Grade 8 Social Studies PA Core Standards

Media and its Influence

International Organizations

Tools of Foreign Policy

Countries and Conflicts

How International Relationships Function

Systems of Government

Taxes

Media Influences

Interest Groups

Conflict and the Court System

Elements of the Election Process

Leadership and Political Elections

Government Services

Structure, Organization, and Operation of Governments

Branches of Government

How Government Works

Competent and Responsible Citizens

Leadership and Public Service

Conflict and Resolution

Civics Rights and Responsibilities

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Symbols

Individual Rights

Documents and Ideals that Shape Pennsylvania and US Government

Principles and Ideals that Shape Government

Laws and Government

Rule of Law

Principles and Documents of Government

Identify the sources of the rule of law.

Outline how different systems of government function.

Analyze the principles and ideas that shaped local, Pennsylvania, and national governments.<ul><li>Liberty/Freedom</li><li>Democracy</li><li>Justice</li><li>Equality</li></ul>

Summarize the basic principles and ideals within documents and the roles played by the framers as found in significant documents:<ul><li>Declaration of Independence</li><li>United States Constitution</li><li>Bill of Rights</li><li>Pennsylvania Constitution</li></ul>

Compare and contrast the individual rights guaranteed by the PA Constitution versus the U.S. Constitution.

Analyze how political symbols are used by the media and leaders to influence public opinion.

Summarize the role of citizens in terms of right and responsibilites in different government systems.

Describe how citizens resolve conflicts in society and government.

Describe the role of political leadership and public service.

Describe the citizen's role in the political process.

Compare and contrast the responsibilities and powers of the three branches of government between Pennsylvania and the Federal government.

Compare and contrast the policy-making process between Pennsylvania and the federal government.

Describe how local, state, and national governments provide services.

Identify leadership positions and the role of political party affiliation at the local, state, and national levels.

Describe the closed primary voting process in Pennsylvania.

Explain the various judicial levels of the U.S. and state.

Explain the role of interest groups in the federal government process.

Describe the influence of mass media on government.

Describe various types of projects and services provided through local, state, and national taxes.

Compare democracy to totalitarianism.

Describe how national interests lead to agreements and conflicts between and among countries.

Describe the foreign policy tools of diplomacy, economic aid, military aid, sanctions, and treaties.

Explain how common problems (e.g., natural disasters, ethnic conflict, environmental concerns) are addressed by organizations and governments.

Describe how mass media influences our view of international events.

Interest Rates

Costs and Benefits of Saving

Entrepreneurship

Distribution of Wealth

Profits and Losses

Types of Businesses

Labor Productivity

Factors Influencing Wages

Income, Profit, and Wealth

Factors Contributing to Economic Interdependence

Multinational and Non-Governmental Organizations

Trade

Specialization

Economic Interdependence

Government's Role in International Trade

Taxation

Government Involvement in the Economy

Goods and Services

Functions of Government

Economic Systems

Private Economic Institutions

Economic Health

Price Determination

Advertising and Media

Market Competition

Goods and Services

Markets and Economic Systems

Incentives and Choice

Opportunity Costs

Limited Resources

Scarcity and Choice

Scarcity and Choice

Explain how limited resources and unlimited wants cause scarcity.

Compare decisions made because of limited resources and unlimited wants. Analyze the resources that are combined to create goods and services.

Compare choices to determine the best action.

Compare the effect of incentives on personal decisions.

Describe the interaction of consumers and producers of goods and services in the state and national economy.

Identify positive and negative effects of market competition.

Explain how advertising influences economic decisions.

Explain the effects that changes in price have on buyers and sellers.

Compare the state of the current economy with the economy in a different time or place.

Analyze the functions of private economic institutions in the national economy.

Examine how various economic systems address the three basic questions.<ul><li>What to produce?</li><li>How?</li><li>For whom?</li></ul>

Assess the value of public goods and services.

Predict how changes to government involvement at the state and national levels may affect the economy.

Compare and contrast the effects of different taxation policies.

Explain how government actions may affect international trade.

Explain how specialization contributes to economic interdependence on a national level.

Compare the standard of living in different times and places.

Explain the influence of multinational corporations and other non-government organizations.

Explain how the level of transportation, communication networks, and technology affect economic interdependence.

Examine the compensation of workers who produce different goods and provide different services.

Compare the characteristics of productive workers with less productive workers.

Explain the organization of different types of businesses.

Compare the risks and rewards of specific business actions.

Identify wealth within and among political divisions in Pennsylvania.

Explain the role of entrepreneurship across the nation.

Identify the costs and benefits of various financial tools available to savers.

