8th grade Georgia Studies – The purpose of this course is for students to gain a greater comprehension of the state of Georgia through an examination of its geography, history, government, and economics.  It is through this study that students will grow to understand Georgia’s role in the history of the United States of America and its importance as a state in modern times.
Georgia Standards of Excellence 8th Grade Standards

 

Through analysis of current events chronicled in today’s media, students will make a connection between Georgia Studies and the common themes found in history such as discovery, struggle, and change.  

 

We teach the Georgia Standards of Excellence from the founding of  Georgia through Georgia in the 20thCentury, a geographic overview of the state, Georgia’s economy, and state and local government.  A list of the GSE for each unit can be found at www.georgiastandards.org

 

The Georgia Studies teachers integrate STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math)  lessons throughout the year.  We feel this cross curricular integration prepares our students, not only for high school, but for real world experiences.  Examples of STEAM activities students may experience in our classes are:

 

Through a prehistoric archaeology dig, students will investigate artifacts to help determine Georgia's earliest cultures. 

 

Presentation standards ELA  are used to assess presentations of Georgia Studies research topics throughout the year

 

Budgeting and economics opportunity costs during the  Great Depression lesson teaches students real world math and finance lessons.

 

Sharecropping/Tenant Farming simulation illustrating the cycle of debt that kept Georgians stuck  in these labor contracts.

 

Students read current issues of interest to them and tie them to topics in history, such as the debate over removing historical monuments.

 

These activities incorporate the following strategies and skills which span multiple content areas:

Key Ideas and Details, Point of View and Purpose, Sequence, Summarizing, Vocabulary Development, Cites Evidence, Inference and Prediction, Instructional Hook, Key Ideas and Details, Point of View and Purpose, Summarizing: Multiple Perspectives