Eighth Grade United States History Yearly Overview
First Six Weeks
29 Days
Units of Study






Content and Skills






U.S. Geography
Native Americans
European
Exploration
British Colonization
– Early Forms of
Government
Celebrate Freedom
Week
Constitution Day
(Sept. 17, 2008)
Identify major
physical features of
the United States
Compare and
contrast physical
regions of the
United States
Identify causes for
European
exploration and
colonization of
North America
Describe the
interaction between
Native Americans,
European
explorers, and the
environment
Explain the
importance of
personal
responsibilities
Evaluate the
importance of early
colonial documents
on the growth of
representative
government
Second Six Weeks
24 Days


British Colonization
– Comparison of
Colonial Regions
Causes of the
American
Revolution
Third Six Weeks
25 Days



American
Revolution
Declaration of
Independence
Articles of
Confederation
Fourth Six Weeks
31 Days









Compare and
contrast the
physical and
human
characteristics of
the 13 British
colonies
Compare political,
economic, and
social reasons for
establishment of
the 13 colonies
Explain reasons for
the development of
the plantation
system, the growth
of the slave trade,
and the spread of
slavery
Identify market and
free enterprise
systems of
economics
Analyze economic
and geographic
aspects of the 13
British colonies






Explain the role of
significant
individuals during
the American
Revolution
Explain the issues
surrounding
important events of
the American
Revolution
Identify the
influence of ideas
from the
Declaration of
Independence
Define and give
examples of
unalienable rights
Summarize the
strengths and
weaknesses of the
Articles of
Confederations
Identify colonial
grievances listed in
the Declaration of
Independence and
explain how they
were addressed in
the Bill of Rights






Constitutional
Convention of 1787
Ratification of the
U.S. Constitution
The U.S.
Constitution
1789-1815
Political
Developments in
the New Republic
War of 1812
Analyze the issues
of the
Constitutional
Convention of 1787
including major
compromises and
arguments for and
against ratification
Identify colonial
grievances listed in
the Declaration of
Independence and
explain how they
were addressed in
the Bill of Rights
Summarize the
purposes for and
the process of
changing the U.S.
Constitution
Describe the
impact of 19th
century
amendments
including the 13th,
14th, and 15th
amendments
Summarize rights
guaranteed in the
Bill of Rights
Fifth Six Weeks
34 Days














© Austin Independent School District, 2009-2010
Sixth Six Weeks
32 Days
The Industrial
Revolution
Jacksonian
Democracy
Manifest Destiny
Reform Movements
Writers and Artists
of the 19th Century
Causes of the Civil
War



Civil War
Reconstruction
Review / TAKS
Preparation
Explain the
political, economic,
and social roots of
Manifest Destiny
Analyze the
relationship
between Manifest
Destiny and
westward
expansion
Explain the major
issues and events
of the Mexican War
and their impact on
the United States
Describe how
immigrant groups
to the American
West interacted
with the
environment
Identify reasons for
and examples of
civil disobedience
Evaluate the impact
of reform
movements
Identify the political,
social, and
economic
contributions of
women
Describe the
development of the
abolitionist
movement

Explain the roles
played by
significant
individuals during
the Civil War
Explain the issues
surrounding
important events of
the Civil War
Analyze Abraham
Lincoln’s ideas
about liberty,
equality, union, and
government found
in his inaugural
addresses and the
Gettysburg
Address
Describe the
impact of the 13th,
14th, and 15th
amendments on life
in the United States
Analyze the
leadership qualities
of Abraham Lincoln




1
Eighth Grade United States History Yearly Overview
First Six Weeks
Content and Skills
(Continued)









Compare political,
economic, and social
reasons for the
establishment of the
13 British colonies
Explain the reasons
for the growth of
representative
government in colonial
America
Describe the role of
religion and religious
freedom in the
establishment of the
13 British colonies
Explain the role of
significant individuals
in the development of
self-government in
colonial America
Apply critical thinking
skills to problems and
decisions in United
States history
Analyze primary
documents
Transfer information
from one medium to
another
Create maps and
other visuals
Seek out cause and
effect relationships
throughout history
Second Six Weeks








Explain the role of
significant individuals
in the development of
self-government in
colonial America
Analyze causes of the
American Revolution
including mercantilism
and British economic
policies including the
French and Indian war
The hierarchy of
colonial American
government
Apply critical thinking
skills to problems and
decisions in United
States history
Analyze primary
documents
Transfer information
from one medium to
another
Create maps and
other visuals
Seek out cause and
effect relationships
throughout history
Third Six Weeks