Identify the effect of higher and lower interest rates.

Impact of People on Physical Systems

Impact of Physical Systems on People

Interactions Between People and the Environment

Human Characteristics

Human Characteristics of Places and Regions

Physical Processes

Physical Characteristics

Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions

Location of Places and Regions

Geographic Tools

Basic Geographic Literacy

Explain and illustrate how geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places, and environments.

Explain and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.

Explain the characteristics of places and regions.

Explain the physical processes that shape patterns on Earth's surface.

Explain the human characteristics of places and regions using the following criteria:<ul><li>Population</li><li>Culture</li><li>Settlement</li><li>Economic activities</li><li>Political activities</li></ul>

Illustrate the effects of the physical systems on people within regions.

Interpret the effects of people on the physical systems within regions.

Conflict and Cooperation (World)

Impact of Continuity and Change (World)

Historical Documents, Artifacts, and Sites (World)

Contributions of Individuals and Groups (World)

World History

Conflict and Cooperation (US)

Impact of Continuity and Change on US History

Historical Documents and Artifacts (US History)

Contributions of Individuals and Groups (US History)

United States History

Conflict and Cooperation (PA)

Impact of Continnity and Change on PA History

Historical Documents, Artifacts, and Places (PA)

Contributions from Individuals and Groups (PA)

Pennsylvania History

Research

Fact/Opinion and Points of View

Continuity and Change over Time

Historical Analysis and Skills Development

Compare and contrast events over time and how continuity and change over time influenced those events.

Compare and contrast a historical event, using multiple points of view from primary and secondary sources.

Produce an organized product on an assigned historical topic that presents and reflects on a thesis statement and appropriate primary and secondary sources.

Compare and contrast the social, political, cultural, and economic contributions of specific individuals and groups from Pennsylvania.

Compare and contrast the importance of significant historical documents, artifacts, and places critical to Pennsylvania history.

Compare and contrast the ways continuity and change have impacted Pennsylvania history.<ul><li>Belief systems and religions</li><li>Commerce and industry</li><li>Technology</li><li>Politics and government</li><li>Physical and human geography</li><li>Social organizations</li></ul>

Compare and contrast examples of how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations impacted the history and development of Pennsylvania.<ul><li>Ethnicity and race</li><li>Working conditions</li><li>Immigration</li><li>Military conflict</li><li>Economic stability</li></ul>

Examine the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development of the United States.

Evaluate the importance of historical documents, artifacts and places critical to United States history.

Summarize how continuity and change have impacted U.S. history.<ul><li>Belief systems and religions</li><li>Commerce and industry</li><li>Technology</li><li>Politics and government</li><li>Physical and human geography</li><li>Social organizations</li></ul>

Examine how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have impacted the growth and development of the U.S.<ul><li>Ethnicity and race</li><li>Working conditions</li><li>Immigration</li><li>Military conflict</li><li>Economic stability</li></ul>

Compare the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development throughout world history.

Illustrate how historical documents, artifacts, and sites are critical to world history.

Illustrate how continuity and change have impacted world history.<ul><li>Belief systems and religions</li><li>Commerce and industry</li><li>Technology</li><li>Politics and government</li><li>Physical and human geography</li><li>Social organizations</li></ul>

Compare conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations which have impacted the history and development of the world.

Range and Level of Complex Texts

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Craft and Structure

Key Ideas and Details

Reading Informational Text: Students read, understand, and respond to informational text – with emphasis on comprehension, making connections among ideas and between texts with focus on textual evidence.

Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.

Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.

Identify key steps in a text's description of a process related to history/social studies (e.g., how a bill becomes law, how interest rates are raised or lowered).

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.

Describe how a text presents information (e.g., sequentially, comparatively, causally).

Identify aspects of a text that reveal an author's point of view or purpose (e.g., loaded language, inclusion or avoidance of particular facts).

Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.

Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text.

Analyze the relationship between a primary and secondary source on the same topic.

By the end of grade 8, read and comprehend history/social studies texts in the grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Range of Writing

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Production and Distribution of Writing

Text Types and Purposes

Writing: Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content.

Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content. <ul><li>Introduce claim(s) about a topic or issue, acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.</li><li>Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant, accurate data and evidence that demonstrate an understanding of the topic or text, using credible sources.</li><li>Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.</li><li>Establish and maintain a formal style.</li><li>Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.</li></ul>

Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.<ul><li>Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories as appropriate to achieving purpose; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.</li><li>Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.</li><li>Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.</li><li>Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.</li><li>Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone.</li><li>Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.</li></ul>

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas clearly and efficiently.

Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.

Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis reflection, and research.

Write routinely over extended time frames (time for reflection and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.