Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School

Lakeland Central School District

Course Outline/Information for Students

Social Studies – Grade 7

 

 

The mission statement of LCBMS, in partnership with the community, is to provide a challenging and supportive environment for all students in which effort is valued and excellence is promoted, discovery and sound decision-making are encouraged, and the development of good character is fostered.  It is inherent in our mission statement to pursue these goals through every aspect of school life.

 

  • Course title:  United States History, Part 1

 

  • Course Description:  The course covers the history and geography of America from pre-Columbian times through the Civil War and Reconstruction.

 

  • Course Goals:  Students will understand overarching concepts of geography and historical events.  Students will learn the underlying interdependence of various cultures in American History.  Students will recognize the need for respect of individual differences.  Students will understand the abstract concepts of liberty, justice, duty, honor, and equality and relate them to topics in history.  Students will explain how geography affects history.

 

  • Major Text:  The American Nation (Prentice Hall)

 

  • Supplemental Texts:  A History of US by Joy Hakim, Voices of Freedom: Sources in American History, primary source documents including pictures, political cartoons, diaries, etc., computer programs, and a variety of maps.

 

  • Content Outline:
    • Focus on Geography
    • The First Americans (Prehistory – 1600)
    • A Meeting of Different Worlds (Exploration 1100 – 1700)
    • The Thirteen English Colonies (1630 – 1750)
    • The Road to Revolution (1745 – 1775)
    • The American Revolution (1775 – 1783)
    • Creating a Republic (1776 – 1791)
    • The Constitution at Work (1789 - present)
    • The New Republic Begins (1789 – 1800)
    • The Age of Jefferson (1801 – 1816)
    • Industry and Growth (1790 – 1825)
    • Democracy in the Age of Jackson (1824 0 1840)
    • Westward Expansion (1820 – 1860)
    • The Worlds of the North and the South (1820 – 1860)
    • An Era of Reform (1820 – 1860)
    • A Dividing Nation (1820 – 1861)
    • The Civil War (1861 – 1865)
    • Reconstruction Era (1864-1877)

 

  • Class Preparation:
    • Materials
      • Binders
      • Notebooks
      • Writing Utensils
      • Art Supplies
      • Agenda Pad
    • Academic
      • Mastery of vocabulary
      • Comprehension of basic facts
      • Accurate communication and expansion of ideas (specific details)
      • Understanding of charts and graphs
      • Understanding of geographic regions

 

  • Homework Policy:  Homework is assigned most nights.  Length of assignments averages between 20 and 30 minutes.  Students are expected to complete all assignments and hand them in when due.  Assignments are accepted one day late for half credit.  Assignments more than one day late are not accepted. 

 

  • Extra Help Policy:  We offer extra help ½ - 1 hour before or after school, Monday through Friday and Friday morning by appointment with the teacher.  Students interested in extra help should contact the teacher a day in advance.  Morning students should NOT report to the classroom.  Instead, they should go to the reception desk and ask the monitor to contact the teacher.

 

  • Grading Policy:  Grades are determined by a combination of homework, quizzes, tests, and class participation.

 

  • Classroom Behavior Expectation:  Students should exhibit polite and respectful behaviors and be mindful of the LCBMS Code of Conduct.