Curriculum – Grade 8 Social Studies

Grade 8 Social Studies

History Geography Civics and Government Economics/Law

What your child will • How immigrants • Map skills to analyze • How our founding • The principle foundations of
learn contributed to the the flow of immigrants fathers created a economic systems in the
culture and the from around the world lasting government United States
policies of the United • How to use maps and • The structure of the • How the government and
States government charts to examine the three branches and the economy work together
• The importance of pattern of immigration levels of government • How the United States
diversity in the Unite to the United States • How the different criminal justice process
States through from 1900 to 2000 levels of the American works
exploration of citizen legal system function • The impact of advertising on
profiles • U.S. Supreme Court a society
• The impact of Cases relevant to • How the government
Supreme court cases criminal defense and protects consumer rights
on citizenship civil rights
• How the conflicts • The differences
between the US between criminal and
colonies and England civil law
led to revolution and
the Constitution
What your child will • Explore American • Use maps and charts • Explore and compare • Participate in project-based
do society and its values to identify origins of the 3 branches of the learning and/or simulations
• Use primary and American immigrants government • Work individually and in
secondary sources to • Work individually and • Participate in project- groups to answer questions
learn about our in groups to answer based learning and problem solve
culture, values, and questions and experiences and/or • Participate in a mock trial
citizenship problem solve simulations and research civil cases
• Use primary and • Analyze contracts and their
secondary sources to importance to consumers
understand the
foundations of our
government
• Analyze/interpret US
Supreme Court cases
relevant to criminal
defense and civil
rights

What you’ll see • Student-created notes • Maps and graphics to • Student-created notes • Visuals related to
(products) that use the proper analyze immigration that use proper note- exploration of personal
note-taking skills • Visuals related to taking skills budgets
• Visuals related to learned information • Visuals related to • Student-created notes that
learned information • Student-created notes learned information use proper note-taking skills
that use proper note- • Civil case research project
taking skills.
How you can help • Share your family’s • Encourage your child • Encourage your child • Help your child to make a
heritage with your to read maps while to read the newspaper budget for their spending
child traveling and watch news as it • Share your budget
• Read and share • Monitor your child’s relates to topics in experiences
literature about homework and grades class • Monitor your child’s
immigrants online • Follow elections and homework and grades
• Monitor your child’s share information with online
grades and homework your child
• Take your child along
to the voting booth
when you vote
• Monitor your child’s
homework and grades
online