Welcome to Grade 8 Social Studies! Open House, Sept. 1, 2015

Grade 8 is a Thinking Zone! “What did you do in school, today, son, believe… – or think?” A Thinking Zone!

The Purpose of Social Studies… To provide students with opportunities to learn about the “human experience” What does it mean to be “human?” Why do humans behave as they (we) do?

The Purpose of Social Studies…  To teach students to how to think critically and make informed and reasoned decisions …about what is important to them now and in the future

The Purpose of Social Studies… And to guide the development of skills students need to be actively and effectively engaged  with classmates  in their communities  as citizens of a diverse and globally connected world community.

We draw from the Social Sciences to do this…  Anthropology  Economics  Geography  History  Law  Philosophy  Political science  Psychology  Religion  Sociology

We use the classroom as a laboratory for  intellectual risk-taking  Developing critical thinking skills  Developing collaborative skills  Individual and group thinking  Research &problem-solving  QUESTIONING  Seeking solutions  Public debate  Finding individual voice

Thematic Learning Units Dude, Where’s My Culture? Learning to look  “beneath the tip of the ice-berg” to recognize and understand less-visible (hidden) aspects of culture that “bind” a people together  Focus on developing analytic (critical) thinking skills  Using the current events, documentaries, movies, and more, to “see” culture in action, applying these concepts and skills

Thematic, cont… Mother, Should I Trust the Government? -Forms of Government -Economic Systems & Government -Philosophers - Governance in a Democratic Society Citizen Rights & Responsibilities (case study: USA)

Thematic, cont. “Choices in Little Rock” an extended case study on the American Experience  The “individual and society”  Race and identity  Segregation and Its Consequences  The Road to the Civil Rights Movement  The importance of Choices made by leaders, media, students, community,

Inquiry Based Learning Units (Project-Based Learning) Global Issues (PBL)-extended unit Past Issues 2011: Crisis in the Horn of Africa 2012: The issue of North Korea 2013: Global Issues Summit 2014: Global Food Security 2015: ?

Focus on 21 st Century Skills Development: 5 Cs :  Collaboration  Critical Thinking  Communication  Content  Creativity

Assignments & Formative Assessments  Are Varied! Class Discussions Follow-up reflections & responses Thinking Maps Informal Observation 1-1 conversations Quizzes (Necessary Content knowledge) “Take-aways” from class activity/lesson EVERNOTES

Summative Assessments Call on students to demonstrate learning through meaningful, relevant application of concepts and skills, such as  Family / personal ethnographic work  document analysis (critical thinking)  Analyzing media (movies)  Writing a position paper or policy recommendation  Citizen advocacy (letters, public debate)

Reporting of student Growth is based on these Standards: Standard 1: Content Understanding The student comprehends the meaning and significance of concepts Standard 2: Critical Thinking Skills The student researches, thinks critically and applies knowledge about concepts Standard 3: Communication Skills The student communicates using a variety of skills & media

"We are faced with the preeminent fact that if civilization is to survive we must cultivate the science of human relationship-- the ability of peoples of all kinds to live together and work together in the same world, at peace.” President Franklin Delano Roosevelt 1945 Toward this end we will instruct and guide your sons and daughters this year. Linda Greer-Wegener