Social Studies

ANCIENT WORLD HISTORY

206                  Grade Level 6                        

Ancient World History students study the growth of the first civilizations and the history of groups such as the Ancient Romans and Greeks, Medieval Europe, and the Transitional Americas. The focus of this course is on the development of these major civilizations and their impact on the expansion of global interactions. Students study people and societies from historical, cultural, geographic, political and economic perspectives in order to gain insight into the human experience of different cultural groups in various settings and at different times in history. In addition to the study of these Ancient Civilizations, students are also introduced to the practices of Historical Research and Investigation through a unit of study specifically focused on these skills. Throughout the course, students will learn, practice, and hone key historical thinking skills that will help them to interpret the past, critically analyze various perspectives, and support their own reasoned conclusions through writing. In 8th Grade, all students will take the MCAP Social Studies Assessment, measuring both their content knowledge and ability to: 

• Evaluate the credibility of the sources by considering the authority, origin, type, context, and corroborative value of each source.
• Identify credible, relevant information contained in the sources.
• Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources.

MERIT ANCIENT WORLD HISTORY

216                  Grade Level 6                          

Merit Ancient World History students study the growth of the first civilizations and the history of groups such as the Ancient Romans and Greeks, Medieval Europe, and the Transitional Americas. The focus of this course is on the development of these major civilizations and their impact on the expansion of global interactions. Students study people and societies from historical, cultural, geographic, political and economic perspectives in order to gain insight into the human experience of different cultural groups in various settings and at different times in history. In addition to the study of these Ancient Civilizations, students are also introduced to the practices of Historical Research and Investigation through a unit of study specifically focused on these skills. The merit level provides expectations and opportunities for students to work independently, at an accelerated pace, to engage in more rigorous and complex content, and to develop projects and products that reflect that level of understanding. Students will be expected to complete challenging assignments above grade level, both in and out of class. Throughout the course, students will learn, practice, and hone key historical thinking skills that will help them to interpret the past, critically analyze various perspectives, and support their own reasoned conclusions through writing. In 8th Grade, all students will take the MCAP Social Studies Assessment, measuring both their content knowledge and ability to: 

• Evaluate the credibility of the sources by considering the authority, origin, type, context, and corroborative value of each source.
• Identify credible, relevant information contained in the sources.
• Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources.

MAGNET ANCIENT WORLD HISTORY

216MG            Grade Level 6                        

Magnet Ancient World History students study the growth of the first civilizations and the history of groups such as the Ancient Romans and Greeks, Medieval Europe, and the Transitional Americas. The focus of this course is on the development of these major civilizations and their impact on the expansion of global interactions. Students study people and societies from historical, cultural, geographic, political and economic perspectives in order to gain insight into the human experience of different cultural groups in various settings and at different times in history. In addition to the study of these Ancient Civilizations, students are also introduced to the practices of Historical Research and Investigation through a unit of study specifically focused on these skills. In addition to the study of these Ancient Civilizations, students are also introduced to the practices of Historical Research and Investigation through a unit of study specifically focused on these skills. The magnet level provides expectations and opportunities for students to work independently, at an accelerated pace, to engage in more rigorous and complex content, and to develop projects and products that reflect that level of understanding. Best practices from gifted education, as well as gifted education resources, are woven into the curriculum. Projects and topics often overlap Magnet English Language Arts 6 and integrate the school’s WCPS Magnet Program Theme. Students will be expected to complete challenging assignments above grade level, both in and out of class. Throughout the course, students will learn, practice, and hone key historical thinking skills that will help them to interpret the past, critically analyze various perspectives, and support their own reasoned conclusions through writing. In 8th Grade, all students will take the MCAP Social Studies Assessment, measuring both their content knowledge and ability to: 

• Evaluate the credibility of the sources by considering the authority, origin, type, context, and corroborative value of each source.
• Identify credible, relevant information contained in the sources.
• Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the WCPS Magnet Program at Boonsboro or E. Russell Hicks Middle Schools.

GEOGRAPHY AND WORLD CULTURES

207                  Grade Level 7                        

Geography and World Cultures students study the world and its peoples through various topics stemming from an approach that considers modern issues framed through geographic, political, historical, social and economic lenses. This course explores different customs, traditions, and other unique characteristics of people and places around the globe. Students build and extend their skills by creating and interpreting maps, constructing timelines, reading primary and secondary sources, using atlases and globes, and interpreting cultural artifacts. Students also study significant events, critical movements, and people of various backgrounds that led to the development of and interaction between nations. Additionally, in 7th grade, students complete a Student Service Learning (SSL) Project as part of the state curriculum; successful participation in this curricular component earns the student 15 SSL Hours toward High School Graduation. Throughout the course, students will learn, practice, and hone key historical thinking skills that will help them to interpret the past, critically analyze various perspectives, and support their own reasoned conclusions through writing. In 8th Grade, all students will take the MCAP Social Studies Assessment, measuring both their content knowledge and ability to: 

• Evaluate the credibility of the sources by considering the authority, origin, type, context, and corroborative value of each source.
• Identify credible, relevant information contained in the sources.
• Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources.

