Core Curriculum

U.S. History

United States History for grade 8 covers events and issues from the Age of Exploration through Reconstruction and the western movement, emphasizing the 18th and 19th centuries. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to exploration, colonization, the Revolutionary War, constitutional issues, nation building, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the western movement. Standards 1 and 2 should be integrated throughout the course rather than taught independently. The remaining standards can be taught either chronologically or thematically. Although the emphasis of this course is on the 18th and 19th centuries, additional content may be covered as time permits.

Core Curriculum

National Standards

Material and Resources

The following are materials and resources that can be used to support the core curriculum.

Lesson Ideas

Books

  • Notable Trade Books for Young People
    The books that appear in these annotated book lists were evaluated and selected by a Book Review Committee appointed by National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and assembled in cooperation with the Children's Book Council (CBC).

Teacher Resources

  • The Learning Page
    The Learning Page is designed to help educators use the American Memory Collections to teach history and culture. It offers tips and tricks, definitions and rationale for using primary sources, activities, discussions, lesson plans and suggestions for using the collections in classroom curriculum.

  • Utah State Office of Education Recommended Instructional Materials System (RIMS)
    Find instructional materials that have been adopted by the Utah State Office of Education.

  • National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
    Founded in 1921, National Council for the Social Studies has grown to be the largest association in the country devoted solely to social studies education. NCSS engages and supports educators in strengthening and advocating social studies. With members in all the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 69 foreign countries, NCSS serves as an umbrella organization for elementary, secondary, and college teachers of history, geography, economics, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and law-related education.

Internet

  • CivilWar.com
    A U.S. Civil War site that allows you to look at the timeline, battles, events, music, and documents of the Civil War.

  • American Memory
    American Memory provides free and open access through the Internet to written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience. It is a digital record of American history and creativity. These materials, from the collections of the Library of Congress and other institutions, chronicle historical events, people, places, and ideas that continue to shape America, serving the public as a resource for education and lifelong learning.

  • National Center for History in the Schools
    The mission of the National Center for History in the Schools [NCHS] is to improve history education in K-12 schools via its challenging, yet easy to use, curricular materials and assisting with the professional development of K-12 history teachers.

  • MarcoPolo
    The Marcopolo program provides quality Internet curriculum for the K-12 teacher and classroom. The free online resources include panel-reviewed links to top sites, professionally developed lesson plans, classroom activities, materials to help with daily classroom planning, and comprehensive search engines.

  • Pioneer - Utah's Online Library
    Pioneer is Utah's Online Library. Access hundreds of full-text publications, the Wilson Biographies, World Book Encyclopedia, and Utah Newspaper archives.

  • Utah Education Network
    The Utah Education Network website provides education tools, activities, lesson plans, curriculum guides and professional development for teachers and educators in the state of Utah. You can also find other UEN resources like KULC channel 9, EDNET, and distance learning resources here.

  • Bank Jr
    Zions Bank and KidsOnline.com have created the Bank Jr website as the biggest and most comprehensive kid-friendly resource on the web for learning about finances.

 

For further information, contact Robert Austin, State Social Studies Specialist - 801.538.7708; FAX 801.538.7769
This page last updated April 21, 2008