Social Studies Course Offerings Grades 7 & 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Course Outline Unit 8.1: Democracy: Political System of the People 1763-1783 Unit 8.2: Creating a National Political System and Culture 1783-1815 Unit 8.3: Expanding Geography Challenges Sectional Economies 1815-1850 Unit 8.4: A Nation Divided and Rebuilt 1850-1877

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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%

Questions Please feel free to contact me by phone or email. robert_d._ferrante@mcpsmd.org 301-548-7540