GRADE 7 SOCIAL STUDIES

Grade 7 Syllabus:

Civil War to the 20th Century:

Class Overview:

Goals / Objectives: 

• Independent, critical thinking; learning the appropriate skills and perspectives to participate in American society. 

• Respect of people, their beliefs and actions within the context of their time and situation while still able to gauge the morality of their actions through the lens of our Christian faith.

• Appreciate America’s unique history in the context of global existence.

• Acknowledge American individualism while also recognizing “E pluribus unum”.

Grading:

All graded assignments will be given a point value (Example: 50 points for simple “pop” quizzes, up-to 200 points for more significant announced quizzes, projects, long form open response essays, etc.) the total number of points available divided by the total number of assignments equals your final numerical grade. 

No individual grade will be dependent upon “group” work. 

Teacher’s prerogative to add a point or two to a student’s final grade if the student has consistently demonstrated a positive attitude and contributed in a beneficial manner to the classroom atmosphere.

Classroom Dynamics:

We will be discussing numerous sensitive topics as we learn about our past. Be respectful of those topics and discuss them in as mature and insightful a way as possible. 

Be respectful of peers, their ideas and beliefs.

Students must be responsible for their actions.

If an issue arises I expect students to speak to me directly, in confidence in one so wishes.

Topics & Lessons: (To be covered throughout the year)

Learning to think like an historian…

Why do we study history?... 

Where in time?... 

Cause and Effect… 

Geography Skills:

Where in the World?... 

Civics: …

Basic Economics… 

Living History…

Tri-ONE: 

Review of grade five curriculum (Civics, Geography, History, etc.)

• Pre-European Colonization:

• Post-European Expansion and Colonization:

• The increasing independence of the thirteen colonies led to a breakdown in their relationship with Great Britain.

Creating the Constitution; A New Nation

• Creating a set of rules to govern and live by, writing The Constitution.

• America is a Constitutional, democratic, republic. How the U.S. system of government works.

• Becoming a country; overcoming challenges from within and afar.

Tri-TWO;

Quarter 3: A Growing Nation in Conflict; Westward Expansion

• Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Jackson Administrations

• North and south divide; the Industrial Revolution comes to America

• Westward Ho!! Manifest Destiny good and bad.

• Conflicts with Mexico.

Tri-THREE: 

A Nation Divided; The Civil War; Reconstruction

• Growing regional differences lead to secession and war…

• The people, places, and events that affected the outcome of the Civil War.

• Effects of the Civil War.