Evaluate the
contributions of the
Founding Fathers as
models of civic virtue
Describe the
importance of free
speech and press in a
democratic society
Apply critical thinking
skills to problems and
decisions in United
States history
Analyze primary
documents
Transfer information
from one medium to
another
Create maps and
other visuals
Seek out cause and
effect relationships
throughout history
Fourth Six Weeks














Identify examples of
responsible citizenship
Describe the
importance of free
speech and press in a
democratic society
Analyze the impact of
the first amendment
on religious freedom
Analyze the issues of
the Constitutional
Convention of 1787
including major
compromises and
arguments for and
against ratification
Identify key events
leading to the
Constitutional
Convention and to
identify key delegates
Identify the origins of
judicial review
Describe major
domestic problems
faced by leaders of
the new Republic
Explain the origin and
development of
American political
parties
Summarize significant
19th century Supreme
Court cases
Explain the causes
and issues of the War
of 1812
Apply critical thinking
skills to problems and
decisions in United
States history
Analyze primary
documents
Create maps and
other visuals
Seek out cause and
effect relationships
throughout history
Fifth Six Weeks













© Austin Independent School District, 2009-2010
Identify the economic
factors that promoted
industrialization and
urbanization
Describe
developments in art,
music, literature,
drama, and other
cultural activities
during the 19th century
Analyze the
relationship between
the fine arts and
continuity and change
in the American way
of life
Explain reasons for
the development of
the plantation system
and the growth of
slavery and the slave
trade
Analyze the impact of
tariff policies on the
United States before
the Civil War
Describe how the
Nullification Crisis and
Civil War arose over
the issue of states’
rights
Identify the economic
factors that brought
about rapid
industrialization and
urbanization.
Analyze congressional
conflicts and
compromise before
the Civil War
Evaluate the Dred
Scott Supreme Court
Case
Analyze primary
documents
Transfer information
from one medium to
another
Create maps and
other visuals
Seek out cause and
effect relationships
throughout history
Sixth Six Weeks








Evaluate legislative
reform programs of
the Radical
Reconstruction
Congress and
reconstructed state
governments
Describe the
economic difficulties
faced by the United
States during
Reconstruction
Explain the social
problems that faced
the South during
Apply critical thinking
skills to problems and
decisions in United
States history
Analyze primary
documents
Transfer information
from one medium to
another
Create maps and
other visuals
Seek out cause and
effect relationships
throughout history
2
Eighth Grade United States History Yearly Overview
First Six Weeks
Resources








Creating America,
Beginnings Through
Reconstruction: A
History of the United
States, McDougallLittell, adopted textbook:
Geography Handbook,
Chapters 1 & 2
Textbook Ancillaries:
Unit 1 In-Depth
Resources, Humanities
Transparencies, Critical
Thinking
Transparencies, Outline
Map Activities, Primary
Source Explorer
History Alive!
Geography of America
from Past to Present
America’s Music CD
Law Related Education:
“The Road to Religious
Freedom”
History Alive! The
United States Kit in
pencil
History Alive! The
English Colonies in
America
SHIPS DBQ Growth of
Representative
Governments
Second Six Weeks











Creating America,
Beginnings Through
Reconstruction: A
History of the United
States, McDougallLittell, adopted
textbook:
Chapters 4 & 5
Textbook Ancillaries:
Unit 1 In-Depth
Resources,
Humanities
Transparencies,
Critical Thinking
Transparencies,
Outline Map
Activities, Primary
Source Explorer
Historical Novels: The
Ransom of Mercy
Carter
Films: (Edited
Version) The Last of
the Mohicans, The
Crucible, The War
That Made America
History Alive! Life in
the Colonies
History Alive! Toward
Independence
America’s Music CD
History Alive!
Colonial Life and the
American Revolution
Join or Die political
cartoon by Benjamin
Franklin
History Alive! Life in
the colonies
History Alive! Toward
Independence
Third Six Weeks












Creating America,
Beginnings Through
Reconstruction: A History
of the United States,
McDougall-Littell, adopted
textbook: Chapters 6,7,8
Textbook Ancillaries: Unit
2 In-Depth Resources,
Humanities
Transparencies, Critical
Thinking Transparencies,
Outline Map Activities,
Primary Source Explorer,
Constitution Handbook
America’s Music CD
History Alive! Colonial
Life and the American
Revolution
Videos (optional): 1776,
Liberty!, Founding
Brothers, The American
Revolution, The Crossing
Law Related Education
from the State Bar of
Texas
Historical novels for
Literature Circle: My
Brother Sam is Dead,
April Morning, Johnny
Tremain, Wolf by the
Ears, War Comes to Willy
Freedman, The Secret of
Sarah Revere
History Alive! The
Constitution in a New
Nation
History Alive! The
Declaration of
Independence
History Alive! The
American Revolution
History Alive! Creating the
Constitution
The Declaration of
Independence: A living
document for Democracy
Kit
Fourth Six Weeks
Fifth Six Weeks

















