BELLE VERNON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

GENERAL SYLLABUS OUTLINE

**This syllabus is subject to change**

Course Name:

Social Studies

Grade:

8

1.)

Course Description:

The 8th grade U.S. history is designed to familiarize students with the growth and development of our

nation and government.  This curriculum, not only will involve the history of our nation, but also deal

in geography and civics.  Many interdisciplinary approaches will also be utilized in this course.

Students in this class will be able to analyze cause and effect, historical theories, historical maps, as

well as governmental development and procedures.  Students will also be able to draw conclusions of

historical data and evaluate and hypothesize historical patterns.

2.)

Learning Standards:

5.1

Principles and Documents of Government

5.2

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

5.3

How Government Works

5.4

How International Relationships Function

6.1

Economic Systems

6.2

Markets and the Functions of Government

6.3

Scarcity and Choice

6.4

Economic Interdependence

6.5

Work and Earnings

7.1

Basic Geographic Literacy

7.2

The Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions

7.3

The Human Characteristics of Places and Regions

7.4

The Interactions Between People and Places

8.1

Historical Analysis and Skills Development

8.2

Pennsylvania History

8.3

United States History

8.4

Word History

3.)

Student Objectives:

5.1.9     Principles and Documents of Government

v

Identify and explain the major arguments advanced for the necessity of government.

v

Describe historical examples of the importance of the rule of law.

v

Analyze the principles and ideals that shape government.

v

Interpret significant changes in the basic documents shaping government of Pennsylvania.

v

Analyze the basic documents shaping the government of the United States.

v

Contrast the individual rights created by the Pennsylvania Constitution and those created

by the Constitution of the United States.

v

Describe the procedures for proper uses, display and respect for the United States Flag

as per the National Flag Code.

v

Explain and interpret the roles of framers of basic documents of government from a national

and Pennsylvania perspective.

v

Explain how law protects individual rights and the common good.

v

Explain why symbols and holidays were created and the ideals they commemorate.

v

Interpret Pennsylvania and United States court decisions that have impacted the principles

and ideals of government.

v

Interpret the impact of famous speeches and writings on civic life (e.g., The Gospel of

Wealth, Declaration of Sentiments).

5.2.9     Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

v

Contrast the essential rights and responsibilities of citizens in systems of government.

v

Analyze citizens' rights and responsibilities in local, state, and national government.

v

Analyze skills used to resolve conflicts in society and government.

v

Analyze political leadership and public service in a republican form of government.

v

Explain the importance of the political process to competent and responsible participation

in civic life.

v

Analyze the consequences of violating laws of Pennsylvania compared to those of the

United States.

v

Analyze political and civic participation in government and society.

5.3.9     How Government Works

v

Explain the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national

governments including domestic and national policy-making.

v

Compare the responsibilities and powers of the three branches within the national government.

v

Explain how a bill becomes a law on a federal, state, and local level.

v

Explain how independent government agencies create, amend, and enforce regulatory

policies.

v

Explain how citizens participate in choosing their leaders through political parties,

campaigns and elections.

v

Explain the election process.

v

Explain how the government protects individual rights.

v

Analyze how interest groups provide opportunities for citizens to participate in the political

process.

v

Analyze how and why government raises money to pay for its operation and services.

v

Analyze the importance of freedom of the press.

v

Identify and explain systems of government.

5.4.9     How International Relationships Function

v

Explain how the United States is affected by policies of nation-states, governmental and

non-governmental organizations.

v

Explain the role of the United States in world affairs.

v

Explain the effects United States political ideas have had on other nations.

v

Contrast how the three branches of federal government function in foreign policy.

v

Explain the development and the role of the United Nations and other international

organizations, both governmental and non-governmental.

6.1.9     Economic Systems

v

Analyze the similarities and differences in economic systems.

v

Explain how traditional, command, and market economies answer the basic economic

questions.

v

Explain how economic indicators reflect changes in the economy.

v

Describe historical examples of expansion, recession, and depression in the United States.

6.2.9      Markets and the Functions of Government

v

Explain the flow of goods, services and resources in a mixed economy.

v

Analyze how the number of consumers and producers affects the level of competition

within a market.

v

Explain the structure and purpose of the Federal Reserve System.

v

Analyze the functions of economic institutions (e.g., corporations, not-for-profit institutions).

v

Explain the laws of supply and demand and how these affect the prices of goods and

services.

v

Analyze how competition among producers and consumers affects price, costs, product

quality, services, product design, variety, and advertising.

v

Contrast the largest source of tax revenue with where most tax revenue is spent in

Pennsylvania.

v

Analyze the economic roles governments in market economies.

v

Explain how government provides public goods.

v

Contrast the taxation polices of the local, state, and national governments in the economy.

v

Interpret how media reports can influence perceptions of the costs and benefits of

decisions.

v

Explain how the price of one currency is related to the price of another currency (e.g.,

Japanese yen in American dollar, Canadian dollar in Mexican nuevo peso).

