EIGHTH GRADE

World History to 1500

Students in the eighth grade can be described as curious and independent learners who are discovering who they are and determining their place in the world. They are asserting their independence from adults and are becoming more reliant on their peers. These students need to be allowed to develop their independence with a great amount of guidance. Through exposure to various media and first-hand experiences, students are becoming more aware of events on a global scale and are learning how these events affect them.

The study of world history in Grade 8 addresses the time period from prehistoric man to the 1500s. Content standards for this grade incorporate the strands of economics, geography, history, and political science, with an emphasis on the history and geography strands. This course covers the migrations of early peoples, the rise of civilizations, the establishment of governments and religions, the growth of economic systems, and the ways in which these events shaped Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Unique to this course are the experiences that provide for the study of the ways human beings view themselves over time. The prevailing use of terms to describe the Gregorian calendar is B.C. (before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini, Latin for “in the year of our Lord”). The terms B.C.E. (before the Common Era) and C.E. (in the Common Era) are beginning to appear in some schools of theology, state and national assessments, and in national history standards. The use of the abbreviations B.C.E. and C.E., also based on the Gregorian calendar, does not, in any way, diminish/negate the importance of the abbreviations B.C. and A.D.

To address the independent and curious nature of eighth graders, instruction is designed to actively involve students in critical thinking and exchange of ideas, including critical evaluation, interpretation, reasoning, and deduction. Instruction of this nature can best be accomplished through the use of electronic media such as the Internet, videos, and television as well as by participation in small-group and individual activities.

Cherokee County Schools:

The Cherokee County Course of Study: Social Studies is arranged as follows for eighth grade world history to 1500:

• Content standards are listed in the order in which they appear in county adopted textbooks.
• Numbers and letters in parenthesis at the beginning of content material represent the content standards material and are given for ease in lesson plan development. However, the course of study standards, bullets and examples are written in their entirety for teacher use.
• Bullet material is labeled with letters for easier reference.
• An “X” indicates which strands (E, G, H, PS) correlate to standards material.
• An “X” in the SAT 10 column indicates that the standard aligns with the Stanford 10.
• Alabama High School Graduation Exam (AHSGE) objectives are listed where they apply.
• No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Reading/Writing suggestions are from various sources – textbooks, teachers, ARI and etc.
• Resources include websites and other helpful resources.