MERIT GEOGRAPHY AND WORLD CULTURES

217                  Grade Level 7                        

Merit Geography and World Cultures students study the world and its peoples through various topics stemming from an approach that considers modern issues framed through geographic, political, historical, social and economic lenses. This course explores different customs, traditions, and other unique characteristics of people and places around the globe. Students build and extend their skills by creating and interpreting maps, constructing timelines, reading primary and secondary sources, using atlases and globes, and interpreting cultural artifacts. Students also study significant events, critical movements, and people of various backgrounds that led to the development of and interaction between nations. Additionally, in 7th grade, students complete a Student Service Learning (SSL) Project as part of the state curriculum; successful participation in this curricular component earns the student 15 SSL Hours toward High School Graduation. The merit level provides expectations and opportunities for students to work independently, at an accelerated pace, to engage in more rigorous and complex content, and to develop projects and products that reflect that level of understanding. Students will be expected to complete challenging assignments above grade level, both in and out of class. Throughout the course, students will learn, practice, and hone key historical thinking skills that will help them to interpret the past, critically analyze various perspectives, and support their own reasoned conclusions through writing. In 8th Grade, all students will take the MCAP Social Studies Assessment, measuring both their content knowledge and ability to: 

• Evaluate the credibility of the sources by considering the authority, origin, type, context, and corroborative value of each source.
• Identify credible, relevant information contained in the sources.
• Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources.

MAGNET GEOGRAPHY AND WORLD CULTURES

217MG            Grade Level 7                        

Magnet Geography and World Cultures students study the world and its peoples through various topics stemming from an approach that considers modern issues framed through geographic, political, historical, social and economic lenses. This course explores different customs, traditions, and other unique characteristics of people and places around the globe. Students build and extend their skills by creating and interpreting maps, constructing timelines, reading primary and secondary sources, using atlases and globes, and interpreting cultural artifacts. Students also study significant events, critical movements, and people of various backgrounds that led to the development of and interaction between nations. Additionally, in 7th grade, students complete a Student Service Learning (SSL) Project as part of the state curriculum; successful participation in this curricular component earns the student 15 SSL Hours toward High School Graduation. The magnet level provides expectations and opportunities for students to work independently, at an accelerated pace, to engage in more rigorous and complex content, and to develop projects and products that reflect that level of understanding. Best practices from gifted education, as well as gifted education resources, are woven into the curriculum. Projects and topics often overlap Magnet English Language Arts 7 and integrate the school’s WCPS Magnet Program Theme. Throughout the course, students will learn, practice, and hone key historical thinking skills that will help them to interpret the past, critically analyze various perspectives, and support their own reasoned conclusions through writing. In 8th Grade, all students will take the MCAP Social Studies Assessment, measuring both their content knowledge and ability to: 

• Evaluate the credibility of the sources by considering the authority, origin, type, context, and corroborative value of each source.
• Identify credible, relevant information contained in the sources.
• Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the WCPS Magnet Program at Boonsboro or E. Russell Hicks Middle Schools.

UNITED STATES STUDIES I

208                  Grade Level 8                          

United States Studies I provides students with the opportunity to study American history from the Colonial Era through the late nineteenth century. Following a brief overview of the exploration of North America, students study in more depth the causes and events of the American Revolution, the creation of the Constitutional government, and the growth, expansion, and conflict within America during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Additional topics of study include the Federalist and Jeffersonian Eras, the Industrial Revolution, Manifest Destiny, the American Civil War, Reconstruction, Immigration, and Progressive Reforms of the era. Students use primary source documents to examine political, economic, social, cultural, and geographic perspectives. They study significant events, critical movements, and people of various backgrounds that led to the building of this nation and its growth as a world power. Throughout the course, students will learn, practice, and hone key historical thinking skills that will help them to interpret the past, critically analyze various perspectives, and support their own reasoned conclusions through writing. In 8th Grade, all students will take the MCAP Social Studies Assessment, measuring both their content knowledge and ability to: 

• Evaluate the credibility of the sources by considering the authority, origin, type, context, and corroborative value of each source.
• Identify credible, relevant information contained in the sources.
• Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources.

