Social Studies 7 & 8 David Wilkins
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8th Grade SS curriculum
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Social Studies ( 2008 ) > Grade 8 U.S. History
1: Learn about geography through the study of the relationships among people, places, and
environments.
SS8.1.1 Uses a variety of maps and globes to gather and compare information in U.S. history.
SS8.1.2 Knows the relative size and location of regions in U.S. history.
SS8.1.3 Uses an atlas to gather information.
SS8.1.4 Uses geographical resources to gather and comapre information about the natural
resources of different places.
SS8.1.5 Understands the movement of people, ideas, and products throughout U.S. history.
2: Understands current issues in the world.
SS8.2.1 Researches current issues happening at local, state, national, and international levels.
SS8.2.2 Searches out key facts in current events and understands their significance.
SS8.2.3 Makes connections to current issues in their own life and surroundings.
SS8.2.4 Develops an interest in what is currently happening in our world.
SS8.2.5 Understands causes and consequences of current issues.
3: Understands chronological relationships and patterns
SS8.3.1 Knows how to construct and interpret multiple-tier time lines.
SS8.3.2 Understands and can describe patterns of change and continuity in the historical
succession of related events.
4: Understands historical perspective
SS8.4.1 Knows different types of primary and secondary sources as well as the motives,
interests, and bias expressed in them.
Eyewitness accounts, letters, diaries, artifacts, photos.
Magazine articles, newspaper accounts, hearsay.
SS8.4.2 Understands that specific individuals and their thew values held by these individuals
have had a great impact on history.
SS8.4.3 Understands how to evaluate historical fiction according to its content and author's
interpretation.
5: Understands colonial history and settlement in the Americas
.
SS8.5.1 Understands peaceful and conflicting interactions between English settlers and Native
Americans in the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies.
SS8.5.2 Understands political and economic development in the 13 colonies.
Understands the roots of self-government.
Understands economic differences based on geographical location.
6: Understands the reasoning behind the American Revolution and its impact.
SS8.6.1 Understands the major issues in the 13 colonies in the time period leading up to the
American Revolution.
SS8.6.2 Understands how the ideals of the American Revolution influenced the goals of various
groups of people during and after the war.
SS8.6.3 Understands the formation of the Continental Congress and the creation of the
Declaration of Independence and the ideas expressed by these.
SS8.6.4 Understands the factors that led to the breakdown of the Articles of Confederation.
7: Understands the Constitution, civics, and the functions of government as well as government
SS8.7.1 Understands why government is necessary.
SS8.7.2 Understands how the government established by the Constitution embodies the
purposes, the values, and the principles of American democracy.
SS8.7.3 Understands the components of the Constitution.
SS8.7.4 Understands how the Constitution balances the three branches of government.
SS8.7.5 Understands the Bill of Rights and why it was introduced.
SS8.7.6 Understands the duties and responsibilities of United States citizens.
SS8.7.7 Understands the process for becoming a United States citizen.
SS8.7.8 Understands the process of election for the United States presidency as well as the
various roles of this position.
8: Understands the United States territorial expansion.
SS8.8.1 Understands the factors that led to the United States territorial expansion in the
Western Hemisphere.
SS8.8.2 Understands the impact of the Louisiana Purchase.
SS8.8.3 Understands the impact of territorial expansion on Native American tribes.
SS8.8.4 Understands the Manifest Destiny and its influence on the westward expansion of the
United States.
9: Understands the causes and character of the Civil War and the effects of the war on reconstruction
SS8.9.1 Understands the economic, social, and cultural differences between the North and the
South.
SS8.9.2 Understands slavery prior to the Civil War.
SS8.9.3 Understands the economic and social problems facing people affected by the Civil War.
SS8.9.4 Understands how decisions made during the Civil War impacted Reconstruction policy
and results.
SS8.9.5 Understands the growth of discrimination and segregation of African Americans.