Articles

8th Grade Social Studies: What to Expect

by Julie Williams

Hard to believe, but in most districts it’s true: barely two years after finishing elementary school, your eighth grader is now a “senior” of middle school. Teachers hope that this will mean new levels of good citizenship and disciplined work. Common mythology—and many sitcoms— suggest that kids do the opposite. But in fact, the majority of eighth graders have learned quite a bit. They're interested in classes. And they want to do well. They also really appreciate parents’ quiet, non-intrusive help along the way.

So what’s up this year?

Here’s a brief overview of the curriculum you can expect in your child’s social studies program. Do remember, of course, that exact topics still vary by state. For a comprehensive list, you should plan to consult your state standards, available on the website for your state’s department of education. In addition, remember that private schools are not required to comply with state frameworks, although many of them do. Whichever type of school your child attends, don’t hesitate to ask for the school’s curriculum list to be sure what’s coming up.

As a general rule, however, eighth grade social studies most often looks like this:

Topic: While there is some variation, eighth grade classes most often cover United States History from colonies to the Civil War. They should build a mental timeline of key names, places, dates, and concepts from the Declaration through the
Constitution and Federalist Papers, and into the early nineteenth century and the explosion of Civil War. They will examine the structure of the three branches of American Government, and of individual rights included in our Bill of Rights and prominent Supreme Court Cases. In studying the early nineteenth century, they will also look at dark, longstanding ethical issues such as America’s treatment of African-Americans, Native Americans, and immigrants from Central America and around the world.