© Austin Independent School District, 2009-2010
Novels: Fever of
1796
www.livingroomcandi
date.com
Creating America,
Beginnings Through
Reconstruction: A
History of the United
States, McDougallLittell, adopted
textbook: Chapters
9, 10, 11
Videos: Creating
America Video
Series –Creating the
Constitution, Lewis &
Clark Go West
Textbook Ancillaries:
Units 2 and 3 InDepth Resources,
Humanities
Transparencies,
Critical Thinking
Transparencies,
Outline Map
Activities, Primary
Source Explorer,
Constitution
Handbook,
Citizenship Today
workbook
America’s Music CD
History Alive! The
Constitution in a New
Nation
History Alive!
Political
Developments in the
Early Republic
History Alive! Foreign
Affairs in the Young
Nation
SHIPS DBQ
History Alive!
Manifest Destiny in a
Growing Nation
Law Related
Education from the
State Bar of Texas
Pocket Constitutions
School House Rock
(optional)
History Alive! The
Constitution A More
Perfect Union
History Alive! The Bill
of Rights








Creating America,
Beginnings
Through
Reconstruction:
A History of the
United States,
McDougall-Littell,
adopted textbook:
Chapters 11-15
Textbook
Ancillaries: Units
3 and 4 In-Depth
Resources,
Humanities
Transparencies,
Critical Thinking
Transparencies,
Outline Map
Activities, Primary
Source Explorer
America’s Music
CD
History Alive!
Manifest Destiny
in a Growing
Nation
History Alive! The
Civil War and
Reconstruction
http://streaming.di
scoveryeducation.
com/
History Alive! A
Dividing Nation
PPT Causes of
Civil War
PPT Ready, Aim,
Fire.
Sixth Six Weeks






Creating America,
Beginnings Through
Reconstruction: A
History of the United
States, McDougallLittell, adopted
textbook: Chapters
15,16, and 17
Textbook Ancillaries:
Unit 5 In-Depth
Resources, Humanities
Transparencies, Critical
Thinking
Transparencies, Outline
Map Activities, Primary
Source Explorer
America’s Music CD
History Alive! The Civil
War and Reconstruction
Historical fiction novels
(choice of one): In My
Father’s House; Uncle
Tom’s Cabin; The
House of Dies Drear; I
Am Regina; Streams to
the River, Rivers to the
Sea; Thunder Rolling in
the Mountains; Bound
for Oregon; Across Five
Aprils; Amelia’s War;
Rifles for Watie, Letters
from a Slave Girl; With
Every Drop of Blood;
True North; Had a
Thousand Trees with
Ribbon; The Second
Bend in the River; The
Tamarack Tree; Jump
Ship to Freedom
The Red Badge of
Courage Novel and Film
3
Eighth Grade United States History Yearly Overview
First Six Weeks
Suggested
Student Products













Map of U.S. physical
features
Comparison charts
of U.S. physical
regions
Illustrated geography
dictionary
European explorer
mini-poster or
baseball trading card
Illustrated poster of
European expedition
to America
Map of Native
American culture
areas
Short history of the
Native American
experience since
European
immigration
Visual aids for
specific founding
documents
Outline map of the
13 English colonies
Venn diagram of
Pilgrims, Puritans,
and Quakers
Written biographies
on King Philip
Analyze Primary
Source documents
related to various
subjects
Create a Colonial
Booth
Second Six Weeks









Brochures
encouraging
settlement of one of
the specific 13
colonies
Foldable and chart
comparing and
contrasting the 13
colonies
PowerPoint or movie
comparing and
contrasting the three
colonial regions
Learning station
activity on
geographic and
economic
information of the 13
colonies
Illustrated postcard
of living in one of the
specific 13 colonies
Illustrated timeline of
causes of the
American Revolution
Recruiting poster for
the French and
Indian War
Analysis of the Join
or Die political
cartoon
T-chart analyzing
cause and effect of
British acts leading
to the American
Revolution
Third Six Weeks













