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Mr. Rowan, Social Studies - A

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Social Studies Update Week of 12/4/23

Greetings 8th Grade Families!
 
This week in Social Studies we will be putting the final piece of the Westward Expansion puzzle into place. Students will learning about the causes and effects of the Mexican-American War and answer the question: Was the Mexican-American War justified. 
We will have MAPS testing this week.
  • If your student has A Class they will be MAPS testing on Monday
  • If your student has C Class they will be MAPS testing on Friday
Students will have a final test on Westward Expansion on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 12-13.
 
If you haven't done so already, make sure you sign up for Winter Conferences. You should have received a link from Mrs. Haworth on Friday.
 
Feel free to email with any questions or concerns.
 
Sincerely, 
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 11/13

Greetings 8th Grade Families!
This week students will look at ways Native American tribes rebuilt after being removed from their native homelands. We will focus on the Cherokee for this case study. Students will then complete a Nearpod video about Andrew Jackson in History vs. Andrew Jackson. We will look at evidence that he was a hero and a villain. Students will then participate in mini-debates with their classmates arguing one side or the other.
We will then turn to Texas and investigate how this one-time-territory of Mexico became a Republic and then became part of the United States. We will complete Part E of our Map Project and look at primary and secondary sources that look reveal the causes of this conflict between American immigrants and the Mexican government. 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 11/6/23

Greetings 8th Grade Social Studies Families!
This week students will finish their investigation into how different Native American tribes resisted removal from their original homelands. We will then look at ways these different tribes rebuilt and reestablished their cultures and traditions in the new lands they were moved to. 
We will then begin looking at the Texas Revolution and how the spread of slavery led to this conflict with Mexico.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 10/30/23

Greetings 8th Grade Families!
This week students learn about how the United States acquired Florida from Spain as the complete Part C of their Growth of US Map Project. Student's will then investigate the question "What does it mean to be removed?" They will do this by studying five Native American tribes of the Southeast: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole and Creek and how they were effected by the Indian Removal Policy of the Andrew Jackson administration. Students will research this policy, how these tribes resisted removal and then how they rebuilt afterwards. 
Please don't hesitate to email with questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 10/22/23

Greetings 8th Grade Families!
This week students will be focusing on Lewis and Clark and the Louisiana Purchase. First students will use Google Maps to follow Lewis and Clark's journey. For each stop along the way, students will be able read, look at pictures and watch videos to learn about what happened and to see what the area looks like today. Of the 14 stops, students will be asked to write at least 7 journal entries from the perspective of Lewis, Clark, Sacagawea or from one of the Native Americans they encountered on their expedition. 
Next, students will be asked the question: What did Lewis and Clark discover? We will then watch the video View from the Shore which will provide Native American perspectives on Lewis and Clark's expedition.  
Please don't hesitate to email with questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 10/19/23

Greetings 8th grade families!
As we begin our second quarter, students will be learning about how the United States grew from 13 colonies to 50 states. We will begin by analyzing the painting American Progress by John Gast. We will also start our Growth of Us Map Project where students will look at how each section of the United States was acquired, important people and events, what current states came out of these acquisitions and who the winners and losers were. Finally we will look at the Louisiana Purchase and follow the path of Lewis and Clark using google maps where students will write journal entries for each stop.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email me.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 9/25/23

Greetings 8th Grade Social Studies Families!
 
With this being the final week of the quarter, grades for this week's assignments will be entered in quarter four.
8th grade will finish their quarter by examining Supreme Court cases that deal with student's rights at school. We will start with the classic Tinker v. Des Moines case, and then look at other cases that deal with free speech, privacy rights and religious freedoms. During these lessons we will be asking the question: do students have rights inside of school, and are these rights the same as the rights outside of school?
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 9/18/23

Greetings 8th Grade Social Studies Families!
 
This is a big week at school as we get close to the end of Quarter 1. All late and missing work that was assigned within the last two weeks is due on Wednesday and grades for Quarter 2 will be finalized on Friday. It's important that together, you and your student monitor Infinite Campus weekly to check on assignment completion and their current grades. 
 
In Social Studies, students are investigating the Bill of Rights. We will look at the different rights listed in the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Students will then choose which one they think is most important, write about it, find a current even that is related to this amendment and finally create a symbolic representation of that amendment. 
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 9/11/2023

Greetings 8th Grade Social Studies Families!
 
This week, students will review the three branches of government, their responsibilities and how does separation of powers keep each branch in check. Students will research, take notes and participate in a readers theater. 
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 9/4/2023

Greetings 8th Grade Social Studies Families!
 
This week students learn about the compromises made as the Constitution was being drafted that relate to representation and slavery. Students will then translate the lines of the Preamble to learn about what kind of country the Founders envisioned. Students will get to explore the country today and see how close we are to these original ideas. Finally, students will be asked why are there three branches, what are their responsibilities and how do these separation of powers keep each other in check.
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 8/28/23

Greetings 8th Grade Social Studies Families!
 
As we finished up last week, students were introduced to the Articles of Confederation; our nations first constitution. This week they will learn about its strengths and weaknesses and then take a quiz on what they have learned. We will then begin to look at the conflicts and compromises of the Constitutional Convention as the founders ripped up the Articles of Confederation and started over. 
 
Reminders:
Spirit Week 
Monday: Pajama Day
Tuesday: Throwback to an era
Wednesday: Crazy Hat Day
Thursday: Dress like favorite character from book, movie, TV, etc.
Friday: No school for teacher work day
 
No school the following Monday for Labor Day.
 
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan

Social Studies Update Week of 8/20/23

Greetings 8th Grade Social Studies Families!
Last week students reviewed the ideas of the Revolutionary War and Declaration of Independence to investigate whether our country has lived up to those ideals of a country built on freedom with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This week students will continue our discussion on the characteristics of a hero and villain and apply them to one our founding fathers and presidents, Thomas Jefferson. Finally, we will look at the institution of slavery as it stood at the beginning of our country, discuss its origins and look to see how it would impact the formation of the United States.
Please email with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowan