8th Grade Social Studies & History Thematic Unit Plans
Presidents Day A Complete Unit
By Beth Hammett
A review of ten presidents that changed history (Lincoln, Kennedy, Roosevelt, and more). Includes facts, visuals, coloring handouts, supplemental resources, activities guide. Everything needed to celebrate President's Day! 23 visually stimulating slides with dates and facts.
Mesopotamia, Lessons of First Historic People(Unit of Study/Webquest)
By Gail Hennessey
Revised for TeachShare Guidelines and I removed discussion questions/link to information on Hammurabi's law.
Ancient Mesopotamia! Mesopotamia, means “Land between Two Rivers”.This area is called the cradle of civilization and is where archaeologists have found the remains of the oldest historic people(dating back around 3000BC)People called the Sumerians, Babylonians, Chaldeans, Akkadians and Assyrians, all called the region of Mesopotamia home. These people left behind many ideas which we still have in our world today. This unit of study includes notes, map work, a webquest, activities and resources to help you teach your students about the people of Ancient Mesopotamia.
OTHER RESOURCES OF INTEREST:
1. Have students learn about Hammurabi, the important lawmaker of ancient times with this reading passage. Additional, there are several Did You Know? facts and comprehension questions. The teacher page gives additional links and the key. This could be used as a homework assignment, enrichment or as a bell ringer activity during a study on the area of Mesopotamia. Hammurabi, King of Babylon: A Reading Passage
This is the first in my new series(LET'S MEET...) of short biographies in ancient History. I will be adding new titles very soon. Look for Ramses the Great and Hatshepsut in the coming days.
2. I also have a fun review resource for Mesopotamia: Try my Ancient Mesopotamia Puzzler activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review vocabulary terms on Mesopotamia. Then,a following direction activity is next where students place letters from the different terms into boxes found at the end of the activity page. Once all the boxes are filled, a "secret message" about Mesopotamia is revealed! The teacher page includes additional information to share about the "secret message". If you prefer to offer a vocabulary box, I have included this as well. Mesopotamian Puzzler(Secret Message Vocabulary Review!
Want to introduce your students to the region of the world called the Middle East? This webquest will work great. Additionally, I have included several extension activities that I think will be of value.It would be a great one day activity for before a vacation or for an enrichment activity or for a unit of study on this part of the world.Let's Explore the Middle East: A Webquest
Check out my resource on the Phoenicians! You may find this resource helpful:
Let's Learn about the Phoenicians!
5. Studying ancient Mesopotamia? Looking to share with students contributions women have made in history. Enheduanna is the FIRST known poet, some say of men and women! Enheduanna's name is also thought to be the oldest name! ehneduanna's poetry was done in the FIRST person, something not done prior to her poetry. She also did something different, she SIGNED her work! Some nickname her "The Shakespeare of Sumerian literature" ! The reading passage also includes a Did You Know? fun fact section, a map activity, comprehension questions and a teacher page with extension activities, vocabulary words, links and keys. Reading on Enheduanna, First Known Poet of Mesopotamia
If you like this material, check out my other units including Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Middle Ages, China, India and Japan. There are also review resources for each of this units of study, too.
Key Words: Ancient Mesopotamia, Middle East. Mesopotamia, Mesopotamians
The Civil War Vocabulary Review and Test
By Sign with me TOD
This product was made for students to learn the following:
The vocabulary that is reviewed in this product includes: the Union, Confederate States, Civil War and what it means, secede, the 11 states that seceded and formed a new nation, Richmond, Washington, D.C., Fort Sumter, defeats, when the Civil War took place, troops, Facts about the men during the Civil War in the Union and the Confederate States, Emancipation Proclamation, abolitionists, united, Union blockade, bayonet, the results from the Civil War, reconstruction, black codes, and sharecroppers.
Short answer comprehension questions, fill in the blank comprehension questions with the use of a key, answering comprehension questions based on a map, and drawing a diagram based on data that was provided will be asked of students when completing the test that is included in this product on the Civil War.
