SAS Curriculum – 8th Grade Social Studies Activities by Strand
Strand - History
Essential Standard 8.H.1
Apply historical thinking to understand the creation and development of North Carolina and the
United States.
Clarifying Objective 8.H.1.1
Construct charts, graphs, and historical narratives to explain particular events or issues.
Postwar Presidential Comparison Charts, Tool-based Lesson 615
Mapping Key Civil War Battles, Tool-based Lesson 1492
Battles of the Revolutionary War, Inquiry 202
Clarifying Objective 8.H.1.2
Summarize the literal meaning of historical documents in order to establish context.
The Declaration of Independence: Analyzing Grievances, Inquiry 210
Freedom of Speech in School, Interactive Tool 1186
The Constitutional Convention, Interactive Tool 1180
The Declaration of Independence: Evolution of an Idea, Tool-based Lesson 608
Jackson and the Nullification Crisis, Interactive Tool 1261
The Stamp Act, Interactive Tool 30
Nixon and the Watergate Scandal, Interactive Tool 1262
Clarifying Objective 8.H.1.3
Use primary and secondary sources to interpret various historical perspectives.
Johnson and the Vietnam War, Interactive Tool 38
The Trial of Anne Hutchinson, Interactive Tool 29
Freedom of Speech in School, Interactive Tool 1186
Lincoln and the Civil War, Interactive Tool 1260
The Jamestown Colony, Inquiry 201
Voting Rights for Women, Interactive Tool 1258
The Constitutional Convention, Interactive Tool 1180
Indian Removal Act of 1830, Interactive Tool 31
Jackson and the Nullification Crisis, Interactive Tool 1261
The Stamp Act, Interactive Tool 30
Clarifying Objective 8.H.1.4
Use historical inquiry to evaluate the validity of sources used to construct historical narratives (e.g.
formulate historical questions, gather data from a variety of sources, evaluate and interpret data and
support interpretations with historical evidence).
The Declaration of Independence: Analyzing Grievances, Inquiry 210
The Constitutional Convention, Interactive Tool 1180
America: World Power, Interactive Tool 1263
Voting Rights for Women, Interactive Tool 1258
Indian Removal Act of 1830, Interactive Tool 31
Causes of the Civil War, Interactive Tool 1337
The Civil War: The Emancipation Proclamation, Inquiry 204
The Mexican American War, Interactive Tool 32
Clarifying Objective 8.H.1.5
Analyze the relationship between historical context and decision-making.
The Declaration of Independence: Analyzing Grievances, Inquiry 210
Cold War: McCarthyism, Inquiry 207
The Progressive Era: The Standard Oil Monopoly, Interactive Tool 35
America: World Power, Interactive Tool 1263
Voting Rights for Women, Interactive Tool 1258
The Spanish-American War, Inquiry 205
Cold War: The Truman Doctrine, Inquiry 209
The Roaring 20s: Flapper Culture , Inquiry 206
The Civil War: The Emancipation Proclamation, Inquiry 204
Early Foreign Policy, Interactive Tool 1257
Civil Rights: Desegregating the Military, Inquiry 208
Essential Standard 8.H.2
Understand the ways in which conflict, compromise and negotiation have shaped North Carolina and
the United States.
Clarifying Objective 8.H.2.1
Explain the impact of economic, political, social, and military conflicts (e.g. war, slavery, states' rights
and citizenship and immigration policies) on the development of North Carolina and the United
States.
End of the Cold War, Tutorial 1297
Reconstruction Era Sharecropping, Tool-based Lesson 1514
U.S. Territorial Growth to 1853, Tool-based Lesson 1546
Battles of the War of 1812, Tool-based Lesson 1491
The Civil War: John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry, Interactive Tool 33
Mapping Key Civil War Battles, Tool-based Lesson 1492
Battles of the Revolutionary War, Inquiry 202
The Civil War: The Emancipation Proclamation, Inquiry 204
Early Foreign Policy, Interactive Tool 1257
The Daily Lives of Slaves, Inquiry 203
The Mexican American War, Interactive Tool 32
Clarifying Objective 8.H.2.2
Summarize how leadership and citizen actions (e.g. the founding fathers, the Regulators, the
Greensboro Four, and participants of the Wilmington Race Riots, 1898) influenced the outcome of
key conflicts in North Carolina and the United States.
Battles of the Civil War, Web Lesson 610
U.S. Territorial Growth to 1853, Tool-based Lesson 1546
Battles of the War of 1812, Tool-based Lesson 1491
The Great Depression: Photo Essay, Web Lesson 612
The Spanish-American War, Inquiry 205
The Civil War: John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry, Interactive Tool 33
Battles of the Revolutionary War, Inquiry 202
Clarifying Objective 8.H.2.3
Summarize the role of debate, compromise, and negotiation during significant periods in the history
of North Carolina and the United States.
