History 8
Course Description
US HISTORY 8 encompasses the birth of a nation to the rise of industry. This course places an emphasis on a worldview of American history including: the contributions and effects of cultures, the founding fathers, slavery, expansion and division as the American people held on to their goals and aspirations. In each time period, students are challenged to consider contrasting perspectives, thus deepening their understanding of other cultures, histories, and experiences. Reading and analyzing primary source documents and literature will build critical-thinking skills and aid in the construction of arguments. Through lectures, discussions, individual projects, and group activities, students continue to develop the skills of listening, note-taking, research, planning and organization, formal writing, interpretation, persuasion, and public speaking. Geography, economics, and political science are among the other Common Core elements taught in this course. Units of study are connected to students’ current life experiences and interests while building skills and understandings they may need in later years. The social studies focus encourages the development of skills using methods required by the Common Core Standards.