© Austin Independent School District, 2009-2010
“Who Am I?”
Students profile
individuals in this era
and present the
profiles without
names; peers guess
the identity.
Draw a map of key
events in the
Revolution.
Create a timeline of
events leading to the
adoption of the
Declaration of
Independence.
Design a pamphlet
to persuade the
colonists to accept
the Patriot or
Loyalist position.
Recreate a debate
over the Dec. of
Independence.
Literature circle on a
historical novel of
the American
Revolution
On a map, plot the
course of the foreign
ships across the
Atlantic to the
colonies.
Design a web page
or write a song
celebrating the U.S.
victory at Yorktown.
Debate the costs
and benefits of the
Revolutionary War.
Make a flow chart
showing the steps
toward statehood.
Draw a political
cartoon about the
Articles of Confed.
Define and illustrate
the concept
unalienable rights.
Simulate the
American Revolution
by playing Capture
the Flag
Fourth Six Weeks













Role play on the
principles of the
Constitution
Constitution Board
Game
Mobile on checks
and balances or
separation of powers
Graphic display on
the 7 principles of
the Constitution
Graphic organizer on
steps of the
naturalization
process
Oral history interview
of a naturalized
citizen
Learning station
activity and
illustrations on the
Bill of Rights
Personal Bill of
Rights
Analysis of
grievances against
King George III and
how they were
addressed in the
Constitution
Collage of the goals
of the Preamble of
the Constitution
Analysis of landmark
Supreme Court
cases
Oral interviews on
the meaning of
citizenship
Essay on the basic
principles of limited
government
Fifth Six Weeks












Research
assignment on Lewis
and Clark
Illustrated timeline
on slavery in the
U.S.
Annotated timeline
on the Democratic
Party up to the
election of Andrew
Jackson
Summary of
Jackson’s Indian
policies
Visual product on
Jackson’s Indian
Removal Act
Oral or written
summary of the
Nullification Crisis of
1832
Map of U.S.
territorial acquisitions
from 1803 to 1898
Written or oral
summary of Manifest
Destiny
T-chart showing the
major issues and
events of the
Mexican War
Newspaper article
on the Mexican War
Poster on social
reform movement
Written description of
one of the inventions
from the Industrial
Revolution
Sixth Six Weeks
 Evaluate the importance
of Dred Scot v. Stanford
 Write a brief summary
of the roles played by
Jefferson Davis,
Ulysses S. Grant,
Robert E. Lee, and
Abraham Lincoln
 Create a time line of key
events of the Civil War
from the firing of Fort
Sumter to the South’s
surrender
 Analyze the ideas
expressed in Lincoln’s
inaugural addresses
and Gettysburg
Address
 Identify contributions by
women.
 Bulletin board timeline
illustrating events
leading to the Civil War
 Essay on various
aspects of AfricanAmerican life during the
Civil War &
Reconstruction
 Create a visual
presentation about the
impact of the 13th, 14th
and 15th amendments
 PowerPoint
presentation on
historical fiction novel
4
Eighth Grade United States History Yearly Overview
First Six Weeks
Suggested
Student Products
(Continued)
Second Six Weeks

Contemporary
explanations of
proverbs from Poor
Richard’s Almanac
Third Six Weeks










Debate on the
division of power
between state and
national
governments
Conducting a
Presidential
campaign for a
famous American
Editorial of
Washington’s
Farewell Address
Venn diagram of
Federalists and
DemocraticRepublicans
Patriotic song or
poem describing
the War of 1812
Debate on the War
of 1812
Analysis of “The
Star-Spangled
Banner”
Metaphor of the
Constitution
Visual
representation of
growth of political
parties
Create a political
commercial
Fourth Six Weeks











© Austin Independent School District, 2009-2010
Biographical sketch
on a signer of the
Constitution
Simulation of the
Constitutional
Convention
Federalist and Antifederalist
propaganda
posters
Geographic
database on areas
supporting the
Constitution
Create a crossword
puzzle using the
terms and people’s
names from these
two sections of the
chapter.
Produce a short
play about the
Great
Compromise
Plan a museum
exhibit that
summarizes
important
compromises of the
Constitutional
Convention.
Comparison chart
showing arguments
for and against
ratification of the
Constitution
Analysis of The
Federalist #51
Debate on the U.S.
Constitution
Venn diagram
addressing
Federalists and
Anti-federalist
Fifth Six Weeks





Flow chart showing
relationship
between the
plantation system
and the growth of
slavery in the U.S.
Diagrams
comparing and
contrasting
economic systems
in the North and
South before the
Civil War
Summaries of the
Missouri
Compromise,
Nullification Crisis,
and Compromise of
1850
T-chart comparing
slaves and free
blacks in the U.S.
Newspaper article
about the Dred
Scott decision
Sixth Six Weeks




