8th Grade Social Studies Semester 1

Enrollment Message

Students need access to a webcam or video recording device.

Course Description

Students in grade eight focus on the history of the United States. This study begins with a brief review of early North American continental history, followed by the Colonial Period. The course transitions to later periods including the Revolution and Founding Era. The course aims to cover the principles of the United States and Indiana constitutions, as well as many other founding documents and their applications to our shared history and culture. Students then study national development, westward expansion, social reform movements, the Civil War, and the Reconstruction Period. The major themes, issues, events, movements, and figures in Antebellum United States history are covered and this expands to explore relationships to modern issues and current events. Along with the current academic standards for this subject, the History/Social Studies Content Area Literacy Standards are incorporated with the expectation of a continuum of reading and writing skills development.

Course Goals

Upon completion of the course, students will…

• analyze the purposes, implementation, and effects of public policy on American life. 
• identify factors that influenced continental territorial expansion through varying perspectives.
• analyze the causes and effects of the War of 1812 as well as identify key events and people involved in the war..
• discuss the impact on American society brought about by the early Industrial Revolution.
• identify the results of the changes in transportation medians. 
• identify the major policies put into effect during the Age of Jackson.
• determine the rationale for and causes of Indian Removal, while analyzing its lasting impact.
• discuss the government's concerns of a national bank on financial policies.
• identify key areas of reform and expansion in ideas across the United States in the 19th century.
• determine the role of religion, art, and literature in shaping ideas in American society.
• analyze the rationale behind early government policies on slavery.
• determine the continued impact of the cotton industry on the United States in terms of economic and political decision-making.
• identify the causes and effects of continued Manifest Destiny plans and actions.
• identify the causes and impacts of the Mexican-American War.
• discuss the impact slavery had on American society post Mexican-American War.
• analyze the causes of the Civil War.

Indiana Academic Standards

• Social Studies Grade 8

Units of Instruction

• Unit 1 Jeffersonian Era
• Unit 2 National Expansion and Development
• Unit 3 The Age of Jackson
• Unit 4 Idealism and Reform
• Unit 5 Slavery in America
• Unit 6 The Divide Deepens

Grading/Evaluation

Indiana Online does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue transcripts or diplomas. A final score reported as a percentage of total points earned will be sent to students upon completion of a course. Your school of record can also access this score within the Student Information System, Genius. The final score will be shown as a percentage in Canvas and Genius. The student’s school of record will determine the letter grade based on their specific grading scale.

Students must complete at least 70% of the course and take all parts of the final exam(s) to have a score reported to their school of record. Failure to meet these requirements will result in a score of 0 reported to the school of record.

Assessments

Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, teacher-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments. The course includes the minimum number of assessments

• 4 Discussions
• 7 Assignments
• 25 Quizzes

The assessments for this asynchronous course are weighted as follows

Teacher Contact Response Time

Students can use email or the private message system within Genius or Canvas to access highly qualified teachers when they need teacher assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside Canvas. The Teacher Information page of their course may describe additional communication options.

The teacher will respond to student inquiries (email, text, call) within one business day. Assignments will be graded and posted within two business days.

Expectations for Academic Conduct 

Student Handbook 

It is your responsibility to read the student handbook to understand all aspects of taking an online course including expectations for academic conduct. Contact your teacher if you have any questions. 

Assistance for Students with Accommodations

Indiana Online supports an inclusive learning environment for all students. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that hinder your full participation, such as inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos and podcasts, reasonable accommodations can be arranged.

Technology

Technology Requirements 

Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube. Please review the Indiana Online’s Technology Requirements.

Technical Skills Needed 

Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to

• download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
• download and install software
• use a messaging service similar to email
• communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
• open attachments shared in messages
• create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
• save a file as a .pdf
• copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
• insert images or links into a file
• search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
• work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
• activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
• use presentation and graphics programs
• follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
• use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
• create and maintain usernames and passwords

Technical Questions?  Please contact the Indiana Online Helpdesk.