8th Grade History Unit Resources
8th Grade History Unit Resources
Embedded Files
Unit 1: Colonial America & The American Revolution
CA History–Social Science (HSS 8.1)Students understand the major events preceding the founding of the nation and relate their significance to the development of American constitutional democracy.
CA Computer Science Standard (Grades 6–8, Algorithms & Programming 3–AP-14)Create procedures with parameters to organize code and make it easier to reuse.
CA Media Arts Standard (Grade 8, Prof.MA:Cr1.1)Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work through creative exploration.
ISTE Student Standard (1.6 – Creative Communicator)Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using digital objects (e.g., Scratch animations).
Unit 2: The Development of Constitutional Democracy
CA History–Social Science (HSS 8.2)Students analyze the political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution and compare them to the Articles of Confederation.
CA History–Social Science (HSS 8.3)Students understand the foundation of the American political system and the roles of compromise and conflict in creating the Constitution.
CA Computer Science (Grades 6–8, Algorithms & Programming 3-AP-16)Create procedures with parameters to organize code and make it easier to reuse.
CA Media Arts (Grade 8, Creating 2.1)Demonstrate a creative process when conceiving and developing ideas, plans, and models for media arts productions.
ISTE Student Standard 4 - Innovative DesignerStudents use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful, or imaginative solutions.
Unit 3: The Early Republic
CA History–Social Science (HSS 8.4)Students analyze the aspirations and ideals of the people of the new nation.
CA History–Social Science (HSS 8.5)Students analyze U.S. foreign policy in the Early Republic.
CA Computer Science (3–5.AP.11 - adapted for grade level)Create programs or digital projects that include sequences, events, and loops to achieve a design or communication goal.
CA Media Arts (Grade 8, MA:Cr2.1.8)Organize and develop creative ideas for media artworks, integrating multiple media and design elements to convey intent.
ISTE Student Standard 4 - Innovative DesignerStudents use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful, or imaginative solutions.
Unit 4: Westward Expansion & Andrew Jackson
CA History–Social Science (HSS 8.8)Students analyze the divergent paths of the American people in the West from 1800 to the mid-1800s and the challenges they faced, including westward expansion, territorial acquisitions, removal of Indians, settlement of the Great Plains, the concept of Manifest Destiny.
CA Computer Science (6‑8.AP.12)Design and iteratively develop programs that combine control structures and use compound conditions.
CA Media Arts (Grade 8, MA:Cr2.1.8)Organize and develop artistic ideas and work
ISTE Student Standard 1.6 - Creative CommunicatorStudents communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using platforms, tools, and formats appropriate to their goals.
Unit 5: North & South
CA History–Social Science (HSS 8.6)Students analyze the divergent paths of the American people in the North and the South.
CA History–Social Science (HSS 8.7)Students analyze the divergent paths of the Union and the Confederacy during the Civil War.
CA History–Social Science (HSS 8.9)Students analyze the early Reconstruction period and the rebuilding of the South after the Civil War.
CA Computer Science (3-5.AP.11 - adapted for middle school extension)Decompose problems and create solutions using sequences, events, loops, and conditionals. (Students will “program” a bridge-building sequence to achieve stability using logical steps.)
CA Media Arts (Grade 8, MA:Cr2.1.8)Organize and develop creative ideas and models into meaningful media artworks for presentation, reflection, or critique.
ISTE Student Standard 4 - Innovative DesignerStudents use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful, or imaginative solutions.
Unit 6: The Civil War
CA History–Social Science (HSS 8.10)
Students analyze the multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War.
CA Computer Science Standard (Grades 6–8, 3-AP-9)
Create programs that use variables to store and modify data and control structures to manage program flow.
CA Media Arts Standard (Grade 8, Prof.Present.6)
Present, explain, and evaluate a work or collection of works to peers using effective presentation methods and constructive feedback.
ISTE Student Standard 6 - Innovative Designer
Students use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful, or imaginative solutions.
Unit 7: Reconstruction
CA History–Social Science (HSS 8.11)
Examine the aims of Reconstruction and identify the political, economic, and social challenges facing the South and the rest of the United States.
CA Computer Science Standard (Grades 6–8, Algorithms & Programming 3–AP–9)
Create programs that use variables to store and modify data, such as representing different perspectives or outcomes.
CA Media Arts Standard (Grade 8, Creating 2.1)
Develop, refine, and present media artworks that convey meaning through the integration of media arts elements.
ISTE Student Standard 6 - Creative Communicator
Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, and digital media appropriate to their goals.
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