The Declaration of Independence: Analyzing Grievances, Inquiry 210
Battles of the Civil War, Web Lesson 610
Lincoln and the Civil War, Interactive Tool 1260
World War I: The U.S. Enters the War, Web Lesson 611
Battles of the War of 1812, Tool-based Lesson 1491
Voting Rights for Women, Interactive Tool 1258
Indian Removal Act of 1830, Interactive Tool 31
The Civil War: John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry, Interactive Tool 33
Jackson and the Nullification Crisis, Interactive Tool 1261
Battles of the Revolutionary War, Inquiry 202
Essential Standard 8.H.3
Understand the factors that contribute to change and continuity in North Carolina and the United
States.
Clarifying Objective 8.H.3.1
Explain how migration and immigration contributed to the development of North Carolina and the
United States from colonization to contemporary times (e.g. westward movement, African slavery,
Trail of Tears, the Great Migration and Ellis and Angel Island).
Ellis Island and the Immigrant Experience, Web Lesson 403
The Jamestown Colony, Inquiry 201
News Reports on Westward Expansion, Tool-based Lesson 609
U.S. Territorial Growth to 1853, Tool-based Lesson 1546
The Great Migration: Who, What, When, Where, and Why, Tool-based Lesson 1543
Indian Removal Act of 1830, Interactive Tool 31
U.S. Immigration, Tool-based Lesson 1545
World War II: Japanese Internment, Interactive Tool 37
The Daily Lives of Slaves, Inquiry 203
The Mexican American War, Interactive Tool 32
U.S. Railroad Expansion: Timeline and Map, Tool-based Lesson 1547
Clarifying Objective 8.H.3.2
Explain how changes brought about by technology and other innovations affected individuals and
groups in North Carolina and the United States (e.g. advancements in transportation, communication
networks and business practices).
The Progressive Era: The Standard Oil Monopoly, Interactive Tool 35
The Japanese Economic Miracle, Tutorial 1298
World War II: The Homefront, Interactive Tool 1259
Early North American Civilizations, Tutorial 1342
U.S. Railroad Expansion: Timeline and Map, Tool-based Lesson 1547
Clarifying Objective 8.H.3.3
Explain how individuals and groups have influenced economic, political and social change in North
Carolina and the United States.
Battles of the War of 1812, Tool-based Lesson 1491
Voting Rights for Women, Interactive Tool 1258
Indian Removal Act of 1830, Interactive Tool 31
The Civil War: John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry, Interactive Tool 33
FDR and the New Deal, Interactive Tool 1256
Causes of the Civil War, Interactive Tool 1337
Battles of the Revolutionary War, Inquiry 202
Elizabethan Exploration: One of Many Accomplishments , Tool-based Lesson 1544
Clarifying Objective 8.H.3.4
Compare historical and contemporary issues to understand continuity and change in the
development of North Carolina and the United States.
End of the Cold War, Tutorial 1297
The Declaration of Independence: Analyzing Grievances, Inquiry 210
Voting Rights for Women, Interactive Tool 1258
Jackson and the Nullification Crisis, Interactive Tool 1261
Causes of the Civil War, Interactive Tool 1337
Early Foreign Policy, Interactive Tool 1257
Strand - Geography and Environmental Literacy
Essential Standard 8.G.1
Understand the geographic factors that influenced North Carolina and the United States.
Clarifying Objective 8.G.1.1
Explain how location and place have presented opportunities and challenges for the movement of
people, goods, and ideas in North Carolina and the United States.
Interactive Atlas, Interactive Tool 2000
Three Routes to the Gold Rush, Tool-based Lesson 1495
Reconstruction Era Sharecropping, Tool-based Lesson 1514
The Jamestown Colony, Inquiry 201
Battles of the War of 1812, Tool-based Lesson 1491
Lewis and Clark Go West, Tool-based Lesson 1493
Colonial Regions: New England, Middle Colonies, and Southern Colonies, Tool-based Lesson
1494
Clarifying Objective 8.G.1.2
Understand the human and physical characteristics of regions in North Carolina and the United
States (e.g. physical features, culture, political organization and ethnic make-up).
Interactive Atlas, Interactive Tool 2000
Three Routes to the Gold Rush, Tool-based Lesson 1495
Reconstruction Era Sharecropping, Tool-based Lesson 1514
Lewis and Clark Go West, Tool-based Lesson 1493
U.S. Immigration, Tool-based Lesson 1545
The Civil War: Reconstruction, Web Lesson 402
Early North American Civilizations, Tutorial 1342
Clarifying Objective 8.G.1.3
Explain how human and environmental interaction affected quality of life and settlement patterns in
North Carolina and the United States (e.g. environmental disasters, infrastructure development,
coastal restoration and alternative sources of energy).
