8th Grade Social Studies & History Curriculum
8th grade social studies usually focuses on the history of the United States, from exploration and colonization to the late 19th century. Time4Learning auto-assigns U.S. history to 8th graders, however, parents have the ability to choose between these social studies courses for middle schoolers: ancient history; world history; civics, government and economics; world cultures and geography or U.S. history.
Learn more on what you should teach, what to include as part of your social studies objectives and how Time4Learning’s 8th grade social studies curriculum can work for you.
What Do You Teach in 8th Grade Social Studies?
Some of the topics for eighth grade social studies should include:
- Creation and ratification of the constitution and Bill of Rights
- State and local history
- American expansion, immigration and slavery
- The American Civil War and reconstruction
- Civil rights expansion and social movements
- Industrialization and the Great Depression
- Inventions and advancements in communications and transportation
- Contributions of American leaders to the war.
By default our program auto-assigns the U.S. history curriculum to 8th graders. However, parents have the ability to change it.
Learn more about Time4Learning’s eighth grade social studies curriculum by checking out the 8th grade social studies lesson plans below.
Social Studies Objectives for Eighth Grade
By the end of the year, your child should have a deep understanding of civic issues such as cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity, democratic values and more. Some of the objectives you can set include:
- Demonstrate understanding of the political, economic, and social characteristics of 13 colonies.
- Accurately explain causes and effects of the Great Depression
- Display knowledge about World War II
- Explain the impact of inventions on American culture
- Describe the impact of social movements on culture and legislation
8th Grade Social Studies Scope & Sequence
- Geography of the Nation and the World
- Analyzing Historical Sources
- Research in Social Studies
- Key Content Review: The Thirteen Colonies
- The French and Indian War
- Sons of Liberty
- The Revolution Begins
- The Declaration of Independence
- Fighting the Revolutionary War
- Creating a Constitution
- Ratification and the Bill of Rights
- The Jackson Era
- Reform Movements
- Sectionalism in the United States
- Lincoln
- The Civil War Begins
- The Emancipation Proclamation
- Turning Points
- End of the War
- Presidential and Radical Reconstruction
- Failures of Reconstruction
- Writing Workshop: Evaluating Research Questions and Sources in History
- A New Revolution
- Technology and Society in the Industrial Age
- A Worker’s Life
- The Immigrant Experience
- Urbanization in America
- Reforming Business and Industry in the Progressive Era
- Social Reform in the Progressive Era
- American Imperialism in the Pacific
- American Imperialism in Latin America
- The United States Enters WWI
- Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles
- Cumulative Exam
- Civil Rights at the Turn of the Century
- Women Win the Right to Vote
- 1920s America
- Art and Literature of the 1920s
- The Beginning of the Great Depression
- Challenges of the Great Depression
- Goals and Policies of the New Deal
- Writing Workshop: The New Deal
- Causes of World War II
- World War II on the Home Front
- Winning the War in Europe
- Winning the War in the Pacific
- Early Cold War Conflict
- The War in Korea
- The Cold War Era
- Civil Rights: Challenges and Changes
- Protesting to Demand Rights
- Expanding Civil Rights
- The Start of the Vietnam War
- The Turbulent Sixties
- Ending the Vietnam Conflict
- The Nixon Presidency
- The Ford and Carter Presidency
- The Regan Years
- The Cold War Ends
- The Bush and Clinton Presidencies
- Terrorism and Its Challenges
- The Modern Global Economy
- Into the Information Age
- Americans and Their Environment
- Population and Immigration
- Cumulative Exam
Why Choose Time4Learning Eighth Grade Social Studies Homeschool Curriculum
Time4Learning helps your child meet important objectives and build a number of important skills, including civic competence, critical thinking, how to become active and engaged participants in public life and more.
Whether you use the 8th grade social studies lessons as a full curriculum or as a supplement, the interactive, student-paced approach will help your child gain confidence and a thorough understanding of important events, people, concepts, and more. Learn more about our online eighth grade curriculum, designed to help your child learn and master their fundamental concepts.
