Content: U.S. History from the Beginnings to 1914.
Textbook: Holt - Call to Freedom (Beginnings to 1914)
Course Description: This course will focus on the history of the United States, beginning with the writing of the Constitution and ending with the Populist/Progressives era. Students will also study Native American, and European Immigrant culture. We also read two historical novels, the first one being “The Captains Dog”, which focuses on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and “The house of dies drear”, which focuses on the underground railroad.
Content Standards:
1. 8-01 – Culture: Identify and describe the elements of culture, the factors that shape it, and their influences on society.
2. 8-02 – History: Identify and explain the importance of major events, key concepts, and significant contributions of groups and individuals related to selected themes throughout history.
3. 8-03 – Economics: Identify and explain basic economic concepts and explain the influence of economic decision-making on societies past and present.
4. 8-04 – Government: Describe the structure and function of government and the expanding role and responsibilities of the citizen in a representative democracy and compare and contrast these elements with those in other societies.
Course Requirements and Evaluation Criteria:
1. Homework and quizzes (varied depending on the assignment) 10-25 points
2. Criterion Referenced Tests CRTs (based on the content standards) 50-100 points
3. Midterm Assessment 100 points
4. Projects 30-100 points
5. Final Exam Activity 100 points
Grade Scale:
A = 93 – 100%
B = 85 – 92%
C = 78 – 84%
D = 70 – 77%
F = 69% or less
Tentative Course Calendar
August: Class orientation, course syllabus review, content standards review, student expectations, and an introduction to Social Studies 8.
September: American Revolution/Creation of the U.S. Government/Constitution
October: Louisiana Purchase/Lewis & Clark/Historic Novel
November: War of 1812/Missouri Compromise/Native American Culture
December: Indian Removal Act/Industrial Revolution/Texas AnnexationIndustrial Revolution Project
January: Mexican war/Trails West/Immigration
February: Most Influential African American Project/Civil War
March: Reconstruction
April: Urbanization/Immigrant Cultures/Wounded Knee/Jim Crow laws
May: Progressives vs. the Populists /Final Research Project
Content: U.S. History from the Beginnings to 1914.
Textbook: Holt - Call to Freedom (Beginnings to 1914)
Course Description: This course will focus on the history of the United States, beginning with the writing of the Constitution and ending with the Populist/Progressives era. Students will also study Native American, and European Immigrant culture. We also read two historical novels, the first one being “The Captains Dog”, which focuses on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and “The house of dies drear”, which focuses on the underground railroad.
Content Standards:
1. 8-01 – Culture: Identify and describe the elements of culture, the factors that shape it, and their influences on society.
2. 8-02 – History: Identify and explain the importance of major events, key concepts, and significant contributions of groups and individuals related to selected themes throughout history.
3. 8-03 – Economics: Identify and explain basic economic concepts and explain the influence of economic decision-making on societies past and present.
4. 8-04 – Government: Describe the structure and function of government and the expanding role and responsibilities of the citizen in a representative democracy and compare and contrast these elements with those in other societies.
Course Requirements and Evaluation Criteria:
1. Homework and quizzes (varied depending on the assignment) 10-25 points
2. Criterion Referenced Tests CRTs (based on the content standards) 50-100 points
3. Midterm Assessment 100 points
4. Projects 30-100 points
5. Final Exam Activity 100 points
Grade Scale:
A = 93 – 100%
B = 85 – 92%
C = 78 – 84%
D = 70 – 77%
F = 69% or less
Tentative Course Calendar
August: Class orientation, course syllabus review, content standards review, student expectations, and an introduction to Social Studies 8.
September: American Revolution/Creation of the U.S. Government/Constitution
October: Louisiana Purchase/Lewis & Clark/Historic Novel
November: War of 1812/Missouri Compromise/Native American Culture
December: Indian Removal Act/Industrial Revolution/Texas AnnexationIndustrial Revolution Project
January: Mexican war/Trails West/Immigration
February: Most Influential African American Project/Civil War
March: Reconstruction
April: Urbanization/Immigrant Cultures/Wounded Knee/Jim Crow laws
May: Progressives vs. the Populists /Final Research Project