Three Routes to the Gold Rush, Tool-based Lesson 1495
Ellis Island and the Immigrant Experience, Web Lesson 403
Lewis and Clark Go West, Tool-based Lesson 1493
Colonial Regions: New England, Middle Colonies, and Southern Colonies, Tool-based Lesson
1494
Early North American Civilizations, Tutorial 1342
Strand - Economics and Financial Literacy
Essential Standard 8.E.1
Understand the economic activities of North Carolina and the United States.
Clarifying Objective 8.E.1.1
Explain how conflict, cooperation, and competition influenced periods of economic growth and
decline (e.g. economic depressions and recessions).
Three Routes to the Gold Rush, Tool-based Lesson 1495
Reconstruction Era Sharecropping, Tool-based Lesson 1514
Lewis and Clark Go West, Tool-based Lesson 1493
The Minimum Wage, Interactive Tool 1184
FDR and the New Deal, Interactive Tool 1256
Colonial Regions: New England, Middle Colonies, and Southern Colonies, Tool-based Lesson
1494
Income Taxes and Fairness, Interactive Tool 1185
Clarifying Objective 8.E.1.2
Use economic indicators (e.g. GDP, inflation and unemployment) to evaluate the growth and stability
of the economy of North Carolina and the United States.
Reconstruction Era Sharecropping, Tool-based Lesson 1514
Economic Systems, Tutorial 1513
The Minimum Wage, Interactive Tool 1184
Causes of the Civil War, Interactive Tool 1337
Income Taxes and Fairness, Interactive Tool 1185
Clarifying Objective 8.E.1.3
Explain how quality of life is impacted by personal financial choices (e.g. credit, savings, investing,
borrowing and giving).
Economic Systems, Tutorial 1513
Reconstruction Era Sharecropping, Tool-based Lesson 1514
The Minimum Wage, Interactive Tool 1184
Income Taxes and Fairness, Interactive Tool 1185
Strand - Civics and Governance
Essential Standard 8.C&G.1
Analyze how democratic ideals shaped government in North Carolina and the United States.
Clarifying Objective 8.C&G.1.1
Summarize democratic ideals expressed in local, state, and national government (e.g. limited
government, popular sovereignty, separation of powers, republicanism, federalism and individual
rights).
The Federalist Papers: Advertising the Constitution, Web Lesson 400
The Declaration of Independence: Analyzing Grievances, Inquiry 210
Freedom of Speech in School, Interactive Tool 1186
Viewing 12 Angry Men, Web Lesson 1146
The Electoral College, Interactive Tool 1183
The Constitutional Convention, Interactive Tool 1180
Local Government: Laws, Inquiry 212
The Minimum Wage, Interactive Tool 1184
Referendum, Recall, and Initiative, Interactive Tool 1182
Clarifying Objective 8.C&G.1.2
Evaluate the degree to which democratic ideals are evident in historical documents from North
Carolina and the United States (e.g. the Mecklenburg Resolves, the Halifax Resolves, the
Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Bill of Rights and the principles
outlined in the US Constitution and North Carolina Constitutions of 1776, 1868 and 1971).
The Federalist Papers: Advertising the Constitution, Web Lesson 400
The Declaration of Independence: Analyzing Grievances, Inquiry 210
The Jamestown Colony, Inquiry 201
The Electoral College, Interactive Tool 1183
Voting Rights for Women, Interactive Tool 1258
The Civil War: John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry, Interactive Tool 33
Early Foreign Policy, Interactive Tool 1257
Clarifying Objective 8.C&G.1.3
Analyze differing viewpoints on the scope and power of state and national governments (e.g.
Federalists and anti-Federalists, education, immigration and healthcare).
Researching Reform Movements 1820-1860, Tool-based Lesson 401
The Federalist Papers: Advertising the Constitution, Web Lesson 400
Freedom of Speech in School, Interactive Tool 1186
The Native American Reeducation Movement, Inquiry 200
The Constitutional Convention, Interactive Tool 1180
Referendum, Recall, and Initiative, Interactive Tool 1182
Investigating Issues in Colonial America, Web Lesson 399
Clarifying Objective 8.C&G.1.4
Analyze access to democratic rights and freedoms among various groups in North Carolina and the
United States (e.g. enslaved people, women, wage earners, landless farmers, American Indians,
African Americans and other ethnic groups).
