Social Studies

Grades 5-8

Mr. Kish

Syllabus

Text: Harcourt Social Studies – The United States:  Making a New Nation

Copyright 2007

Harcourt, Inc.

           There are six units in the 5^th  grade textbook.  All units of study align with the State of New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards(NJCCS).

                                 Unit 1  :   The Land and Early People

A.    Our Nation’s Geography

B.     Native Americans

                                 Unit 2  :    Cultures Meet

A.    The Age of Exploration

B.     Building the First Colonies

                                 Unit 3  :     The Thirteen Colonies

A.    The New England Colonies

B.     The Middle Colonies

C.    The Southern Colonies

                                  Unit 4  :     The American Revolution

A.    The Colonies Unite

B.     The Revolutionary War

                                 Unit 5  :     A Growing Nation

A.    The Constitution

B.     The Young Republic

                                 Unit 6  :     Civil War Times

A.    The Civil War

B.     A Changing Nation

6^th GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

Text:  World History: Ancient Civilizations

Copyright 2006

Holt, Rinehart and Winston

                 There are six units in the 6^th grade textbook.  All units of study align with the State of  New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards(NJCCS).

                                     Unit 1:    Early Humans and Societies

A.      Uncovering the Past

B.       The Stone Ages and Early Cultures

                                      Unit 2:    Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Kush

A.      Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent

B.       Ancient Egypt

C.      Ancient Kush

                                      Unit 3:    Civilization in India and China

A.      Ancient India

B.       Ancient China

                                      Unit 4:    Foundations of Western Ideas

A.      The Hebrews and Judaism

B.       Ancient Greece

C.      The Greek World

                                     Unit 5:    The Roman World

A.      The Roman Republic

B.       The Roman Empire

C.      Rome and Christianity

                                     Unit 6:    Endings and Beginnings

A.      The Fall of Rome

B.       The Early Americas

The sixth grade is currently studying ancient India. They are learning that the first Indian civilization developed on the Indus River. They are also studying about the two major religions which originated in ancient India- Hinduism and Buddhism. The sixth grade will also be learning about the great contributions to the arts and sciences made by the people of ancient India.

7^th GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

Text:  Civics in Practice: Principles of Government and Economics

Copyright 2007

 Holt, Rinehart and Winston

        There are seven units of study in the 7^th grade textbook.  All units of study align with the State of New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards(NJCCS).

                                Unit 1 :    A Tradition of Democracy

A.    We the People

B.     Foundations of Government

C.    The United States Constitution

D.    Rights and Responsibilities

                               Unit  2 :    The Federal Government

A.    The Legislative Branch

B.     The Executive Branch

C.    The Judicial Branch

                               Unit  3 :    State and Local Government

A.    State Government

B.     Local Government

                               Unit 4  :    The Citizen in Government

A.    Electing Leaders

B.     The Political system

C.    Paying for Government

                               Unit 5  :    The Citizen in Society

A.    Citizenship and the Family

B.     Citizenship in School

C.    Citizenship in the Community

D.    Citizenship and the Law

                               Unit 6  :   The American Economy

A.    The Economic System

B.     Goods and Services

C.    Personal Finances

D.    Economic Challenges

E.     The U.S. Economy and the World

F.     Career Choices

                               Unit 7 :    The United States and the World

A.    Foreign Policy

The seventh grade is currently studying a unit on the judicial branch of our government.  They are learning about criminal law and civil law.  They are also working with the four sources of law. They are also studying the federal court system which includes U.S. District Courts, U.S. Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court.

8^th GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

Text:  United States History:  Beginnings to 1877

Copyright 2007

Holt, Rinehart and Winston

         There are five units in the 8^th grade textbook.  All units of study align with the State of New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards(NJCCS).

                              Unit 1 :    Our Colonial Heritage

A.    The World Before the opening of the Atlantic

B.     New Empires in the Americas

C.    The English Colonies

D.    The American Revolution

                              Unit 2 :    A New Nation 1777-1799

A.      Forming a Government

B.      Citizenship and the Constitution

C.      Launching the Nation

                              Unit 3 :    The New Republic   1800-1860

A.      The Jefferson Era

B.      A New National Identity

C.      The Age of Jackson

D.      Expanding West 

                             Unit 4 :    The Nation Expands  1790-1860

A.      The North

B.      The South

C.      New Movements in America

D.      A Divided Nation

                             Unit 5 :   The Nation Breaks Apart

A.      The Civil War

B.      Reconstruction