Birmingham Public Schools A K-12 Narrative of Social Studies Education in 2015

8 TH GRADE US HISTORY

Brendan is a 13 year old 8 th grade student with downs syndrome. I have Brendan 6 th hour and he is frequently tired and ready to “relax” by the time he gets to me. He loves class and the relationships he has in the room, but curriculum engagement and assignment completion are his biggest challenges. Brendan, age 13

Conditions Resources and Brendan: The curriculum materials as a whole are essentially useless for Mr. Brendan. Textbook format, reading level, and focus are not a fit for him. Resources that work are all supplementals I find for him: youtube clips, history channel videos, picture books, elementary resources… e Students meet 5 days a week for 55 minutes a day Resources Used: History Alive! Materials (textbook and interactive notebook), Creating America textbook, We the People book, and various supplemental materials (e.g.- websites, primary sources, and newspaper articles) Resources are either directly stated in the standards or have been reviewed by former review groups of the district. The multitude of resources can be daunting for students to access. Some materials are only accessible as a classroom set. Others required internet connections from home.

Major Units of Study Unit 1: Foundations of a New Nation Unit 2: The United States Constitution and Bill of Rights Unit 3: Challenges to an Emerging Nation Unit 4: Regional and Economic Growth Threads: Domestic – We the people; perfect union Foreign Policy Thread – What is the role of the United States in the World. Unit 5: Antebellum Reform Movements Unit 6: The Coming of the Civil War Unit 7: The Civil War Unit 8: Reconstruction Global Context – How did the global historical context shape events during this period?

Foundational Skills & Concepts Summarize text to key points and main ideas. Form an argument using a claim, with evidence, and reasoning. Source Validity- reliability Application Inquiry

Assessment Strategies Summative Assessments: Mulitple choice, essay writing, projects, experiental simulations (e.g- debates, hearings, re-enactments) Formative Assessments: Turn and talk; Kahoot, Plickers!, games, exit tickets, class discussion, Socratic seminars. Common Assessment- “We the People” writing; shared multiple choice provided by TCI! Brendan responds best to formative assessments that are experiential and fun. 8 th grade students will learn what it means to be an active and informed participant in the republic known as the United States of America. Throughout this journey, students will develop life-long skills and concepts that are aligned with district goals, initiatives, agendas. The following are examples of common objectives, skills, and character traits learned through 8 th grade social studies Empathy Perspective Character Education Social and emotional learning Passion for knowledge Inquiry Global awareness