WHAT WE LEARN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES
6th Grade Social Studies (175 Minimum Weekly Minutes)
Ancient Civilizations
- Traces roots of early humankind and identifies characteristics of ancient societies
- Discovers the early middle eastern civilizations and ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Israel, and Greece
- Understands the strength and vastness of the Roman Empire
Geography
- Traces and locates the migration and expansion of ancient civilizations
- Explains how geography affected ancient civilizations
- Identifies the importance of geography as a contributing factor to the human story
Economics
- Recognizes the importance of economic, political, religious, and social structures of ancient civilizations
- Understands the connection between social organization and waterways in the success of an economy
7th Grade Social Studies (225 Minimum Weekly Minutes)
World History
- Analyzes the causes and effects of vast expansion and disintegration of the Roman Empire
- Analyzes the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of Islam in the Middle Ages, the civilizations of China in the Middle Ages, and the sub-Saharan civilizations
- Compares and contrasts geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of Meso-American and Andean civilizations
- Analyzes the origin, accomplishments, and geographic diffusion of the Renaissance
- Analyzes the historical development of the Reformation
- Analyzes the historical developments of the Scientific Revolution and its lasting effects on religious, political, and cultural institutions
- Analyzes political and economic changes in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries
8th Grade Social Studies (225 Minimum Weekly Minutes)
American History
- Develops and applies geography, critical thinking, and research skills
- Interprets and analyzes information
- Summarizes immediate and long-term causes and effects of important historical development
- Understands history of multicultural heritage in the US
- Develops ability to make generalizations, detects bias, and recognizes fact and opinion
- Knows responsibilities and rights of US citizenship
- Understands major events preceding and leading to the Civil War
- Analyzes attempts to abolish slavery
- Develops an understanding of American economy (past and present)
- Demonstrates knowledge of major historical events and their relationship to each other
- Explains central issues and problems, past and present
- Develops knowledge of negative influences in our history with respect to racism, discrimination, and intolerance
- Understands the importance of Native Americans in our past and recent history
Geography
- Distinguishes various geographic regions within the United States and understands the relationship between human survival and the land
Economics
- Recognizes the significance of trade between Europe and the Americas
- Studies the economies of the early colonies
- Understands the importance of a dependable monetary system in the young United States
Educational Field Trip
8th Grade Washington DC Trip – Trip itinerary varies annually. Stops can include Jamestown, Arlington Cemetery, Gettysberg, Mt. Vernon, Monticello, and Washington DC sites. Approximate cost for 2015 is $1600 per student.
