1. Social Studies Course Offerings Grades 7 & 8

2. Advanced 7th Grade World Studies
Instructors: Mr. Robert Ferrante
Mrs. Kathy Dalkiewicz

3. Maryland Content Standards *by unit
7.1 Political Systems & Government
7.2 Culture
7.3 Geography
7.4 Economics

4. Course Outline
Unit 7.1: The Foundation of Modern Political Systems in Europe
Unit 7.2: The Influence of Culture in Africa
Unit 7.3: Geography & Identity in Latin America
Unit 7.4: The Impact of Economics: One World

5. Unit 7.1: Foundations of Modern Political Systems Focus: Europe in the Middle Ages
Principles of Political Systems
Medieval Life (Manorial System & Feudalism)
Effects of the Bubonic Plague & Crusades on Medieval society
How Europe’s political systems changed from Feudalism to centralizing monarchies

6. Unit 7.2: The Influence of Culture in Africa Focus: Africa (Post Roman Empire)
Concepts of Culture & Cultural Diffusion
African Kingdoms (Mali, Songhai, etc.)
The effects of trade and European colonization on African Cultures
Moving towards Nationalism
South Africa, Nelson Mandela & Apartheid

7. Unit 7.3: Geography and Identity in Latin America Focus: Aztecs & Incas
Physical Geography of Central & South America
Inca and Aztec civilizations
How native people adapted their environments to fit their needs
Impact of Geography on Modern Culture

8. Unit 7.4: The Impact of Economics: One World Focus: Renaissance & Age of Exploration
Principles of Economics
Europe during the Renaissance period
Exploration and Colonization of Africa & the “New World”
Mercantilism (aka “Triangle Trade”)
Laying the foundation for 8th Grade

9. Junior Achievement 4th Marking Period (Unit 7.4)
“The Global Marketplace” mini-unit
6 weeks – Modern day application of the economic concepts learned in Unit 7.4

10. Advanced Skills
Advanced World Studies focuses on 3 different sets of skills…
* Historical Thinking (Thinking)
* Source Analysis (Reading)
* Writing Focus (Writing)

11. Advanced Skills Historical Thinking (Thinking) * Categorizing Evidence
* Multiple Perspectives
* Evaluation of Evidence for Relevance
* Historical Interpretation

12. Advanced Skills Source Analysis (Reading) * Content * Point of View
* Context
* Comparisons

13. Advanced Skills Writing Focus (Writing) Using appropriate evidence to…
* Support a generalization
* Support an opinion / perspective

14. Presentation Created By Mr. Hull 2007
Advanced
8th Grade
U.S. History
Instructors: Mr. Chris Hull
Mr. Aaron Barnett
Presentation Created By Mr. Hull 2007

15. Maryland Content Standards
Unit 8.1: Political Systems
Unit 8.2: Political Systems & Culture
Unit 8.3: Geography & Economics
Unit 8.4: Political Systems

16. Course Outline
Unit 8.1: Democracy: Political System of the People
Unit 8.2: Creating a National Political System and Culture
Unit 8.3: Expanding Geography Challenges Sectional Economies
Unit 8.4: A Nation Divided and Rebuilt

17. Unit 8.1: Democracy: Political System of the People 1763-1783
Focus: The American Revolution
Students learn about the principles of political systems, how and why political system change, and how history is an ongoing inquiry into the past.

18. Unit 2: Creating a National Political System and Culture 1783-1815
Focus: The Constitution
Students learn about the rights of citizens, distribution of power, and constitutional challenges.

19. Unit 3: Expanding Geography Challenges Sectional Economies 1815-1850
Focus: Western Expansion
Students learn how the US expanded its territory westward, the deep conflicts between the north, south and west, the impact this expansion had on Native Americans, settlers, women and immigrants.

20. Unit 4: A Nation Divided and Rebuilt 1850-1877
Focus: Civil War and Reconstruction
Students learn how the nation was divided by the issue of slavery and its implications for political, economic, and social systems.

21. Advanced Skills Source Analysis (Reading) * Content * Point of View
* Context
* Comparisons
* Historical Questioning

22. Advanced Skills Writing Focus (Writing) Using appropriate evidence to…
* Support a generalization
* Support an opinion / perspective
* Support a Thesis Statement
* Generate research questions to investigate

23. Grading Formative Assessments: 75% Summative Assessments: 15%
warm-ups, quizzes, exit cards, class assignments, maps, journals, etc.
Summative Assessments: 15%
County end-of-unit assessments, County 8th grade semester exams, culminating projects and tests
Homework for Practice: 10%

24. Questions Please feel free to contact me by phone or email.