Booker T. Washington and Equality, Interactive Tool 34
The 1894 Pullman Strike, Web Lesson 1135
The Native American Reeducation Movement, Inquiry 200
Voting Rights for Women, Interactive Tool 1258
Consumer Warning Labels, Web Lesson 1144
Indian Removal Act of 1830, Interactive Tool 31
The Civil War: John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry, Interactive Tool 33
The Minimum Wage, Interactive Tool 1184
Adam Smith and the Assembly Line, Inquiry 215
Encountering Lewis and Clark, Web Lesson 398
The Mexican American War, Interactive Tool 32
Essential Standard 8.C&G.2
Understand the role that citizen participation plays in societal change.
Clarifying Objective 8.C&G.2.1
Evaluate the effectiveness of various approaches used to effect change in North Carolina and the
United States (e.g. picketing, boycotts, sit-ins, voting, marches, holding elected office and lobbying).
The Declaration of Independence: Analyzing Grievances, Inquiry 210
Voting Rights for Women, Interactive Tool 1258
The Stamp Act, Interactive Tool 30
Civil Rights: Desegregating the Military, Inquiry 208
Clarifying Objective 8.C&G.2.2
Analyze issues pursued through active citizen campaigns for change (e.g. voting rights and access
to education, housing and employment).
The Declaration of Independence: Analyzing Grievances, Inquiry 210
The Jamestown Colony, Inquiry 201
The Native American Reeducation Movement, Inquiry 200
African Americans and the New Deal, Interactive Tool 36
Voting Rights for Women, Interactive Tool 1258
The Progressive Era: The Standard Oil Monopoly, Interactive Tool 35
Apartheid in South Africa, Inquiry 198
The Roaring 20s: Flapper Culture , Inquiry 206
U.S. Railroad Expansion: Timeline and Map, Tool-based Lesson 1547
Clarifying Objective 8.C&G.2.3
Explain the impact of human and civil rights issues throughout North Carolina and United States
history.
The Declaration of Independence: Analyzing Grievances, Inquiry 210
Booker T. Washington and Equality, Interactive Tool 34
The Native American Reeducation Movement, Inquiry 200
The Civil War: John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry, Interactive Tool 33
World War II: Japanese Internment, Interactive Tool 37
Civil Rights: Desegregating the Military, Inquiry 208
Strand - Culture
Essential Standard 8.C.1
Understand how different cultures influenced North Carolina and the United States.
Clarifying Objective 8.C.1.1
Explain how influences from Africa, Europe, and the Americas impacted North Carolina and the
United States (e.g. Columbian exchange, slavery and the decline of the American Indian
populations).
Ellis Island and the Immigrant Experience, Web Lesson 403
The Great Plains Indian Wars, Tool-based Lesson 1130
Age of Exploration: The Columbian Exchange, Inquiry 186
Indian Removal Act of 1830, Interactive Tool 31
U.S. Immigration, Tool-based Lesson 1545
Native American Tribal Governments, Web Lesson 606
The Daily Lives of Slaves, Inquiry 203
Civil Rights: Desegregating the Military, Inquiry 208
Clarifying Objective 8.C.1.2
Summarize the origin of beliefs, practices, and traditions that represent various groups within North
Carolina and the United States (e.g. Moravians, Scots-Irish, Highland Scots, Latino, Hmong, African,
and American Indian).
William Penn and the Middle Colonies , Interactive Tool 1264
The Trial of Anne Hutchinson, Interactive Tool 29
The Great Depression: Photo Essay, Web Lesson 612
U.S. Immigration, Tool-based Lesson 1545
The Roaring 20s: Flapper Culture , Inquiry 206
Early North American Civilizations, Tutorial 1342
Clarifying Objective 8.C.1.3
Summarize the contributions of particular groups to the development of North Carolina and the
United States (e.g. women, religious groups, and ethnic minorities such as American Indians, African
Americans, and European immigrants).
Voting Rights for Women, Interactive Tool 1258
Indian Removal Act of 1830, Interactive Tool 31
U.S. Immigration, Tool-based Lesson 1545
Causes of the Civil War, Interactive Tool 1337
The Daily Lives of Slaves, Inquiry 203
Colonial Regions: New England, Middle Colonies, and Southern Colonies, Tool-based Lesson
1494
The Turbulent 1960s, Tool-based Lesson 407
American Athletes of the '20s and '30s, Web Lesson 404
William Penn and the Middle Colonies , Interactive Tool 1264
The Great Depression: Photo Essay, Web Lesson 612
African Americans and the New Deal, Interactive Tool 36
The Roaring 20s: Flapper Culture , Inquiry 206
Native American Tribal Governments, Web Lesson 606
The Civil War: Reconstruction, Web Lesson 402
Civil Rights: Desegregating the Military, Inquiry 208