Eighth Grade American History
Instructor: Beth Schaffner
Curriculum Map, Class Page, Class Guidelines
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
While studying American History, we make connections to events from the past and present in an attempt to answer our one big question, "How did we get here?" To answer this question, we take into consideration several concepts: freedom, unity, progress, and responsibility. We also make note of common themes that emerge in both history and literature such as greed and determination. These concepts and themes are present in the historical resources we study, as well as in both the fiction and nonfiction selections used to relate to particular significant time periods. Early texts consist mostly of journals, letters, and speeches – from explorers, settlers, Native Americans, slaves, and the creators of the Declaration of Independence - that address themes of early American civilization. We examine the vision for the "New World" and the emergence of the American Dream. The 19th and 20th centuries focus more on works of fiction. The reading includes short stories, novels, poetry, and plays. Students broaden their understanding of the elements of literature, and learn to achieve more depth in their analysis of the literature being read. To develop a strong sense of voice, students write a variety of forms including analytic, descriptive, and personal essays, and also journals, poetry, speeches, and short stories.
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