8th Grade Humanities
The 8th grade humanities team teaches the standards outlined by California Department of Education for language arts and social studies (United States History).
We put a big emphasis on project based learning. This allows for students to insert their voice and creativity into individual and group-based projects while learning and developing the skills needed to show mastery of the standards embedded in each project.
There are also a number of projects (such as our spoken word unit, colonial sales booth project, and pop-up toasts) that culminate in a perfomative presentation. We believe it is important for student to practice public speaking.
Trimester 1
Language Arts
Reading Literature
RL 8.1 Textual Evidence
RL 8.2 Theme
Reading: Informational Text
RI 8.1 Textual Evidence
Writing
W 8.1 Argumentative Writing
Social Studies
Pre-Constitution
8.1 Events preceding the founding of the nation and their significance to the development of American constitutional democracy.
The Constitution
8.2 The political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution and the enumerated (listed) and implied (suggested) powers of the federal government.
Trimester 2
Language Arts
Reading Literature
RL 8.4 Figurative Language
Reading: Informational Text
RI 8.8 Claims and Evidence
Writing
W 8.3 Narrative Writing
Social Studies
The Political System
8.3 Foundation of the American political system.
Ideals and Aspirations
8.4 The aspirations and ideals of the people of the new nation.
Foreign Policy
8.5 U.S. foreign policy in the early Republic.
Divergent Paths
8.6 - 8.8 American people of the Northeast, South, and West
Trimester 3
Language Arts
Reading Literature
RL 8.6 Point of View
Reading: Informational Text
RI 8.2 Central Idea
RI 8.6 Author's point of view/purpose
Writing
W 8.2 Informative/Explanatory Writing
Social Studies
Enslavement
8.9 The early and steady attempts to abolish slavery.
Civil War
8.10 Multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War.
Reconstruction
8.11 The character and lasting consequences of Reconstruction.
Industrial Revolution
8.12 The transformation of the American economy and the changing social and political conditions in the United States.