Sawgrass Springs Middle School

8
th
Grade American History Course Syllabus
Dr. Marcia Richards
Welcome to Grade 8 American History course. This course is designed to facilitate the study of the
United States from exploration and colonization period to the Reconstruction period folloing the
!i"il War. Students ill #e exposed to the historical$ geographic$ political$ economic$ and sociological
e"ents$ hich influenced the de"elopment of the U.S. and the resulting$ impact on orld history. An
%nd&of&!ourse exam ill #e administered in 'une. Topics featured in this course include(
The World #efore
the )pening of the
Atlantic
*e %mpires in the
Americas
The %nglish !olonies +orming a
Go"ernment
!itizenship and the
!onstitution
,aunching the
*ation The 'efferson %ra
A *e *ational
-dentity The Age of 'ac.son %xpanding West
The *orth The South *e /o"ements in
America A 0i"ided *ation The !i"il War
Reconstruction
1ou ill participate in many traditional learning experiences$ such as note ta.ing$ using text#oo.s$
reading strategies$ graphic organizers$ reflection note#oo.s$ reading guides$ "oca#ulary de"elopment
strategies$ research$ tests and 2uizzes. 1ou ill also participate in many non&traditional$ hands&on and
technology experiences$ in hich you ill create "arious products as a ay of shocasing$ colla#orating
and assessing your learning. - loo. forard to an exciting year as e learn a#out the de"elopment and
transition of our nation.
Supplies Requested or Ci!ics" Geography# and $conomics
3 0uoTang +older ith prongs and poc.ets 45urple6
*ote#oo. paper
3 p.g. map 4colored6 pencils
7lue and8or #lac. in. pens$ pencils$ red pen
5encil Sharpener
Students are expected ha"e supplies daily. Some of the suggested supplies ill #e used in other
classes$ so there is no need to purchase duplicates unless another teacher is re2uesting that supply to
stay in their classroom.
%nteracti!e &oteboo's
1ou ill #e maintaining a digital -nteracti"e *ote#oo. using a e#&#ased tool. *otes and many
assignments ill #e completed in this note#oo.. A 0uo Tang folder ill #e utilized to supplement your
digital note#oo.. We ill use this folder daily therefore students ill #e responsi#le for #ringing their
interacti"e note#oo. to class daily.
If notebooks are lost they will need to be replaced, along with all notes and assignments for the
current quarter. Chapter exams will be administered; therefore it is essential to take great
care of your interactive notebook. At the end of each lesson an assessment will be
administered. At least once per week!, so an organi"ed and accurate notebook is essential.
Grading (olicy
The grading policy is as follos( Tests 8 9uizzes 4:;<6 5ro=ects 4:><6 Homeor.8!lassor. 4?><6
0ocument&7ased Tests 43;<6 !lassdo=o 43><6
@ %ducation is ne"er a#out achie"ing perfection$ #ut rather a#out meeting challengesA