Social Studies
- Grade Level 6
- Grade Level 7
- Grade Level 8
- International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Individuals and Societies Subject Group Courses
Grade Level 6
ANCIENT WORLD HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE 6
206 Grade Level 6
Grades 6 and 7 social studies is a two-year experience in which students employ geographic, economic, civic, and historical tools to understand how big geographic questions link the past to the present. Grade 6 and 7 social studies builds on the elementary social studies courses by aligning a progression of skills and student understanding of civics, geography, economics, and history. This two-year sequence ensures that students understand the global context for the events they will study in Middle School United States History as well as establish a foundation for launching their high school experience in Modern World History. Exploration of each topic will begin with an examination of how location affects the events, ideas, and individuals being investigated. In addition, students will work to understand the broader historical context for each topic. Significant opportunities exist within the class to integrate claim construction, evidence evaluation, multiple perspectives, and argumentative writing so that grades 6 and 7 scaffold to support student success on the middle school assessment administered at the end of grade 8.
Organizationally, grades 6 and 7 social studies require students to shift between spatial scales to emphasize interactions between different scales of study and to find connections across time and geography. The spatial scales incorporated in this framework are: Global, Regional, and Local. Rather than chronology, the Grade 6 and 7 Social Studies Framework is organized around a series of big questions related to enduring geographic understandings that link student investigation of the past and present. The enduring geographic understandings that structure the course are: Movement, Human Systems, Human Interactions with the Environment, and Place and Region. Throughout the framework selected cases studies allow for the analysis of the geographic understandings. To help students in acquiring these understandings, the content of the framework is structured according to the six state social studies standards.
MERIT ANCIENT WORLD HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE 6 MERIT
216 Grade Level 6
Grades 6 and 7 social studies is a two-year experience in which students employ geographic, economic, civic, and historical tools to understand how big geographic questions link the past to the present. Grade 6 and 7 social studies builds on the elementary social studies courses by aligning a progression of skills and student understanding of civics, geography, economics, and history. This two-year sequence ensures that students understand the global context for the events they will study in Middle School United States History as well as establish a foundation for launching their high school experience in Modern World History. Exploration of each topic will begin with an examination of how location affects the events, ideas, and individuals being investigated. In addition, students will work to understand the broader historical context for each topic. Significant opportunities exist within the class to integrate claim construction, evidence evaluation, multiple perspectives, and argumentative writing so that grades 6 and 7 scaffold to support student success on the middle school assessment administered at the end of grade 8. 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.
Organizationally, grades 6 and 7 social studies require students to shift between spatial scales to emphasize interactions between different scales of study and to find connections across time and geography. The spatial scales incorporated in this framework are: Global, Regional, and Local. Rather than chronology, the Grade 6 and 7 Social Studies Framework is organized around a series of big questions related to enduring geographic understandings that link student investigation of the past and present. The enduring geographic understandings that structure the course are: Movement, Human Systems, Human Interactions with the Environment, and Place and Region. Throughout the framework selected cases studies allow for the analysis of the geographic understandings. To help students in acquiring these understandings, the content of the framework is structured according to the six state social studies standards.
MAGNET ANCIENT WORLD HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE 6 - MAGNET
216MG Grade Level 6
Grades 6 and 7 social studies is a two-year experience in which students employ geographic, economic, civic, and historical tools to understand how big geographic questions link the past to the present. Grade 6 and 7 social studies builds on the elementary social studies courses by aligning a progression of skills and student understanding of civics, geography, economics, and history. This two-year sequence ensures that students understand the global context for the events they will study in Middle School United States History as well as establish a foundation for launching their high school experience in Modern World History. Exploration of each topic will begin with an examination of how location affects the events, ideas, and individuals being investigated. In addition, students will work to understand the broader historical context for each topic. Significant opportunities exist within the class to integrate claim construction, evidence evaluation, multiple perspectives, and argumentative writing so that grades 6 and 7 scaffold to support student success on the middle school assessment administered at the end of grade 8. 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. Additionally, projects and topics are often integrated with Magnet English Language Arts.