MERIT UNITED STATES STUDIES I

218                  Grade Level 8                          

Merit United States Studies I provide students with the opportunity to study American history from the Colonial Era through the late nineteenth century. Following a brief overview of the exploration of North America, students study in more depth the causes and events of the American Revolution, the creation of the Constitutional government, and the growth, expansion, and conflict within America during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Additional topics of study include the Federalist and Jeffersonian Eras, the Industrial Revolution, Manifest Destiny, the American Civil War, Reconstruction, Immigration, and Progressive Reforms of the era. Students use primary source documents to examine political, economic, social, cultural, and geographic perspectives. They study significant events, critical movements, and people of various backgrounds that led to the building of this nation and its growth as a world power. The Merit level provides expectations and opportunities for students to work independently, at an accelerated pace, to engage in more rigorous and complex content, and to develop projects and products that reflect that level of understanding. Students will be expected to complete challenging assignments above grade level, both in and out of class. Throughout the course, students will learn, practice, and hone key historical thinking skills that will help them to interpret the past, critically analyze various perspectives, and support their own reasoned conclusions through writing. In 8th Grade, all students will take the MCAP Social Studies Assessment, measuring both their content knowledge and ability to: 

• Evaluate the credibility of the sources by considering the authority, origin, type, context, and corroborative value of each source.
• Identify credible, relevant information contained in the sources.
• Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources.

MAGNET UNITED STATES STUDIES I

218MG            Grade Level 8                        

Magnet United States Studies I provide students with the opportunity to study American history from the Colonial Era through the late nineteenth century. Following a brief overview of the exploration of North America, students study in more depth the causes and events of the American Revolution, the creation of the Constitutional government, and the growth, expansion, and conflict within America during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Additional topics of study include the Federalist and Jeffersonian Eras, the Industrial Revolution, Manifest Destiny, the American Civil War, Reconstruction, Immigration, and Progressive Reforms of the era. Students use primary source documents to examine political, economic, social, cultural, and geographic perspectives. They study significant events, critical movements, and people of various backgrounds that led to the building of this nation and its growth as a world power. The Magnet level provides expectations and opportunities for students to work independently, at an accelerated pace, to engage in more rigorous and complex content, and to develop projects and products that reflect that level of understanding. Best practices from gifted education, as well as gifted education resources, are woven into the curriculum. Projects and topics often overlap Magnet English Language Arts 8 and integrate the school’s WCPS Magnet Program Theme.

Students will be expected to complete challenging assignments above grade level, both in and out of class. Projects and topics are integrated with Magnet English Language Arts 7. Throughout the course, students will learn, practice, and hone key historical thinking skills that will help them to interpret the past, critically analyze various perspectives, and support their own reasoned conclusions through writing. In 8th Grade, all students will take the MCAP Social Studies Assessment, measuring both their content knowledge and ability to: 

• Evaluate the credibility of the sources by considering the authority, origin, type, context, and corroborative value of each source.
• Identify credible, relevant information contained in the sources.
• Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the WCPS Magnet Program at Boonsboro or E. Russell Hicks Middle Schools.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETIES SUBJECT GROUP COURSES

The following courses are offered only at Northern Middle School. Discover more about the IB MYP at Northern Middle School by reading the Signature Programs Descriptions section. Each of these Grades 6, 7, 8 courses are part of the Individuals & Societies Subject Group. The Individuals & Societies Subject Group is one of the 8 MYP Subjects in which MYP students must participate. These courses include the content of the foundational courses that are similarly-named on the preceding pages. Additionally, the curriculum includes the following components:

o   Key Concepts and Related Concepts, such as Time and Culture that are explored over an MYP student’s time in the Programme.

o   Global Contexts, such as Globalization & Sustainability and Orientation in Space & Time.

o   Approaches to Learning skills, such as Self-Management and Communication Skills.

o   Statements of Inquiry, which allow the students to explore the content and skills through a conceptual lens.

MYP Ancient World History

MYP206/MYP206SM  Grade Level 6

MYP Merit Ancient World History

MYP216/MYP216SM  Grade Level 6

MYP Geography and World Cultures

MYP207/MYP207SM  Grade Level 7

MYP Merit Geography and World Cultures

MYP217/MYP217SM  Grade Level 7

MYP US Studies I

MYP208/MYP208SM  Grade Level 8

MYP Merit US Studies I

MYP218/MYP218SM  Grade Level 8