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I. Course Description
Welcome to 8th grade Humanities! This course will act as a combination of the U.S. History and English curriculum, integrating the material while providing opportunities to develop the skills necessary to succeed in high school and beyond. From the the birth of the United States, to literature and current events, we will investigate, discuss, and debate a number of issues and seek to find the relevance of the past to our world today. The course is guided by the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which outlines English study as Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, and Language. In addition, this course is designed to be student-centered. Much of the learning you experience will come from your own individual research of various texts, primary sources, and digital media formats. Being that learning is a very social process, you will also be required to actively participate in small and large group discussions both within the classroom and online. These activities and other social and collaborative exercises are critical for improving your historical understanding and achieving success in this class. Finally, the students have a daily 30–minute reading requirement. The details of this program are covered in a separate handout. Skills taught this year will include inquiry, critical thinking, note taking, argumentation, and primary source analysis and interpretation. You will also utilize technology to deepen your learning and create digital media products that demonstrate the depth of your knowledge and understanding. |