Mr. B's 8th Grade Social Studies

This course examines American history through multiple perspectives-especially Indigenous, African American, and women’s voices that are often left out of traditional accounts. We use primary sources, simulations, podcasts, and collaborative projects to build the skills of a historian.

Parents & guardians: Visit the Families page for course expectations, how to support learning at home, and contact information.

Semester 1

Introduction Who Are We? Identity, community, and what it means to be an American. Weeks 1–2. Unit 1 The 13 Colonies Geography, colonial life, the Triangle Trade, and whose stories get told. Weeks 3–6. Unit 2 Road to Revolution The tensions, grievances, and ideas that pushed colonists toward independence. Weeks 7–9. Unit 3 Voices of the Revolution The overlooked people who shaped the fight for independence. Weeks 10–13. Unit 4 The Constitution From the failed Articles of Confederation to the compromises that built a new government. Weeks 14–16. Unit 5 Checks & Balances How the three branches check each other’s power, and early tests of the system. Weeks 17–18. Capstone Semester 1 Capstone Synthesize the major themes from semester 1 in a culminating project. Week 19.

Semester 2

Unit 6 SCOTUS Landmark Supreme Court cases and their lasting impact on American life. Unit 7 The Early Republic The young nation tests its new government and faces its first challenges. Unit 8 Westward Expansion The push westward and its consequences for all peoples of the continent. Unit 9 The Civil War The causes, course, and consequences of the war that redefined the nation. Capstone Semester 2 Capstone Reflect on the full year and showcase your learning.