Ms.+Samadi's+Social+Studies+Page

HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCE

 * Title: ** Civics in Action (Grade 8) **Course #:** 238, 248


 * Description: ** The focus of the course is on:
 * building students’ mastery of challenging subject matter in civics and government
 * preparing students for responsible citizenship; and
 * involving students in civic action projects that promote and demonstrate good citizenship, community service, and personal responsibility.

The content is focused on developing and practicing essential citizenship skills (e.g., critical reading, discussion, debate, writing, collaboration, and decision-making) through the active exploration of a range of issues and ideas that are important to our local and national community and interesting to students.

• Civics in Action Notebook (daily class notes, summaries, reflections, personal responses, responses to open-response question, other assignments, including civic action projects)
 * Required Assessments/Products: **

• BPS Mid and End-of-Course Assessments

• Civic Action Projects (at least four per year; implementation of the //We the People…Project Citizen// program may serve as two projects)

• Debates, presentations, writing assignments, other products


 * Instructional Materials: ** A variety of resources are employed in the course. The core text is //Civics: Government and Economics in Action// (Prentice-Hall). In addition, the curriculum //Choices in Little Rock// (Facing History and Ourselves) will be implemented as a six-week unit in January and February. Key resources for Civic Action Projects include //Active Citizen Projects// (Prentice Hall); //The Kids’ Guide to Social Action// (Free Spirit Press).; and //We the People…Project Citizen// (Center for Civic Education)

** Pacing Guide: ** Civics in Action, Full-Year Course, 2014-15
 * < = Dates = ||< ** Unit ** ||< = Topics = ||
 * < ===Sept. 4- Sept. 12=== ||< Unit 0- Establishing Norms, Routines Civics in Action Notebook ||< http://mssamadi.wikispaces.com/Unit+0-+Establishing+Norms%2C+Routines%2C+and+Notebooks ||
 * < === Sept. 15- Oct. 10 === ||< Unit 1- What Does it Mean to be an American? ||< http://mssamadi.wikispaces.com/Unit+1-+American+Society+and+Values

Immigration, Citizenship, American Society Rights, Responsibilities, Duties || Political Parties in Our Democracy: Characteristics of Today’s Parties || The Supreme Law of the Land, Federalism: One Nation & Fifty States, The Federal Government: The Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches; || Major Supreme Court Cases ||
 * < === Oct. 14-Nov. 7 === ||< Unit 2- Vote! ||< Vote!
 * < === Nov. 10-Dec. 23 === ||< Unit 3- Roots of American Government ||< Roots of American Government:
 * < === Jan. 5- Jan 30 === ||< Unit 4- The Bill of Rights and Beyond ||< The Bill of Rights
 * < === Feb. 2-March 27 === ||< Unit 5- Choices at Little Rock

//February 3 – March 28// ||< Individual & Society,

Dividing a Nation: Segregation & Its Consequences,

Choices in Little Rock,

The “Lost Year”,

Legacies ||
 * < === March 30- April 17 === ||< Unit 6- The American Legal System

//March 31 – May 23// ||< Laws and Our Society,

Criminal and Juvenile Justice ||
 * < ===April 27- May 8 === ||< Unit 7- Foreign Policy ||< What is Foreign Policy?,

Making Foreign Policy,

Today’s Challenges,

The Nations of the World,

Relations Between and Within Nations ||
 * < === April 27-June 16 === ||< Unit 8- Civics in Action Project

//May 27 – June 19// ||< Research Project Note-Taking || S ept 4 – Nov 8, Nov 12 – Jan 31, Feb 3 – Apr 17, Apr 28 – June 19 June 19th – last day of school
 * Marking Periods: **


 * Assessments: **
 * ** Paced Interim on Close Reading: Oct 22-24 **
 * ** Paced Interim on DBA: Dec 10-12 **
 * ** End of Year Assessment: June 2-5 **
 * Mid-Course Assessments: January 24-30