Mrs.

Steffan  
8​th​ Grade Social Studies – American History 
Co-teaching with Mrs. Ovalle and Mrs. Goodwin during certain periods 
  
Course Description: 
This American History course is a survey of American history beginning in the 1450s with 
the colonization of the Americas and ending in 1865 with the Civil War. This course is 
designed to help students understand how and why particular events and patterns of 
events occurred in our society. The purpose of this course is to provide students with a 
historical background of the US. This survey course will enable students to understand 
the geographic, political and economic developments that affect current events. 
  
Course Expectations: 
  
Students in this American History class are expected to develop writing skills, to keep up 
with reading assignments, and to begin the process of historical analysis critical to 
understanding and interpreting the past. Students are expected to come to class 
prepared and to complete assignments on time. Students are expected to put full effort 
into all work whether it is formative, summative, homework, or discussion. 
  
Class Materials: 
Needed in class everyday- 
● Class notes and handouts 
● Folder or binder for class notes and handouts (meant only for this class not shared) 
● Agenda book should be used to track assignments and school events 
● Loose leaf paper  
● Pencils/Pens 
Where to find- 
● No Textbook will be assigned because students will have online access to the book 
● Notes, videos, classroom announcements, and assignments will often be posted on 
my Google Classroom or on my website mrssteffan.weebly.com 
  
Grading Plan: 
  
➢ Summative scores will have the weight of 100 percent in the gradebook. 
➢ There will be between ​6-10 ​summative assignments each quarter. The unit tests 
will consist of a variety of question types. All essay questions will be answered in 
 RACE form. Routine map and vocab quizzes will be given as summatives in class. 
Also projects or activity based summatives are frequent in my classroom. 
➢ Any work not completed during the daily lesson will be considered homework. Any 
work done in class or at home should be placed in the student’s folder, which the 
student should bring to every class. 
➢ Each student will participate in several individual/small group 
activities/presentations. 
➢ Students will be allowed to sign up to reassess up to 2 summative tests within each 
quarter. This is an opportunity for students that had unexpected life events or 
issues with understanding the content to get the chance to show their real 
knowledge on a reassessment test. Students will need to discuss with the teacher 
their wanting to reassess and complete the contracted prep work within the 
required time in order to earn reassessment. Reassessment tests will cover the 
same content, but will have reformatted questions (it’s not just the same test 
again). If students sign up but do not follow through with the required work to 
reassess in the time allotted per district policy, they will forfeit their opportunity 
to reassess that quarter. Per district policies, students cannot reassess summative 
projects/activities as the group work and/or situations cannot be reproduced. 
 
Summative Grading Scale: 

A  90-100 % 

B  80-89 % 

C  70-79 % 

D  60-69 % 

F  59 % or Below 
  
Formative assignments: 
Formative work is the most important. It shows what the student knows before we take a 
test, and any missed questions can alert the student to what they need to study or ask 
questions about. Often formative classwork, quizzes, and homework will be recorded in 
the gradebook using a 4 point scale to show the level of mastery a student has gained of a 
content standard. Here is the 4 point grading scale and its meaning: 
 
4= Exemplary​ (Above and beyond, perfect) 
3= Proficient​ (Got it, good understanding, could include more specific detail) 
2= Developing​ (Struggling with the content or skill, but shows some knowledge) 
1= Basic​ (Shows little to no knowledge of the content or skill, really needs help) 
 
Course Policies: 

Student Work:​ Students will be expected to complete assignments outside of class time. 
All students are expected to read class material, think critically, and write effectively. 
Students are expected to use complete sentences, proper grammar and correct spelling in 
every written performance. All work should be in the student’s own words and in line with 
the district academic honesty policies, not plagiarized or copied and pasted. 
Group Activities:​ You will be working in groups on a regular basis. Your group will be given 
cooperative learning activities to complete. You will be expected to be an active member 
of your group and participation points will be assessed accordingly. You will always be 
graded as an individual. 
Absences:​ If a student is absent, it is HIS/HER responsibility to get all late work from 
the teacher and return it in a timely manner. 
  
Projected Summatives per Quarter 
*All units and activities are subject to change due to student progress, school events, 
weather, and timing throughout the year. This is simply a general guide to show you what 
could and has occurred in the past in my classroom as well as the potential point value. 
 
