Grade 8

Students reconstruct, interpret, and critique the causes and consequences of past events in the context of the institutions, values, and beliefs of the periods in which they took place.

Students investigate historical experiences of American Samoa, Oceania, the U.S., and the world to reveal patterns of continuity and change

Students cite evidence that cultures are dynamic and change over time.

Students research and report on where people and places are located and why, utilizing multiple geographic representations and tools (maps, globes, geospatial technologies).

Students draw conclusions about changes in the relationship between people, places, and environments.

Students analyze how people create, learn, share, and adapt to culture.

Students synthesize the sociocultural interactions among individuals, groups, and institutions to investigate structures of power and their impacts on authority and governance.

Students apply concepts to explain how people organize for the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

Reconstruct a chronological timeline of historical events, from precontact to present, to explain the development of continental United States

Utilize both primary and secondary sources in historical inquiry to provide a balanced interpretive record of the past

Give perspectives on significant historical changes that occurred during a specific time period, using concepts of change, chronology, and/or conflict

Analyze reasons for and impacts of the westward expansion of the U.S.

Identify domestic problems that leaders encountered when establishing a government under the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution

Explain the challenges in writing and ratifying the U.S. Constitution, and in establishing the U.S. government

Draw conclusions from multiple primary and secondary sources to explain how conflict, cooperation, or interdependence is developed within and among cultures

Use a variety of geographic tools to explain population distribution, and physical and human characteristics of places in Oceania including landforms, natural resources, climate, rivers, lakes, bridges, dams, roads, and buildings

Use appropriate data sources and tools to understand geographic information related to environmental issues

Use geographic tools to draw conclusions about historic or current national and global environmental change

Evaluate the consequences of governmental policy that affect the physical characteristics of a place or region

Apply the concepts of conflict or cooperation to illustrate how holding diverse values and beliefs can contribute to or pose obstacles to cross-cultural understanding

Analyze the fundamental principles and values of the American constitutional government (e.g., federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, rule of law, majority rule, and individual rights)

Distinguish between various forms of governmental powers at the different levels of government (e.g., divine rights of monarchs, dictators, lawmakers, governors, presidents, political party leaders)

Investigate persistent issues involving the rights of individuals and groups in relation to their general welfare

Compare the various duties of citizens and organizations of a community and of a government Sample Performance Indicators:

Evaluate the role of technology and how it contributes to conflict and cooperation among nations and groups

Investigate how government policies affect the economy

Describe the organization and management of economies

Apply the basic principles and types of taxation to explain the function of the Federal Reserve system