You may also be interested in the following:
Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850, and North and South Notes and Review
The Oregon Trail Westward Expansion Adapted Notes and Review
The Civil War Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Civil-War-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10707128
The 19th Amendment Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-19th-Amendment-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-11433110
Industrial Revolution Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Industrial-Revolution-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10820168
World War 1 Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/World-War-1-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10344094
World War 2 Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/World-War-2-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10556417
The Bill of Rights Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Bill-of-Rights-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10296100
Early English Settlements Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Early-English-Settlements-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10141382\ 5 Regions of the United States Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/5-Regions-of-the-United-States-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10115445
The Northeast Region Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Northeast-Region-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-9386984
The First Americans
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-First-Americans-Notes-and-Review-Adapted-8855127
Learning and Writing my Address
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Learning-and-Writing-My-Address-Example-Template-8218625
United States Research Report
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/United-States-Research-Report-8493424
The Road to the Revolution Adapted Notes and Review
The War of 1812 Adapted Notes and Review
The Louisiana Purchase Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Louisiana-Purchase-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10311351
3 Branches of Government Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/3-Branches-of-Government-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10296131
Supreme Court Cases Cooperative Learning Structure/ Stations/ Simulation
By History Guru
In this zipped file, you will find the greatest tool I have used yet for the Supreme Court Cases that I have used in years. I simply took 6 manila folders and labeled them with the court case numbers (there are 6 court cases). I glued the court case summary on the right of the inside of the folder and made a pocket on the left with the folded up Supreme Court Decision inside. I number my students off 1-6 and split them up which makes it easy for photocopying with the court cases and the folders make the gallery walk/ learning stations last forever. This is also a great place to throw in some Kagan Structures. The Case Log is the only major photocopying you have to do, or you can have the students copy it down ahead of time. The students take on the role of the Supreme Court Justices as they complete the following as a group of Justices as they take notes, guess the outcome, and finally reveal the actual outcome of each case:
Case #______ Case Title:___________________________
Amendment being argued:
#___ :__________________________________________
Summary of the case:
Your decision: _____ to _____ in favor of_____________________
Supreme Court Decision
______ to ____ in favor of____________________because
Standard: SS.7.C.3 Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and organization of government.
Benchmark: SS.7.C.3.12 Analyze the significance and outcomes of landmark Supreme Court cases including, but not limited to, Marbury v. Madison, Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, Gideon v. Wainwright, Miranda v. Arizona, in re Gault, Tinker v. Des Moines, Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, United States v. Nixon, and Bush v. Gore.
Background Knowledge: Students should have a working knowledge of trial, appellate, and supreme courts at the state and national levels. Students should understand the appellate process and the significance of judicial precedent, particularly with U.S. Supreme Court rulings. Students should be able to conduct a keyword search and evaluate search results for reliability.
___________________________________
Check out samples on my Instagram: @HistoryGuruTeachShare
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Follow me on Instagram: @HistoryGuruTeachShare
By Beth Hammett
1 Crossword, 1 Word Search, and 3 Crytogram puzzles to accompany Top Ten Outstanding Presidents' unit found at: http://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Top-Ten-Outstanding-Presidents-A-Complete-Unit-for-Presidents-Day Can be used alone. Fun for group or individual activities!
Mesopotamia, Lessons of First Historic People
By Gail Hennessey
Revised for TeachShare Guidelines and I removed discussion questions/link to information on Hammurabi's law.
Ancient Mesopotamia! Mesopotamia, means “Land between Two Rivers”.This area is called the cradle of civilization and is where archaeologists have found the remains of the oldest historic people(dating back around 3000BC)People called the Sumerians, Babylonians, Chaldeans, Akkadians and Assyrians, all called the region of Mesopotamia home. These people left behind many ideas which we still have in our world today. This unit of study includes notes, map work, a webquest, activities and resources to help you teach your students about the people of Ancient Mesopotamia.
OTHER RESOURCES OF INTEREST:
1. Have students learn about Hammurabi, the important lawmaker of ancient times with this reading passage. Additional, there are several Did You Know? facts and comprehension questions. The teacher page gives additional links and the key. This could be used as a homework assignment, enrichment or as a bell ringer activity during a study on the area of Mesopotamia. Hammurabi, King of Babylon: A Reading Passage
This is the first in my new series(LET'S MEET...) of short biographies in ancient History. I will be adding new titles very soon. Look for Ramses the Great and Hatshepsut in the coming days.