Memorization of
Lincoln’s First
Inaugural Address
or the Gettysburg
Address
Graphic organizer
on the 13th, 14th,
and 15th
amendments
Written
biographical report
on either John C.
Calhoun, Henry
Clay, Daniel
Webster, or
Abraham Lincoln
PowerPoint
presentation on
historical fiction
novel
5
Eighth Grade United States History Yearly Overview
First Six Weeks
Technology
(Refer to IPGs for
specific website
addresses)



















McDougall-Littell
website –
www.classzone.com
Cal Poly Pomona
College of Letters,
Arts, and Science
map website
University of Virginia
American Studies
Department website
The Avalon Project
website
Salem Witch Trials
primary documents
website
Salem Witch Trials
narratives website
Salem Witch Trials
eyewitness accounts
website
Mayflower Compact
website
Wills of Mayflower
passengers website
1688 Petition of
English citizens
website
Fundamental Orders
of Connecticut
website
Eduplace website for
printable graphic
organizers
Roanoke Colony
website
State Bar of Texas
website
Celebrate Freedom
Week website
Jamestown website
Letters from John
Smith website
13 colonies website
Discovery Streaming
Videos
Second Six Weeks



















General information
on the 13 colonies at
usinfo.state.gov
Fairfax (Virginia)
County Schools
website
Colonial currency
website
PBS website
“Africans in America”
African-American
quiz website
PBS website on
Bacon’s Rebellion
Social Studies for
Kids website
Roanoke (Virginia)
County Public
Schools website
Eduplace.com
website
Centennial
(Minnesota) Schools
website
Various websites on
teaching strategies,
rubrics, and jigsaws
Early America.com
Philaprintshop.com
French and Indian
War website by Greg
Feldmeth
“From Revolution to
Reconstruction”
website
PBS “Liberty!”
website
Clements Library
website
Mountain City
(Tennessee) schools
website
Discovery Streaming
Videos
Third Six Weeks
















McDougall-Littell
website
www.classzone.com
State Bar of Texas
website for Law
Related Education
American Memory
website on the
Declaration of
Independence
Library of Congress
website
Yale Law School
website
National Archives
website
Cybersleuth.com
website
Casebook: The
American Revolution
website
The American
Revolution.org
website
History Central
website
Official website for
the state of
Delaware
Factmonster.com
Constitution Society
website
The United States
Constitution online
Various websites on
teaching strategies,
rubrics, and jigsaws
Discovery Streaming
Videos
Fourth Six Weeks





















© Austin Independent School District, 2009-2010
McDougall-Littell
website –
www.classzone.com
State Bar of Texas
website for Law
Related Education
Bureau of
Citizenship and
Immigration Services
website
Ask Eric.org website
Unalienable.com
Emory University
School of Law
website
Montgomery County
(Maryland) Public
Schools website
Education
World.com
Youth Net website
Our Documents.gov
National Archives
website
Columbia Education
Center website
Founding.com – a
user’s site for the
Declaration of
Independence
Smithsonian
National Museum of
American History
website
James Madison
University website
“From Revolution to
Reconstruction”
website
USInfo.state.gov
Links to StarSpangled Banner
Various websites on
teaching strategies,
rubrics, and jigsaws
Living room
candidate website
shows political
commercials
Discovery Streaming
Videos
Fifth Six Weeks























McDougall-Littell
website –
www.classzone.com
Wake Forest
University website
University of Texas
online map collection
Map collection at
zoomwhales.com
National Parks
Service website
Grolier online
University of
Maryland website
Social Studies for
Kids website
Yale Law School
website
PBS website
“Africans in America”
The Seminole Tribe
of Florida website
Gilder Lerhman
Institute of American
History website
PBS website “The
U.S. – Mexican War”
Mount Holyoke
website
Library of Congress
website
Center for History
and New Media
website
Discovery
school.com
World Almanac for
Kids website
Encyclopedia
Britannica online
presentations
University of Dayton
website on slavery
Germantown
(Illinois) Schools
website
Behavioral Research
and Teaching
Discovery Streaming
Videos
Sixth Six Weeks














McDougall-Littell
website –
www.classzone.com
Awesome
Library.org website
Proteacher.com
website
“From Revolution to
Reconstruction”
website
Institute for
Advanced
Technology in the
Humanities website
Secession
statements at
League of the South
website
The History
Teaching Institute at
Ohio State University
website
National Archives
website
Spartacus
Educational website
Eduplace.com
website
University of Kansas
website
Africana: Gateway
to the Black World
website
Various websites on
teaching strategies,
rubrics, and jigsaws
Discovery Streaming
Videos
6