Text Location Ch.-Sec.	Alabama Course of Study	E	G	H	PS	Alabama High School Graduation Exam	NCLB Reading/Writing	Resources
1-1	(1ex,1d,2) 1.) Explain how artifacts and other archaeological findings provide evidence of the nature and movement of prehistoric groups of people. Examples: cave paintings, Ice Man, Lucy, fossils, pottery • Identifying terms used to describe characteristics of early societies and family structures Examples: monogamous, polygamous, nomadic 2.) Analyze characteristics of early civilizations in respect to technology, division of labor, government, calendar, and writings.	X	X	X	X		“Be an Active Reader” p. AL64 Skill Builder Handbook, pp. 709-725; reviews reading skills such as taking notes, main idea, making comparisons, making predictions,etc… Timed Readings Plus in Social Studies(with Glencoe series) Reading in the ContentAreas: Social Studies(with Glencoe series) Reading Strategies in red boxes throughout teacher’s edition Foldables Study Organizers	Tools of the Historian, p.T1-T10 A&E Television: www.aande.com History Channel: www.historychannel.com www.nationalgeographic.com
1-2	(1ex, 2, 2a ex,2b) 1.) Explain how artifacts and other archaeological findings provide evidence of the nature and movement of prehistoric groups of people. Examples: cave paintings, Ice Man, Lucy, fossils, pottery 2.) Analyze characteristics of early civilizations in respect to technology, division of labor, government, calendar, and writings. • Comparing significant features of civilizations that developed in the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, and Huang He River valleys Examples: natural environment, urban development, social hierarchy, written language, ethical and religious belief system, government and military institutions, economic systems • Identifying on a map locations of cultural hearths of early civilizations Examples: Mesopotamia, Nile Valley	X	X	X	X			These websites can be used throughout the course. www.eduplace.com CIA World Fact Book: www.odci.gov/cia/pulications/factbook/ index.html www.animatedatlas.com www.nationmaster.com US Geological Service: http://mac.usgs.gov
1-3	(2, 2aex, 2b ex) 2.) Analyze characteristics of early civilizations in respect to technology, division of labor, government, calendar, and writings. • Comparing significant features of civilizations that developed in the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, and Huang He River valleys Examples: natural environment, urban development, social hierarchy, written language, ethical and religious belief system, government and military institutions, economic systems • Identifying on a map locations of cultural hearths of early civilizations Examples: Mesopotamia, Nile Valley	X	X	X	X			Alabama Virtual Library accesses through ALEX has several excellent sources for you and your students: SIRS Discoverer SIRS Knowledge Source Info Trac Student Edition
2-1	(1d,2,2a ex,2b ex) • Identifying terms used to describe characteristics of early societies and family structures Examples: monogamous, polygamous, nomadic 2.) Analyze characteristics of early civilizations in respect to technology, division of labor, government, calendar, and writings. • Comparing significant features of civilizations that developed in the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, and Huang He River valleys Examples: natural environment, urban development, social hierarchy, written language, ethical and religious belief system, government and military institutions, economic systems • Identifying on a map locations of cultural hearths of early civilizations Examples: Mesopotamia, Nile Valley	X	X	X	X
2-2	(2,2a ex) 2.) Analyze characteristics of early civilizations in respect to technology, division of labor, government, calendar, and writings. • Comparing significant features of civilizations that developed in the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, and Huang He River valleys Examples: natural environment, urban development, social hierarchy, written language, ethical and religious belief system, government and military institutions, economic systems	X	X	X	X
2-3	(2,2a ex) 2.) Analyze characteristics of early civilizations in respect to technology, division of labor, government, calendar, and writings. • Comparing significant features of civilizations that developed in the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus, and Huang He River valleys Examples: natural environment, urban development, social hierarchy, written language, ethical and religious belief system, government and military institutions, economic systems	X	X	X	X
2-4	NA
3-1	(2,3 ex:Judaism, Christianity, Islam, 3a ex: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Phoenicians) 2.) Analyze characteristics of early civilizations in respect to technology, division of labor, government, calendar, and writings. 3.) Compare the development of early world religions, philosophies, and their key tenets. Examples: Judaism, Christianity, Islam • Identifying cultural contributions of early world religions and philosophies Examples: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Phoenicians	X	X	X	X
3-2	(3 ex: Judaism, 3a ex: Judaism) 3.) Compare the development of early world religions, philosophies, and their key tenets. Examples: Judaism • Identifying cultural contributions of early world religions and philosophies Examples: Judaism			X
3-3	(3 ex: Judaism, 3a ex: Judaism, 7 ex:Spread of Roman law…) 3.) Compare the development of early world religions, philosophies, and their key tenets. Examples: Judaism • Identifying cultural contributions of early world religions and philosophies Examples: Judaism 7.) Describe the widespread impact of the Roman Empire. Example: spread of Roman law and political theory	X	X	X	X
4-1	(4, 3a ex: Phoenicians) 4.) Identify cultural contributions of Classical Greece, including politics, intellectual life, arts, literature, architecture, and science. • Identifying cultural contributions of early world religions and philosophies Examples: Phoenicians			X	X
4-2	(4) 4.) Identify cultural contributions of Classical Greece, including politics, intellectual life, arts, literature, architecture, and science.			X	X	(II-1) II-1 Recognize and comprehend the impact of the influences of intellectual and religious thought on the political systems
4-3	NA
4-4	(4) 4.) Identify cultural contributions of Classical Greece, including politics, intellectual life, arts, literature, architecture, and science.			X	X	(II-1) II-1 Recognize and comprehend the impact of the influences of intellectual and religious thought on the political systems
5-1	(3 ex: Greek gods, 3a ex: Greek gods, 4) 3.) Compare the development of early world religions, philosophies, and their key tenets. Examples: Greek and Roman gods • Identifying cultural contributions of early world religions and philosophies Examples: Greek and Roman gods, 4.) Identify cultural contributions of Classical Greece, including politics, intellectual life, arts, literature, architecture, and science.			X	X		“Be an Active Reader” p. AL64 Skill Builder Handbook, pp. 709-725; reviews reading skills such as taking notes, main idea, making comparisons, making predictions,etc… Timed Readings Plus in Social Studies(with Glencoe series) Reading in the ContentAreas: Social Studies(with Glencoe series) Reading Strategies in red boxes throughout teacher’s edition
5-2	(4) 4.) Identify cultural contributions of Classical Greece, including politics, intellectual life, arts, literature, architecture, and science.			X	X		Foldables Study Organizers