Organizationally, grades 6 and 7 social studies require students to shift between spatial scales to emphasize interactions between different scales of study and to find connections across time and geography. The spatial scales incorporated in this framework are: Global, Regional, and Local. Rather than chronology, the Grade 6 and 7 Social Studies Framework is organized around a series of big questions related to enduring geographic understandings that link student investigation of the past and present. The enduring geographic understandings that structure the course are: Movement, Human Systems, Human Interactions with the Environment, and Place and Region. Throughout the framework selected cases studies allow for the analysis of the geographic understandings. To help students in acquiring these understandings, the content of the framework is structured according to the six state social studies standards.
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the WCPS Magnet Program at Boonsboro or E. Russell Hicks Middle Schools.
Grade Level 7
GEOGRAPHY AND WORLD CULTURES/SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE 7
207 Grade Level 7
Grades 6 and 7 social studies is a two-year experience in which students employ geographic, economic, civic, and historical tools to understand how big geographic questions link the past to the present. Grade 6 and 7 social studies builds on the elementary social studies courses by aligning a progression of skills and student understanding of civics, geography, economics, and history. This two-year sequence ensures that students understand the global context for the events they will study in Middle School United States History as well as establish a foundation for launching their high school experience in Modern World History. Exploration of each topic will begin with an examination of how location affects the events, ideas, and individuals being investigated. In addition, students will work to understand the broader historical context for each topic. Significant opportunities exist within the class to integrate claim construction, evidence evaluation, multiple perspectives, and argumentative writing so that grades 6 and 7 scaffold to support student success on the middle school assessment administered at the end of grade 8.
Organizationally, grades 6 and 7 social studies require students to shift between spatial scales to emphasize interactions between different scales of study and to find connections across time and geography. The spatial scales incorporated in this framework are: Global, Regional, and Local. Rather than chronology, the Grade 6 and 7 Social Studies Framework is organized around a series of big questions related to enduring geographic understandings that link student investigation of the past and present. The enduring geographic understandings that structure the course are: Movement, Human Systems, Human Interactions with the Environment, and Place and Region. Throughout the framework selected cases studies allow for the analysis of the geographic understandings. To help students in acquiring these understandings, the content of the framework is structured according to the six state social studies standards.
MERIT GEOGRAPHY AND WORLD CULTURES/SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE 7
217 Grade Level 7
Grades 6 and 7 social studies is a two-year experience in which students employ geographic, economic, civic, and historical tools to understand how big geographic questions link the past to the present. Grade 6 and 7 social studies builds on the elementary social studies courses by aligning a progression of skills and student understanding of civics, geography, economics, and history. This two-year sequence ensures that students understand the global context for the events they will study in Middle School United States History as well as establish a foundation for launching their high school experience in Modern World History. Exploration of each topic will begin with an examination of how location affects the events, ideas, and individuals being investigated. In addition, students will work to understand the broader historical context for each topic. Significant opportunities exist within the class to integrate claim construction, evidence evaluation, multiple perspectives, and argumentative writing so that grades 6 and 7 scaffold to support student success on the middle school assessment administered at the end of grade 8. 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.
Organizationally, grades 6 and 7 social studies require students to shift between spatial scales to emphasize interactions between different scales of study and to find connections across time and geography. The spatial scales incorporated in this framework are: Global, Regional, and Local. Rather than chronology, the Grade 6 and 7 Social Studies Framework is organized around a series of big questions related to enduring geographic understandings that link student investigation of the past and present. The enduring geographic understandings that structure the course are: Movement, Human Systems, Human Interactions with the Environment, and Place and Region. Throughout the framework selected cases studies allow for the analysis of the geographic understandings. To help students in acquiring these understandings, the content of the framework is structured according to the six state social studies standards.