2. I also have a fun review resource for Mesopotamia: Try my Ancient Mesopotamia Puzzler activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review vocabulary terms on Mesopotamia. Then,a following direction activity is next where students place letters from the different terms into boxes found at the end of the activity page. Once all the boxes are filled, a "secret message" about Mesopotamia is revealed! The teacher page includes additional information to share about the "secret message". If you prefer to offer a vocabulary box, I have included this as well. Mesopotamian Puzzler(Secret Message Vocabulary Review!
Want to introduce your students to the region of the world called the Middle East? This webquest will work great. Additionally, I have included several extension activities that I think will be of value.It would be a great one day activity for before a vacation or for an enrichment activity or for a unit of study on this part of the world.Let's Explore the Middle East: A Webquest
Check out my resource on the Phoenicians! You may find this resource helpful:
Let's Learn about the Phoenicians!
5. Studying ancient Mesopotamia? Looking to share with students contributions women have made in history. Enheduanna is the FIRST known poet, some say of men and women! Enheduanna's name is also thought to be the oldest name! ehneduanna's poetry was done in the FIRST person, something not done prior to her poetry. She also did something different, she SIGNED her work! Some nickname her "The Shakespeare of Sumerian literature" ! The reading passage also includes a Did You Know? fun fact section, a map activity, comprehension questions and a teacher page with extension activities, vocabulary words, links and keys. Reading on Enheduanna, First Known Poet of Mesopotamia
If you like this material, check out my other units including Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Middle Ages, China, India and Japan. There are also review resources for each of this units of study, too.
Key Words: Ancient Mesopotamia, Middle East. Mesopotamia, Mesopotamians
United States Abbreviations Review
By Sign with me TOD
This product is made for:
- adapting instruction
- differentiating instruction
- on level learners
- struggling writers
- struggling readers
- ESL/ENL
- Deaf Education
- Homework
- Classwork
- Homeschooling
- Bell Work
- Virtual Instruction
- Remote Instruction
This product was made for students to learn about the 50 states, the spelling of each state, and each state's abbreviation. This product includes slides that are made up of the states that begin with the same letter on each slide, as these states can be confusing. For example: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, and Arkansas as well as their abbreviations so students can see the difference. Slides that show states that don't have any similarities, like Georgia, and states that have two words, like New York, are also addressed.
Each slide is provided with the state name and the abbreviation. Students can attempt to fill in the blanks of the abbreviations that were reviewed on each previous slide as well. This helps students to learn the spelling, abbreviations, and location of each state. This product can be used for students who benefit from having material adapted and it can also be used with students who are on grade level as well.
You may also be interested in the following:
The First Americans:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-First-Americans-Notes-and-Review-Adapted-8855127
Learning and Writing my Address:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Learning-and-Writing-My-Address-Example-Template-8218625
United States Research Report:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/United-States-Research-Report-8493424
United States Facts – Adapted Notes
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/United-States-Facts-Adapted-Notes-Review-8507918
If you download this product, and like it, please leave me a positive review. :)
Forms and Systems of Government Unit
By History Guru
Benchmark Resources & Description SS.7.C.3.1 Compare different forms of government (direct democracy, representative democracy, socialism, communism, monarchy, oligarchy, autocracy). SS.7.C.3.2 Compare parliamentary, federal, confederal, and unitary systems of government. This unit has interactive notebook pieces, assessments, and tons of paper-based and technology based items. There are 14 items in this file that hits every part of the standards listed above. It includes a variety of lessons which meet multiple intelligences and different leveled learners. There is no extra work needed. Just pick and chose, print and go!
By Sign with me TOD
This product was made for students to choose 1 of the 50 states and research it. Students are provided with an example of a research report on California in this product. The example state research report includes 7 slides - cover page, where is your state?, facts of the state, symbols of the state, interesting fact about the state, state flag, and why did you write about your state? The example provides students with a foundation of what is expected when they complete their own state research report. This product was developed for students who benefit from adapted instruction. This product can also be used with students who are on grade level as well.
The template is provided for students to write their rough draft. Once students are finished they can create a final draft using Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc. using the information from their rough draft.
