Moanalua Middle School

8th Grade Social Studies

Greg Nakata, Room P5

Team 8B (2014-2015)

Email:

Course Overview

This course is a study of how the United States of America became the country as we know it. It focuses on the forces of change and continuity, which have shaped the nation. This course provides for an analysis of the key ideas, events, people, and movements in U.S. history; a way of viewing the social, political, economic, and technological developments that have helped shape the American experience – both positive and negative.

This includes the creation of the U.S. Constitution, Westward Expansion, and through the Civil War and Reconstruction era. The specific content of study is based on the following:

-Hawaii Content & Performance Standards III

-Common Core Standards

Students will be completing a variety of assignments and projects throughout the school year. The variety of assignments will allow the lessons to better reach the diverse learning styles of the students. For group projects, individual and groups grades will be given. If a student requires additional assistance or clarification for this course, he/she can speak with the teacher and arrange to meet outside of classroom time such as during breaks or lunch. Parents and students can also email using the following email address:

Social Studies Goals and Expectations

●To come prepared to class every day (composition book, pen/pencil, school planner, reading material) with a positive frame of mind.

●To follow the TRIBES agreements and school/team rules.

●To be able to accurately examine United States history and gain a greater understanding and appreciation of it.

●To be able to work both independently and in groups to produce quality work.

●To be able to examine the past and relate it to the present.

●To be able to examine events from multiple perspectives.

Assessment

●Assessment of student learning will be standards-based and determined through projects, teacher and student observations, self evaluations, and various assignments.

●Student grades and assignments will be posted on the Jupiter Grades website.

●A student can redo most assignments for a higher grade, but needs to discuss the assignment with the teacher first to ensure any misunderstandings are cleared up.

●The following 4 point grading scale will be used:

4 / Advanced / A
3 / Proficient / B
2 / Partially Proficient / C
1 / Novice / D
0 / Incomplete/Missing / F

Textbook

This course will make use of one main textbook: Call to Freedom: Beginnings to 1877. Students will keep a copy at home and will also have a class set. Students are responsible for the care of the books at all time.

Websites

This course will utilize the following websites. A short description and the URLs are listed below. If a student does not have Internet access from home, he/she can use the school’s computers such as in the computer lab. These websites will be updated as often as reasonably possible.

JupiterGrades(

JupiterGrades is a web based grade book that can be accessed on the Internet. The students will be provided a letter with their user names and temporary passwords. This letter will also include information for parents/guardians as to how to set up their Jupiter Grades accounts. The Social Studies assignments/ projects along with their due dates will be posted here along with the corresponding grades, attendance, etc. Any late assignments will also be indicated on Jupiter Grades. This website should be visited at least weekly as it is updated for Social Studies throughout the week.

Achieve3000/Teenbiz3000 (

This website is used to look at current events along with past important events in history. The students will also have the opportunity to build upon their reading skills as the program provides reading articles based on their individual reading levels. To check for understanding, there are various assessment methods on this website such as multiple choice questions and short essay answers.

Google Drive (

All students will be issued an account through the school. Many Social Studies assignments, readings, projects, student work, etc. will be uploaded or created and worked on in Google Drive. The students will then be able to work on their assignments both in school and at home through Google Drive. Below are some important procedures to know about dealing with Social Studies and Google Drive.

●Each student will have two Social Studies folder in Google Drive:

oAssignments folder

oMaster Documents folder

●The master copy of files such as worksheets or readings will be placed in the Master Documents folder. A copy of these files needs to be created by the students and then moved into their Assignments folder.

●Only assignments specifically placed in the Assignments folder will be graded.

●Additional folders can be created by the students based on their needs and organizational preferences.

●If a student revises an assignment or submits late assignments, he/she is responsible for submitting a “Late work form.” If not, these assignments will not be graded.

●Students need to show maturity and responsibility in using this technology. Proper use will help the students to learn more along with further developing their technology skills. Failure to follow the rules and directions could result in a banning from Google Drive both in school and at home, as well as their laptop being confiscated for an indefinite period of time.