Teaching the Declaration and Slavery in 8th Grade Social Studies
A parent once asked me during a conference why our curriculum focuses so much on the Declaration of Independence if the men who wrote it did not extend its promises to everyone. That conversation stayed with me because it gets at the exact struggle students face when... read more
Teaching 8th Grade Social Studies on Immigration and Assimilation
Eighth grade social studies students often grapple with the complex transition of American society during the late nineteenth century. Understanding the shifting demographics and social pressures of this period requires a clear look at how immigration patterns changed... read more
Teaching the Foundations of American Democracy to 8th Graders
Eighth grade social studies is the moment when the abstract concepts of government stop being theoretical textbook definitions and start being the practical rules that run our country.When we look at Foundations of American Democracy, we are really setting the stage... read more
8th Grade US History Lesson on the Roots of Public Education
The California-adopted standard CA.HSS-8.6.5 asks students to trace the development of the American education system from its earliest roots, including the roles of religious and private schools and Horace Mann’s campaign for free public education and its... read more