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.