Teacher:

Mrs. Lori Caldwell

Social Studies Class Summary

Middle School Social Studies is approached from a whole-world Christian perspective with broad applications of generally accepted principles of government, geographical relationships, conservation of natural resources and historical significance.

 

World Geography:
Seventh Grade social studies focuses on World Geography, with an emphasis on the relationships between physical, cultural and economic aspects world regions. Each country is explored with an emphasis on the five themes of Geography: Location, Place, Human/Environment Interaction, Movement and Region.

Text:
The World and Its People (Glencoe-McGraw Hill, 2000)

Supplemental materials:
DVDs, Internet-based research.

Methods:
Geography is taught with a variety of methods, including multi-media presentations, lecture/discussion, note taking, map skills activities, and group activities. Students keep notebooks for each chapter and turn them in when the chapter test is taken. Skeleton outlines of the chapter are given to students to complete from discussion and text readings. Projects are assigned from time to time, making use of the Internet and other outside resources. For example, students create a unique Monopoly game board using one of the European countries studied. They research the categories for the properties and design game board spaces. They piece all the spaces together to complete their game board.

American History:
Eighth Grade social studies deals exclusively with American History, with an emphasis on the age of exploration, colonization, revolutionary war, westward expansion, the civil war, the industrial revolution. American lifestyles, economics, geography, beliefs and values are also explored.

Text:
The American Nation (Prentice Hall, 2002)

Supplemental materials:
Internet-based research
PBS Video Series Liberty
PBS Video Series Lewis and Clark, Journeys of the Corps of Discovery
PBS Video Series The Civil War
Various other VHS videos and DVDs that are applicable to the content

Methods:
American History is taught with a variety of methods, including multi-media presentations, lecture/discussion, note taking, map skills activities, and group activities. Students keep notebooks for each chapter and turn them in when the chapter test is taken. Skeleton outlines of the chapter are given to students to complete from discussion and text readings. Projects are assigned from time to time, making use of the Internet and other outside resources. For example, students recently completed a Webquest of the Lewis and Clark Expedition where they went online and researched several aspects of the journey and complied the information in a report folder.

 

American Government:
Ninth Grade social studies are devoted to the study of American government through its history, role of the American citizen, and current political trends. The historical basis of government in America is reviewed. There is an emphasis on the separate branches of government and the federal system of government. Individual rights are explored through the study of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

Text:
American Government, A Complete Coursebook (Great Source, Houghton Mifflin)

Supplemental materials:
Newspapers, Periodicals, Internet-based research
DVDs

Methods:
American Government is taught with a variety of methods, including multi-media presentations, lecture/discussion, note taking, and group activities. Students keep notebooks for each chapter and turn them in when the chapter test is taken. Skeleton outlines of the chapter are given to students to complete from discussion and text readings. Projects are assigned from time to time, making use of the Internet and other outside resources. For example, we recently studied the Electoral College and how it affects election results.