Humanities through Technology Level III Past & Current Projects

Syllabus

Length of Course: one year

Course Description:  This chronological survey course introduces eighth grade students to the major ideas, events and personalities of American history from the pre-colonial period through the end of the Civil War. In addition, the course seeks to build and reinforce academic skills of critical reading, note taking, essay writing, and research through the integration of technology and primary documents.

Texts and materials: In addition to the following core text, the class closely examines numerous primary and secondary sources including websites, periodical articles, speeches, letters, essays, paintings, and poetry.

Applebee, Joyce, et al., The American Republic to 1877. Glencoe McGraw-Hill. 2003.

Assessment: The assignments for this course include unannounced quizzes, journal notebooks, written and non-written homework, technology projects and exams. To help incorporate individual interests, students complete a variety of special assignments including small research projects, essays, book reviews, and group presentations.

Grading policy: Students can expect that their grades will be based on the aforementioned assessments.

Tests and Quizzes = 40%
Technology Projects = 40%
Homework = 20%

General expectations:

1. Binders - Students are required to utilize their three-ring binders to accommodate the many handouts that they will be given to support technology integration and other supplemental information. 
2. The binder must contain notebook paper to be used for daily journal entries, reading and class notes, and for homework assignments.  Students are expected to bring their binders, textbooks and workbooks to every class unless they are told otherwise.
3. Assignments – Students are expected to submit, "fully completed assignments" at the beginning of class. All work must be typed using a standard format (1" margins, New Times Roman or Arial, 12 Font, and double-spaced). The first page of all assignments must contain the student’s name, class, and date. If the assignment being submitted includes more than one page, the pages are to be fastened by a single staple in the upper left corner and numbered. Work that is submitted on non-standard paper or still requires printing, stapling, the addition of a cover-page, or any other last minute effort will be considered late and will be penalized accordingly.
4. Late Work – Unless a student has received an extension from the teacher, all work is due at the beginning of class on the announced due date. No late work will be accepted (with exception to illness, family emergency, etc.).
5. Preparedness - Students must come to class with their binders, textbooks, pencil, paper, and any other necessary materials.
6. Copies of all tests and quizzes will be kept by the instructor.

Course Outline:

Semester One

1. Unit 1: Different Worlds Meet (Beginnings to 1625)
2. Unit 2: Colonial Settlement (1587-1770)
3. Unit 3: Creating a Nation (1763-1791)
4. Unit 4: The New Republic (1789-1825)

Semester Two

1. Unit 5: The Growing Nation (1820-1860)
2. Unit 6: Civil War and Reconstruction (1846-1896)
3. Unit 7: Modern America Emerges (1877-present)

Major Concepts:

1. The relationship between geography and history;
2. The causes and consequences of European exploration in the Americas;
3. The ideas and values which form the foundation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution;
4. The structure of the U.S. government;
5. Challenges which resulted from America’s westward expansion;
6. The nature of American slavery and the agony of the Civil War;
7. Reconstruction and the making of Modern America.

Methodology: Teaching and learning methods for this course include reading and note taking, essay writing, journal writing, document analysis, seminar discussions, individual and group research projects, debates, role-playing and technology integration.

Outcomes: By the end of this course students should be able to do the following.

1.Demonstrate an understanding of the following concepts:

1. The relationship between geography and history;
2. The causes and consequences of European exploration in the Americas;
3. The ideas and values which form the foundation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution;
4. The structure of the U.S. government;
5. Challenges which resulted from America’s westward expansion;
6. The nature of American slavery and the agony of the Civil War.

2. Demonstrate improvement in their ability to read and think critically;

3. Conduct historical research based on a variety of sources, and properly incorporate and cite the information from those sources in a clearly written essay;

4. Read and use maps, charts, and graphs with accuracy;

5. Demonstrate the personal skills of cooperation, perseverance, independence of mind and responsibility appropriate for effective problem solving and personal growth; and

6. Demonstrate improvement in their ability to communicate ideas clearly both orally and in writing.

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Send comments and suggestions to: Brandie Benton