6.3.9     Scarcity and Choice

v

Describe ways to deal with scarcity.

v

Analyze how unlimited wants and limited resources affect decision-making.

v

Explain how resources can be used different ways to produce different goods and services.

v

Explain marginal analysis and decision-making.

v

Explain the opportunity cost of a public choice from different perspectives.

v

Explain how incentives affect the behaviors of workers, savers, consumers, and producers.

6.4.9      Economic Interdependence

v

Explain why specialization may lead to increased production and consumption.

v

Explain how trade may improve a society's standard of living.

v

Explain why governments sometimes restrict or subsidize trade.

v

Explain how the location of resources, transportation, and communication networks and

technology have affected United States economic patterns.

v

Analyze how Pennsylvania consumers and producers participate in the global production

and consumption of goods or services.

v

Explain how opportunity cost can be used to determine the product for which a nation has

a comparative advantage.

v

Describe geographic patterns of economic activities in the United States.

6.5.9      Work and Earnings

v

Define wages and explain how wages are determined by the supply of and demand for

workers.

v

Describe how productivity is measured and identify ways in which a person can improve

his or her productivity.

v

Identify and explain the characteristics of the three types of businesses.

v

Analyze how risks influence business decision-making.

v

Define wealth and describe its distribution within and among the political divisions of the

United States.

v

Identify leading entrepreneurs in Pennsylvania and the United States and describe the risks

they took and the rewards they received.

v

Explain the differences among stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

v

Explain the impact of higher or lower interest rates for savers, borrowers, consumers, and

producers.

7.1.9     Basic Geographic Literacy

v

Explain geographic tools and their uses.

v

Explain and locate places and regions.

7.2.9     The Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions

v

Explain the physical characteristics of places and regions including spatial patterns of

Earth's physical systems.

v

Explain the dynamics of the fundamental processes that underlie the operation of Earth's

physical systems.

7.3.9      The Human Characteristics of Places and Regions

v

Explain the human characteristics of places and regions by their population

characteristics.

v

Explain the human characteristics of places and regions by their cultural characteristics.

v

Explain the human characteristics of places and regions by their settlement characteristics.

v

Explain the human characteristics of places and regions by their economic activities.

v

Explain the human characteristics of places and regions by their political activities.

7.4.9      The Interaction Between People and Places

v

Explain the impacts of physical systems on people.

v

Explain the impacts of people on physical systems.

8.1.9      Historical Analysis and Skills Development

v

Analyze chronological thinking.

v

Analyze and interpret historical sources.

v

Analyze the fundamentals of historical interpretation.

v

Analyze and interpret historical research.

8.2.9      Pennsylvania History

v

Analyze the political and cultural contributions of individuals and groups to Pennsylvania

history from 1787 to 1914.

v

Identify and analyze primary documents, material artifacts and historic sites important in

Pennsylvania history from 1787 to 1914.

v

Identify and analyze how continuity and change have influenced Pennsylvania history from

the 1787 to 1914.

v

Identify and analyze conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations in

Pennsylvania history from 1787 to 1914.

8.3.9      United States History

v

Identify and analyze the political and cultural contributions of individuals and groups to

United States history from 1787 to 1914.

v

Identify and analyze primary documents, material artifacts and historic sites important in

United States history from 1787 to 1914.

v

Analyze how continuity and change has influenced United States history from 1787 to

1914.

v

Identify and analyze conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations in

United States history from 1787 to 1914.

8.4.9      World History

v

Analyze the significance of individuals and groups who made major political and cultural

contributions to world history before 1500.

v

Analyze historical documents, material artifacts, and historical sites important to world

history before 1500.

v

Analyze how continuity and change throughout history has impacted belief systems and

religious, commerce and industry, innovations, settlement patterns, social organizations,

transportation and roles of women before 1500.

v

Analyze how conflict and cooperation among social groups and organizations impacted

world history through 1500 in Africa, Americas, Asia, and Europe.

4.)

Course Text:

v  America's Past & Promise, Mason, Garcia, Powell & Risinger

5.)

Major Units or Themes:  (Include the following)

v     Age of Exploration

v     Colonization

v     American Revolution

v     Constitution

v     Development of the 1st Frontier

v     Trials of the New American government

v     Manifest Destiny

v     Causes of the Civil War

v     Civil War

v     Reconstruction

v     Immigration and the rise of cities

v     Progressivism and Imperialism

v     World War I

v     Roaring 20's and Great Depression

v     World War II

v     Cold War Era

v     Regan/Bush Era

v     Recent U.S. History (Clinton Administration, War on Terror)

6.)

Teaching Methods:

v     Demonstration

v     Lecture/Discussion

v     Guided Practices

v     Simulation

v     Role Play

v     Cooperative Learning

7.)

Assessment:

v     Tests

v     Quizzes

v     Homework

v     Creative Writing/Journals

v     Student Projects