Social Studies – Unit Activity Planner: Austin Past and Present
Austin Independent School District
Grade: 8
Unit Length (Number of class periods): 17 total
Course: U.S. History
Topic: Social Studies Strands / Making Connections between U.S. History
and Local History
Required Technology: Austin Past/Present DVD, DVD Player or DVD compatible computer(s), Internet Explorer, Overhead or Epson projector
Concepts:
 Rights/ Laws and Rules
 Markets
 Invention
 Culture
 Time
 Environment
Unit Understandings: Studying history oftentimes skims the surface.
Overarching question: How can the social sciences help us learn in-depth
about a place or period of time?
We can learn so much more about a place or a time if we study all of the
different facets. Yes, we can study the history of a place, but that’s impacted
by the geography, which in turn impacts the economics and culture of a
place. All places need governments and those governments impact all of the
other facets. We can also factor in scientific advancements to see how places
change.
How can the perspective we have about our own life experiences be viewed as part of the
larger human story across time?
How do physical characteristics define where people locate and what they do?
What is a cultural identity?
How does technology (or the lack of it) impact a place and the people who live there?
How does a market economy work?
How are our daily lives impacted by the Constitution?
Unit Questions(s):
Additionally, it’s important to make connections between the past and the
present.
This Unit is designed to help students study all six social studies strands
(history, geography, economics, government, culture and technology) as well
as helping them make connections between their lives and the past.
TEKS/TAKS:
Please see individual lesson plans
Austin Independent School District
Social Studies Curriculum Department
June, 2006
Social Studies – Unit Activity Planner: Austin Past and Present
Austin Independent School District
Materials: Please see all lesson plans for specifics, but all lessons will use the Austin Past & Present DVD as well as the Creating America
textbook.
Preview: Students should be familiar with what each of the strands of social science is, but in case they aren’t, you may want to review using
either a quick lecture, discussion or PowerPoint presentation like the one attached to this unit overview.
Student activities that support the TEKS/TAKS :
History- Tri Timelines
Geography – Settlement letters
Economics – Austin Free Enterprise Mall
Government and Citizenship – Thank You Constitution Cards
Culture – Austin Cultural Icons dinner party
Science, Technology, and Society – Technology webs
Assessment(s): Please see individual lessons
Austin Independent School District
Social Studies Curriculum Department
June, 2006