8TH GRADE HUMANITIES
Welcome back to Humanities!
8th grade curriculum
In this your final year at Wilson we will study government for a semester and American history from World War
II to the present time.
First semester
August
Current events
Citizenship
American Values
Foundations of government
September
Declaration of Independence
Democracy
October
Preamble to the Constitution
Legislative branch
November
Executive branch
Judicial branch
Political cartoons
December
Amending the Constitution
Second semester
January
Bill of Rights
Persuasive essay
Amendments 13-26
February
Road to WWII
WWII
March
Holocaust
Debating the atomic bomb
April
Cold War
Civil Rights
May
We Didn’t Start the Fire
Current Events
Every Friday (unless told otherwise) you will have a current event write up due. We will discuss the parameters
and format in class. Each current event is worth 20 points, and they will add up to a large part of a quarter’s
grade.
Homework
http://wilhumanitieshw.wordpress.com/
Current events are considered homework, so, at a minimum, you will have that homework every week. I try to
keep the level of homework low, but this is a project-based class. Class time to complete projects will be
given. If you do not use your time wisely, you will have homework, and you will let your group down. There
will be more homework this year than in years past. This is part of the preparation for high school. I will post
assignments daily on the internet at http://wilhumanitieshw.wordpress.com/. You can also get to this site by
clicking on the homework link on my webpage. The assignments are also posted in the classroom.
Website
The website can be your best friend . http://www.amphi.com/schools/wilson-k-8-school/teacher-staff/wilsonmiddle-school-reach/eighth-grade-reach-humanities.aspx. There are assignments posted on the site, so if you
lose a paper, you can probably get a new one there. (Some cannot be posted on the web due to copyright
laws.)
Grades
Points are given for each assignment. Your grade is the number of points you receive divided by the
total number of points possible. Grades are weighted by the number of points, not by a percentage.
Grades are available online through the parent portal. I try to update grades at least once per week.
It is your responsibility to check your grades. If you discover a discrepancy, please see me as soon
as possible. Don’t wait until the week grades are due or after the grade reports are handed out.
Graded papers are in the out baskets in the classroom. It is your responsibility to pick them up as
they become available.
Extra Credit
From time to time opportunities for extra credit points are given. Extra credit is just that –EXTRA! It cannot
replace a missing assignment. Extra credit points are added into the grade calculation for the final grades
each quarter. If you have a missing assignment, extra credit points that you have done will not count. Since
extra credit opportunities are available throughout the grading period I will not give special extra credit at the
end of the quarter so you can raise your grade. The most a grade will be raised by extra credit points is 3-4
percentage points on the final grade.
Student responsibilities
You are in charge of your own learning. You will gain more from this class if you come to class prepared to
work and with the things you need – pencil or pen, paper, etc. I will not hand out second copies of
assignments if you lose yours. You will need to download one from the webpage or wiki or get it from a friend
to copy. I do not assign “busy” work just to get grades. The projects help you learn what you need to know
and give you “real life” skills and skills that are important for high school and beyond.
Absences
We do a great number of things in class that are impossible to make up. It is important that you come to
school. Absences can lead to feeling left out or lost because of all of the things we cover this year. If you are
absent it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. Check the board, ask me, ask a classmate, or
check on line to find out what you missed. Failure to make up work will result in a lower grade. If you feel
overwhelmed after a long absence, see me, and we will work something out so that you can get your work
completed.
Rules
Bell to bell – I expect you to be in your seat ready to learn when the bell rings and to work until the bell
rings at the end of class.
Respect one another, the teacher, the classroom the school, and yourself.
Open Mind – You will learn more if you have an open mind.
I’m looking forward to a great year. As always you can get in touch with me from home by emailing me at
aheld@amphi.com, or calling school at 696-5881.
Important links:
Homework: http://wilhumanitieshw.wordpress.com/
My web page: http://tinyurl.com/nyzddrb
Wiki:(must be a member to access) http://8thgradereachhumanities.wikispaces.com/
Edmodo: https://wilsonk8.edmodo.com/ (an account is required)
Parent portal for grades: https://sisportal.amphi10.org/pr/login.aspx
Wilson web page: http://www.amphi.com/schools/wilson-k-8.aspx
Wilson school notes home: http://www.amphi.comschools/wilson/noteshome.htm
Arizona State Social studies standards can be found on the Arizona Department of Education
Website http://www.ade.state.az.us/standards/contentstandards.asp
Common Core standards: http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards/