M/J United States History & Civics (#2100045)

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Course Standards

General Course Information and Notes

General Notes

M/J U.S. History - The eighth grade social studies curriculum consists of the following content area strands: American History, Geography, Economics and Civics. Primary content emphasis for this course pertains to the study of American history from the Exploration and Colonization period to the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War. Students will be exposed to the historical, geographic, political, economic, and sociological events which influenced the development of the United States and the resulting impact on world history. So that students can clearly see the relationship between cause and effect in historical events, students should have the opportunity to explore those fundamental ideas and events which occurred after Reconstruction.

M/J Civics - The primary content for this portion of the course pertains to the principles, functions, and organization of government; the origins of the American political system; the roles, rights, responsibilities of United States citizens; and methods of active participation in our political system.

Mathematics Benchmark Guidance - Instruction of U.S. History should include opportunities for students to interpret and create representations of historical events using mathematical tables, charts, and graphs.

Special Notes: This course is meant as a means of combining the required M/J United States History content with remediation of the required M/J Civics content.

Additional content that may be contained in the NAEP Grade 8 United States History assessment includes material from all time periods on the following topics:

Change and Continuity in American Democracy: Ideas, Institutions, Events, Key Figures, and Controversies
The Gathering and Interactions of Peoples, Cultures, and Ideas
Economic and Technological Changes and Their Relationship to Society, Ideas, and the Environment
The Changing Role of America in the World

The NAEP frameworks for United States History may be accessed at http://www.nagb.org/content/nagb/assets/documents/publications/frameworks/historyframework.pdf

Additional content that may be included in the Grade 8 NAEP Civics assessment includes:

Distinctive characteristics of American society
Unity/diversity in American society
Civil society: nongovernmental associations, groups
Nation-states
Interaction among nation-states
Major governmental, nongovernmental international organizations

The NAEP frameworks for Civics may be accessed at http://www.nagb.org/publications/frameworks/civicsframework.pdf

Instructional Practices
Teaching from well-written, grade-level instructional materials enhances students' content area knowledge and also strengthens their ability to comprehend longer, complex reading passages on any topic for any reason. Using the following instructional practices also helps student learning:

Reading assignments from longer text passages as well as shorter ones when text is extremely complex.
Making close reading and rereading of texts central to lessons.
Asking high-level, text-specific questions and requiring high-level, complex tasks and assignments.
Requiring students to support answers with evidence from the text.
Providing extensive text-based research and writing opportunities (claims and evidence).

Literacy Standards in Social Studies
Secondary social studies courses include reading standards for literacy in history/social studies 6-12, and writing standards for literacy in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects 6-12. This course also includes speaking and listening standards. For a complete list of standards required for this course click on the blue tile labeled course standards. You may also download the complete course including all required standards and notes sections using the export function located at the top of this page.

English Language Development ELD Standards Special Notes Section:
Teachers are required to provide listening, speaking, reading and writing instruction that allows English language learners (ELL) to communicate information, ideas and concepts for academic success in the content area of Social Studies. For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support, students will interact with grade level words, expressions, sentences and discourse to process or produce language necessary for academic success. The ELD standard should specify a relevant content area concept or topic of study chosen by curriculum developers and teachers which maximizes an ELL’s need for communication and social skills. To access an ELL supporting document which delineates performance definitions and descriptors, please click on the following link: https://cpalmsmediaprod.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/docs/standards/eld/ss.pdf

General Information

Course Number: 2100045

Course Path:

Section: Grades PreK to 12 Education Courses > Grade Group: Grades 6 to 8 Education Courses > Subject: Social Studies > SubSubject: American and Western Hemispheric Histories >

Abbreviated Title: M/J US HIST & CIVICS

Course Length: Year (Y)

Course Attributes:

Class Size Core Required

Course Level: 2

Course Status: Course Approved

Grade Level(s): 6,7,8

Educator Certifications

One of these educator certification options is required to teach this course.

History (Grades 6-12)

Social Science (Grades 5-9)

Social Science (Grades 6-12)

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this course.

Original Student Tutorials

The Reconstruction Amendments:

Learn more about Reconstruction and the amendments to the U.S. Constitution passed during the Reconstruction era with this interactive tutorial.