MAGNET GEOGRAPHY AND WORLD CULTURES/SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE 7 - MAGNET
217MG Grade Level 7
Grades 6 and 7 social studies is a two-year experience in which students employ geographic, economic, civic, and historical tools to understand how big geographic questions link the past to the present. Grade 6 and 7 social studies builds on the elementary social studies courses by aligning a progression of skills and student understanding of civics, geography, economics, and history. This two-year sequence ensures that students understand the global context for the events they will study in Middle School United States History as well as establish a foundation for launching their high school experience in Modern World History. Exploration of each topic will begin with an examination of how location affects the events, ideas, and individuals being investigated. In addition, students will work to understand the broader historical context for each topic. Significant opportunities exist within the class to integrate claim construction, evidence evaluation, multiple perspectives, and argumentative writing so that grades 6 and 7 scaffold to support student success on the middle school assessment administered at the end of grade 8. 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. Additionally, projects and topics are often integrated with Magnet English Language Arts.
Organizationally, grades 6 and 7 social studies require students to shift between spatial scales to emphasize interactions between different scales of study and to find connections across time and geography. The spatial scales incorporated in this framework are: Global, Regional, and Local. Rather than chronology, the Grade 6 and 7 Social Studies Framework is organized around a series of big questions related to enduring geographic understandings that link student investigation of the past and present. The enduring geographic understandings that structure the course are: Movement, Human Systems, Human Interactions with the Environment, and Place and Region. Throughout the framework selected cases studies allow for the analysis of the geographic understandings. To help students in acquiring these understandings, the content of the framework is structured according to the six state social studies standards.
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the WCPS Magnet Program at Boonsboro or E. Russell Hicks Middle Schools.
Grade Level 8
UNITED STATES STUDIES I/SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE 8
208 Grade Level 8
Eighth grade United States History focuses on developing students’ understanding of American History from Colonization until the dawn of the 20th Century. In United States History students interpret historical evidence and identify significant trends and major turning points that define the first 300 years of the American experience. The study of United States History will enable students to understand the development and expansion of a market economy and the economic forces that drove the growth of a continental power. In addition, students will examine the foundational documents and democratic practices that define the growth of the American Republic. Students will analyze the processes and mechanisms that increased the body politic and the impact of different cultures on the development of an American identity. By considering events from multiple perspectives students will understand that women, African Americans, American Indians and other minorities. To help students in acquiring these understandings, the content of the framework is structured according to the six state social studies standards. Link: MSDE Grade 8 Framework
Throughout Grades 6-8, 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 in Grade 8, 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/SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE 8 - MERIT
218 Grade Level 8
Eighth grade United States History focuses on developing students’ understanding of American History from Colonization until the dawn of the 20th Century. In United States History students interpret historical evidence and identify significant trends and major turning points that define the first 300 years of the American experience. The study of United States History will enable students to understand the development and expansion of a market economy and the economic forces that drove the growth of a continental power. In addition, students will examine the foundational documents and democratic practices that define the growth of the American Republic. Students will analyze the processes and mechanisms that increased the body politic and the impact of different cultures on the development of an American identity. By considering events from multiple perspectives students will understand that women, African Americans, American Indians and other minorities. To help students in acquiring these understandings, the content of the framework is structured according to the six state social studies standards. Link: MSDE Grade 8 Framework
Throughout Grades 6-8, 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 in Grade 8, 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/SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE 8 - MAGNET
218MG Grade Level 8
Eighth grade United States History focuses on developing students’ understanding of American History from Colonization until the dawn of the 20th Century. In United States History students interpret historical evidence and identify significant trends and major turning points that define the first 300 years of the American experience. The study of United States History will enable students to understand the development and expansion of a market economy and the economic forces that drove the growth of a continental power. In addition, students will examine the foundational documents and democratic practices that define the growth of the American Republic. Students will analyze the processes and mechanisms that increased the body politic and the impact of different cultures on the development of an American identity. By considering events from multiple perspectives students will understand that women, African Americans, American Indians and other minorities. To help students in acquiring these understandings, the content of the framework is structured according to the six state social studies standards. 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. Additionally, projects and topics are often integrated with Magnet English Language Arts. Link: MSDE Grade 8 Framework
Throughout Grades 6-8, 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 in Grade 8, 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
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