7th Grade World History
In seventh grade World History, students learn about the time period from the Fall of Rome to the beginnings of the Age of Exploration (500 to 1500). This survey includes the Byzantine Empire, the Islamic Civilization, African Kingdoms, Medieval Europe, Dynastic China, Feudal Japan, and the Maya Civilization in the Americas. In addition to identifying the important achievements of these cultures, students examine the impact that the movement of people and goods had on civilizations. This contact between cultures led to various forms of conflict and cooperation that continue to influence our world. In order to understand the complexities of the world today, students need to understand how various cultures developed and interacted throughout history. This knowledge and understanding of world cultures is becoming more important as nations and people become increasingly interdependent.
In 8th grade social studies, students will study American history from 1787-1877 and analyze the implications of government structures and economic policies for individuals, communities, nations, and global relationships. The course starts with the Early Republic in 1787 and we move into the 19th century with A New National Identity, Westward Expansion, and Reform Movements. Then students study the Antebellum period, the Civil War, and finish the year with Reconstruction. With an emphasis on literacy, primary sources, and performance tasks like debates and simulations, students will acquire the knowledge and skills to think analytically about how past and present interactions of people, cultures, and the environment shape the American heritage. Such knowledge and skills enable students to make informed decisions that reflect fundamental rights and core democratic values as productive citizens in local, national, and global communities.
World Studies 9 Honors - Placement Testing & Requirements
ELA & Social Studies 9 Pre-Assessment and Honors Placement Requirements
PRE-ASSESSMENT RATIONALE
In order to properly place students in their freshman year, pre-assessments for both ELA and Social Studies will be given to all current 8th-grade students at the start of the second semester. These assessments will take place in the student’s current ELA and Social Studies classes and are required for all students.
For students interested in potential placement in an honors course, these assessments will serve as a mandatory data point that will inform placement in both ELA 9 and World Studies. For those students who are not interested in honors placement, the results of these assessments will be utilized by the 9th-grade teachers to inform their instruction and plan lessons designed to meet each student's specific needs best.
Both the ELA and Social Studies assessments are intended to measure critical thinking in context. The Social Studies assessment involves various types of readings and charts, and the ELA assessment involves three types of readings: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. All questions are multiple-choice on both assessments.
TESTING DATES
Testing will take place each year at the beginning of the second semester, typically the first week of February. Dates may shift due to inclement weather or other unforeseen schedule changes.
Projected testing dates for the 25-26 school year are:
ELA: 2/9/26 and 2/10/26
Social Studies: 2/11/26 and 2/12/26
Make-Up Date: 2/18/26
PREREQUISITES FOR ELA and SOCIAL STUDIES 9 HONORS
For students interested in placement in an honors-level course for ELA and/or Social Studies, the prerequisites are as follows:
English Literature and Composition 9 Honors
93% average for Marking Periods 1 & 2 in 8th grade Language Arts;
A score of Advanced on the ELA 9 pre-assessment administered to all 8th grade students in their current 8th grade ELA class at the start of the second semester.
World Studies Honors
93% average for Marking Periods 1 & 2 in 8th grade Social Studies;
93% average for Marking Periods 1 & 2 in 8th grade Language Arts;
A score of Advanced on both the World Studies and ELA 9 pre-assessments administered to all 8th-grade students in their current 8th-grade ELA and Social Studies classes at the start of the second semester.
THE WAIVER PROCESS
Eligibility
Students who do not meet the prerequisites as stated above but who are still interested in placement in an honors level course may complete the waiver process if:
the student’s average for Marking Periods 1 & 2 in 8th grade Language Arts is at least 90% (required for both ELA and World Studies Honors consideration);
the student’s average for Marking Periods 1 & 2 in 8th grade Social Studies is at least 90% (required for World Studies Honors consideration only);
the student’s score on the ELA 9 pre-assessment is at least 70% (required for both ELA and World Studies Honors consideration);
the student’s score on the Social Studies 9 pre-assessment is at least 70% (required for World Studies Honors consideration only).
Students who meet the criteria for waiver eligibility as stated above may submit a waiver application for possible consideration of placement in the honors level course. The waiver process is as follows:
Eligible students receive a link to the waiver application (Google Form) via their MTSD email account from the MHS supervisor (early April)
Student completes and submits the waiver application (Google Form) by the stated deadline (approximately 2-3 weeks after distribution of application)
MHS supervisors review waiver applications for possible approval. Additional data will be considered in the decision-making process, including:
Final MP3 grade in ELA 8 and/or Social Studies 8 as appropriate;
Performance on MP3 Performance Assessments in ELA 8 and/or Social Studies 8 as appropriate;
Performance on MP3 Summative Assessments in ELA 8 and/or Social Studies 8 as appropriate;
Performance on the most recent NJSLA in the areas of Reading-Informational Texts, Vocabulary, and Writing-Expression
MHS guidance counselors update student course selection in Genesis, if applicable, for the student to view. Please note that if the student’s course selection is not changed at that time, their application was not approved and they should proceed with summer assignments for the CP course(s), if applicable.
A NOTE ABOUT MEETING PREREQUISITES AND MAINTAINING ELIGIBILITY: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:
Students must meet the course prerequisite at the time of course selection in order to enroll in a given course and must continue to meet the prerequisite through the remainder of the current school year in order to remain eligible for the course. The same expectation will be applied to students who are granted waivers into a given course. Student’s average must not fall below their average at the time of waiver approval for the remainder of the current school year to remain eligible for a given course. If a student fails to maintain the expected average for a course by the end of the current school year, they will be removed from enrollment in the course.