Grade 7 Social Studies 

In this unit, students will explore the diverse Indigenous nations of North America, with a special focus on the tribal nations of Connecticut, and examine how geography, natural resources, and culture shaped their ways of life. They will investigate Indigenous innovations, oral traditions, systems of government, and the enduring presence and contributions of Native communities today. By the end of the unit, students will analyze the causes and consequences of the Pequot War and explain how Indigenous history continues to influence Connecticut and the United States.

In this unit, students will examine the Age of Exploration by investigating the motivations, journeys, and impact of European explorers, as well as the lasting effects of the Columbian Exchange on Indigenous peoples, Europe, and the Americas. They will analyze primary and secondary sources to evaluate how exploration, colonization, and early interactions shaped North America. By the end of the unit, students will use historical evidence to draw conclusions about the successes, challenges, and lasting consequences of exploration, including the mystery of the Roanoke Colony.

In this unit, students will examine the development of the American colonies by exploring settlement, self-government, regional economies, and the experiences of diverse groups, including Indigenous peoples, enslaved Africans, and indentured servants. They will analyze how geography, religion, economics, and systems of labor shaped colonial society while evaluating key events such as the founding of Jamestown, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and the Salem Witch Trials. By the end of the unit, students will use historical evidence to explain how colonial life laid the foundation for the political, economic, and social development of the United States.

In this unit, students will examine the intellectual, religious, and social movements that challenged authority in colonial America, including the Enlightenment, Great Awakening, and various forms of resistance. They will analyze how ideas about rights, government, religion, and power influenced colonial society and shaped the way people questioned established systems. By the end of the unit, students will compare different forms of resistance and use historical evidence to explain the causes and impacts of conflict in the colonies.

In this unit, students will explore the complex history of freedom by examining how different groups defined, pursued, and challenged ideas of liberty in the Atlantic world before the American Revolution. They will analyze the experiences of enslaved people, self-liberated communities, Indigenous nations, and political thinkers to understand the tensions between natural rights and systems of inequality. By the end of the unit, students will use primary sources, including the story of Venture Smith, to evaluate who had access to freedom and how individuals and communities fought to expand their rights.

In this unit, students will examine the French and Indian War as a turning point in North American history by analyzing competing imperial goals, Indigenous alliances, colonial involvement, and the consequences of the conflict. They will explore how the war reshaped political relationships, territorial boundaries, and economic tensions between Britain and the colonies. By the end of the unit, students will use historical evidence to explain how Britain’s victory created new conflicts that contributed to the causes of the American Revolution.