You may also be interested in the following:
Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850, and North and South Notes and Review
The Oregon Trail Westward Expansion Adapted Notes and Review
The 19th Amendment Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-19th-Amendment-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-11433110
The Civil War Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Civil-War-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10707128
The Civil War Vocabulary Review and Test: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Civil-War-Vocabulary-Review-and-Test-11283426
Industrial Revolution Adapted Notes and Review:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Industrial-Revolution-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10820168
World War 1 Adapted Notes and Review:
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/World-War-1-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10344094
World War 2 Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/World-War-2-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10556417
The Bill of Rights Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Bill-of-Rights-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10296100
Early English Settlements Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Early-English-Settlements-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10141382
5 Regions of the United States Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/5-Regions-of-the-United-States-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10115445
The Northeast Region Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Northeast-Region-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-9386984
The First Americans
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-First-Americans-Notes-and-Review-Adapted-8855127
Learning and Writing my Address
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Learning-and-Writing-My-Address-Example-Template-8218625
United States Research Report
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/United-States-Research-Report-8493424
The First Americans
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-First-Americans-Notes-and-Review-Adapted-8855127
United States Abbreviations Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/United-States-Abbreviations-Review-8498466
The Road to the Revolution Adapted Notes and Review
The War of 1812 Adapted Notes and Review
The Louisiana Purchase Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Louisiana-Purchase-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10311351
3 Branches of Government Adapted Notes and Review
https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/3-Branches-of-Government-Adapted-Notes-and-Review-10296131
if you downloaded this product, and you liked it, please leave me a positive review.
Historical Foundations of the Constitution Whole Unit + Freebie
By History Guru
Historical Foundations: Whole Unit for Civics or US History Class {History Guru}
This unit is perfect for both a Civics or US History course from Middle to High School! Declaration, Articles of Confederation, Shays' Rebellion & more!
This unit has interactive notebook pieces, assessments, and tons of paper-based and technology based items. There are 31 items in this file that hits every part of the standards listed above. It includes a variety of lessons which meet multiple intelligences and different leveled learners. This has a variety of Document Based Questioning activities as well as EOC Prep activities where students measure their knowledge. There is no extra work needed. Just pick and chose, print and go!
File items included, but not limited to:
-Learning Goal Chart with standards and "I can" statements
-Assessments with standards & levels of questions attached
- Alternative Learning Unit in full for Interactive Notebooks or used as a packet
-Input/ Processing activities
-Output/ Formative Check items
-Close Reading
-Bellwork: ELA and reading based bellwork
-EOC Practice Items
-ETC! ETC! ETC!
Florida Civics EOC 7th Grade Standards:
SS.7.C.1.3 Describe how English policies and responses to colonial concerns led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
SS.7.C.1.4 Analyze the ideas (natural rights, role of the government) and complaints set forth in the Declaration of Independence.
SS.7.C.1.5 Identify how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to the writing of the Constitution.
SS.7.C.1.6 Interpret the intentions of the Preamble of the Constitution.
SS.7.C.1.7 Describe how the Constitution limits the powers of government through separation of powers and checks and balances.
SS.7.C.1.8 Explain the viewpoints of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists regarding the ratification of the Constitution and inclusion of a bill of rights.
SS.7.C.1.9 Define the rule of law and recognize its influence on the development of the American legal, political, and governmental systems.
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Check out samples on my Instagram: @HistoryGuruTeachShare
Customer Tips:
Be the first to know about my new discounts, freebies and product launches:
• Look for the green star next to my store logo and click it to become a follower. Voila! You will now receive email updates about this store.
I value your feedback greatly as it helps me determine which products are most valuable for your classroom so I can create more for you. If you have any concerns or any of my resources are not what you expected, please contact me first before leaving feedback so I can have a chance to fix it for you! You can DM or follow me at Follow me on Instagram: @HistoryGuruTeachShare
How to get TeachShare credit to use on future purchases:
• Please go to your My Purchases page (you may need to login). Beside each purchase you'll see a Provide Feedback button. Simply click it and you will be taken to a page where you can give a quick rating and leave a short comment for the product. Each time you give feedback, TeachShare gives you feedback credits that you use to lower the cost of your future purchases.
Like this product?
• Click on the Pin it button and pin it to one of your boards!
Follow me on Instagram: @HistoryGuruTeachShare