1st Quarter: 
*Subjects Covered: The Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Enlightenment Thinkers; European 
Colonization; First English Settlements 
▪ Types of Government Activity (Points-20 maximum) 
▪ Enlightenment Activity (Points-20 maximum) 
▪ Enlightenment 5 Paragraph Essay (Points-50 maximum) 
▪ 3 Branches of Government Poster Project (Group Assignment, Points-50 maximum, 
cannot reassess) 
▪ Checks and Balance Power Card Activity (Points-20 maximum) 
▪ Map quiz 1 (Points-20 maximum) 
▪ Government Unit Test (Points-50 maximum) 
▪ Welcome to America and Early Colonies Unit Test (Points-50 maximum) 
▪ Map quiz 2 (Points-20 maximum) 
 
2nd Quarter 
*Subjects Covered: 13 Colonies and 3 Regions; French and Indian War, Road to Revolution; 
American Revolution 
▪ Washington D.C. Week Booklets (Points-50 maximum, cannot reassess) 
▪ Unit 3 Test (Points-50 maximum) 
▪ Propaganda poster (Points-20 maximum) 
▪ Colony presentation and project (Group assignment, Points-50 maximum, cannot 
reassess) 
▪ Map quiz 3 (Points-20 maximum) 
▪ Unit 4 Test (Points-50 maximum) 
▪ Road to Revolution Debate Activity (Group assignment, Points-50 maximum, cannot 
reassess) 
▪ Slavery and perspective project (Points-50 maximum, cannot reassess) 
▪ 1776 Timetravel Investigation and Activity (Points-50 maximum, cannot reassess) 
▪ Map quiz 4 (Points-20 maximum) 
 
3rd Quarter 
*Subjects Covered: American Revolution, Confederation to Constitution, First Presidents, 
Westward Expansion 
▪ The Crossing Timetravel Investigation and Activity (Points-50 maximum, cannot 
reassess) 
▪ Unit 5 Test (Points-50 maximum)  
▪ American Revolution Battles Annotated Timeline Project (Points-50 maximum)  
▪ Unit 6 Test (Points-50 maximum) 
▪ Perspective Assignment (Points-30 maximum) 
▪ Unit 7 Test (Points-50 maximum) 
4th Quarter 
*Subjects Covered: Civic Action Groups (Temperance, Abolition, Labor, and Suffrage), 
Civil War, Reconstruction 
▪ Unit 8 Test (Points-50 maximum) 
▪ Unit 9 Test (Points-50 maximum) 
▪ Civic Action March and Sign Project (Points-60 points maximum, cannot reassess) 
 ▪ End of Course SLO (This will consist of 2 parts- points to be determined by growth 
of student) 
 
Statement for Academic Dishonesty: 
Academic honesty is expected in this class. Cheating will not be tolerated. All student 
work is to be put into their own words rather than copied and/or pasted directly from any 
source. Consequences may include: reduction in grade on assignment, repeat assignment, 
no grade on assignment, or others as deemed appropriate. Academic dishonesty will be 
reported to a school administrator. 
  
Bells: 
7:10 am Doors Open 
7:25 am First Bell (students released to go to class) 
7:30 am 1st Period Begins 
2:25 pm Bus Dismissal 
2:30 pm Pick Up Dismissal 
 
Discipline and Class Rules: 
Discipline has been reformatted as a building to help streamline it and make it more 
consistent. Here are the rules, policies, and consequences that will be utilized this year 
with students.   
*All consequences are subject to severity and circumstances with each individual student. 
 
 
Expectations:  Consequences:  Removals: 
Be On Time  Warning  Gross insubordination 
Be Prepared  Conference in hallway  Weapons 
Be Respectful  Move Seat  Drug/Alcohol Policy 
Be Engaged  Discipline Referral to  Threats 
Principal 
Contact Parent 
Assign Detention 
ALC 
 
Specific School Building Policies 
Dress Code Violation 
● Assign Detention 
● Student must carry pink copy 
 
Locker Violation  
(Can only go to locker at the start of school, before and after lunch, and  
after 9th period unless given teacher pass) 
 ● 1 x Warning 
● Assign Detention 
 
Cell Phone 
● Cannot be seen, heard, or used - Confiscate phone 
● Turn in at office 
 
Contact Info: 
I will be sending out a message updating parents using the Remind program weekly. Please 
check the online gradebook called Progressbook frequently to check on missing or late 
assignments, student grades, and reassessment opportunities if they are needed. The 
best way to contact me during the day is via email at: 
sadie.steffan@urbanacityschools.org