Social Studies 8

Course Outline

Unit I: Ancient Civilizations

1. Definition of a “civilization” and location of significant ancient civilizations
2. The “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World”
3. Location, beginnings, growth and development of an ancient civilization
4. Daily life, culture and government of an ancient civilization
5. Reasons for the decline and collapse of an ancient civilization and its contribution
to our world today

Unit II: The Middle Ages to the Renaissance

1. Viking culture and expansion
2. The development and features of Feudalism
3. The role of the Catholic Church in Medieval Europe and the Crusades
4. Causes, main features and effects of the Black Death
5. End of the Middle Ages and main features of the European Renaissance

Unit III: European Exploration and Colonialism of the New World

1. The physical geography and climate of the North American continent
2. Traditional lifestyle of First Nations Peoples of North America
3. Reasons for early exploration and significant explorers
4. Conquest and the early colonization of the New World and Africa
5. Early explorers of Canada

UNIT IV: The Beginning of Canada

1. Early fish and fur-trading settlements
2. The emergence and fate of the Acadians
3. The early fur trade in North America
4. The establishment of New France
5. Daily life in New France

Review and Exam Preparation

 CLASSR OOM ACTIVITIES

1. Daily written assignments (questions, maps, graphs, charts, posters, PowerPoints)

2. Discussions
3. Videos
4. Research Projects
5. Presentations
6. Quizzes
7. Unit tests

ASSIGNM ENT REQUIR EM ENTS

1. All written assignments must be:

A) neatly presented
B) correctly formatted with a title, name and date
C) submitted on time

2. Work will not be accepted after assignments are marked and returned to the class.

3. Missed tests must be written the day you return unless other arrangements have been
made with Mr. Kopp.

M AR K BR EAK -DOW N

Your final grade in Social Studies 8 will be calculated as follows:

Required work throughout the year : 80%

 written assignments, projects, presentations, quizzes -80%
 unit tests -20%

Final examination : 20%

GRADING SCALE

86%-100%= A
73%-85%= B
67%-72%= C+
60%-66%= C
50%-59%= C-
Less than 50%=F