GRADE United States History--
In Grade 8, students focus upon United States history, beginning with a brief review of early history, including the Revolution and Founding Era, and the principles of the United States and Indiana constitutions, as well as other founding documents and their applications to subsequent periods of national history and to civic and political life. Students then study national development, westward expansion, social reform movements, and the Civil War and Reconstruction. Students examine major themes, issues, events, movements, and figures in United States history through the Reconstruction Period (1877) and explore relationships to modern issues and current events.
Eighth grade students need to experience a variety of teaching and learning strategies. Students are provided practice in thinking and research skills by learning to use the media center, primary documents, and community resources such as historic sites and buildings to identify, evaluate and use appropriate data and reference information. This course also helps students to develop an appreciation of historical thinking skills. Finally, students should demonstrate, through their studies, a commitment to the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society.
The Indiana’s K – 8 academic standards for social studies are organized around four content areas. The content area standards and the types of learning experiences they provide to students in Grade 8 are described below. On the pages that follow, age-appropriate concepts are listed for each standard. Skills for thinking, inquiry and participation are integrated throughout.