posters dealing with early Native American lifestyles.
2. Students shall create a power point presentation on famous Black Americans in
February.
3. Students shall trace the arrival of slaves from Africa in the Triangular
Trade.
4. Students shall create posters of slave life on the southern plantation.
5. Students shall view the movie “Glory” and the contributions of blacks in the
Civil War.
