8th grade Georgia Studies – The purpose of this course is for students to gain a greater comprehension of the state of Georgia through an examination of its geography, history, government, and economics.  It is through this study that students will grow to understand Georgia’s role in the history of the United States of America and its importance as a state in modern times.

Georgia Standards of Excellence 8th Grade Standards

 We teach the Georgia Standards of Excellence from the founding of  Georgia through Georgia in the 20thCentury, a geographic overview of the state, Georgia’s economy, and state and local government.  A list of the GSE for each unit can be found at www.georgiastandards.org

Geography: Students learn about the 5 regions of Georgia, and its major physical features.  Students will create maps and charts and analyze data.

Economics: Students learn about how Georgia has become part of the global economy, with a focus on the film industry and the Savannah Port. Students will complete a film industry simulation as well as analyze the impact of Georgia's industries on the state.

Government: Students will learn about the foundations of Georgia's government, the role of each branch, local government, and juvenile justice. Students will compare and contrast Georgia's government to the federal government and use hands on task to understand government.

History: Students learn about Georgia's history from the prehistoric natives who lived here to modern Georgia.  History comes alive through simulations, document analysis and inquiry, game based learning, and project based learning.