Humanities 8
Inquiry leads to truth.
~Thomas Jefferson~
8th Grade Humanities Syllabus
Description
Eighth Grade Humanities is a combination of English Language Arts and Social Studies. It is our goal to integrate these subjects to make learning more authentic. We will begin the year with a unit called Politics and Persuasion. The students will explore the power of persuasion used in politics over time. The students will continue to learn about persuasive appeal as they study current events. This will give the students an understanding of the foundation of American ideals past and present. With this foundation, the students will be creating a Model American Government. The students will find themselves at the State House actively re-creating and participating in a model American government. The unit will be a unit entitled Impact. The Harlem Renaissance is a social, political, and artistic movement that spanned the 1920’s. The Justice unit follows with an examination of the Civil Rights Movement through literature and the role of the Bill of Rights in realizing the American Dream for all. The Canoe Journey Project is the culminating project for the 8th grade class. Here we will explore the journey of the great Ulysses as told by Homer, paralleling the physical and metaphorical journeys the students themselves will embark on a canoe trip in the Adirondack Mountains in New York, and their transition to high school.
Eighth Grade Humanities is a combination of English Language Arts and Social Studies. It is our goal to integrate these subjects to make learning more authentic. We will begin the year with a unit called Politics and Persuasion. The students will explore the power of persuasion used in politics over time. The students will continue to learn about persuasive appeal as they study current events. This will give the students an understanding of the foundation of American ideals past and present. With this foundation, the students will be creating a Model American Government. The students will find themselves at the State House actively re-creating and participating in a model American government. The unit will be a unit entitled Impact. The Harlem Renaissance is a social, political, and artistic movement that spanned the 1920’s. The Justice unit follows with an examination of the Civil Rights Movement through literature and the role of the Bill of Rights in realizing the American Dream for all. The Canoe Journey Project is the culminating project for the 8th grade class. Here we will explore the journey of the great Ulysses as told by Homer, paralleling the physical and metaphorical journeys the students themselves will embark on a canoe trip in the Adirondack Mountains in New York, and their transition to high school.
Classroom Expectations
Twinfield Habits of Mind: engagement, responsibility,perseverance, and citizenship. Students will be supported to obtain high achievements in all areas.
Twinfield Habits of Mind: engagement, responsibility,perseverance, and citizenship. Students will be supported to obtain high achievements in all areas.
- Late Work Policy: You are responsible for all assignments/homework. You must contact us before class to discuss any barriers to completing assigned work. Due dates are important and should be seen as a goal to meet. Please see us before class or contact us at home: Mrs. McNaughton (426-3018) or Mrs. Cecchinelli (479-3109) if you need any help or need to discuss any barriers to completing assigned work.
- No food in classroom other than healthy snacks (ex. fruit). If eating any type of food disturbs the class or a mess is made this opportunity will be reevaluated.
- Water only in class, no juice or soda.
- RESPECT is the most important classroom expectation. For oneself, for others, for school property and for the earth.
- Twinfield Guiding Expectations
Evaluation
The goal of assessment is to inform student, teacher and parents of achievements and challenges in student learning goals. Assessment will be based upon mastery of standards identified by the Common Core State Standards and the Vermont Proficiency-Based Graduation Standards.
Students will be assessed in three areas:
● Skill Acquisition
● Content Knowledge
● Habits of Mind
Proficiency -Based Assessment
The assessment is an indicator of a student’s mastery of grade-level proficiencies. Students demonstrate when they know, understand, and can do as measured through multiple assessments and observations.
The goal of assessment is to inform student, teacher and parents of achievements and challenges in student learning goals. Assessment will be based upon mastery of standards identified by the Common Core State Standards and the Vermont Proficiency-Based Graduation Standards.
Students will be assessed in three areas:
● Skill Acquisition
● Content Knowledge
● Habits of Mind
Proficiency -Based Assessment
The assessment is an indicator of a student’s mastery of grade-level proficiencies. Students demonstrate when they know, understand, and can do as measured through multiple assessments and observations.
Transfer/Distinguished: The student demonstrates mastery, with excellence, of the proficiency with relative ease and consistency, and often exceeds the level of the learning target. The student applies and can transfer the key concepts, processes, and skills to a variety of settings.
Proficient: The student demonstrates mastery of the grade-level proficiency. The student consistency grasps and applies key concepts, processes, and skills with limited errors.
Making Progress: The student demonstrates mastery of some grade-level proficiencies. The student inconsistently grasps and applies some of the key concepts, processes, and skills with significant errors.
Getting Started: The student has not demonstrated mastery of grade-level proficiencies, and is not yet performing at grade level; and/or there is no evidence of learning.
Proficient: The student demonstrates mastery of the grade-level proficiency. The student consistency grasps and applies key concepts, processes, and skills with limited errors.
Making Progress: The student demonstrates mastery of some grade-level proficiencies. The student inconsistently grasps and applies some of the key concepts, processes, and skills with significant errors.
Getting Started: The student has not demonstrated mastery of grade-level proficiencies, and is not yet performing at grade level; and/or there is no evidence of learning.
Three types of assessment will be used.
1. Pre-Assessment takes place prior to instruction; designed to determine a student’s attitude, skills or knowledge in order identify student needs. (Pre-Assessment are not used in the evaluation of student’s final grade.)
2. Formative Assessment is designed to provide direction for improvement and/or adjustment to a program for individual students or for a whole class, e.g. observation, homework, initial drafts. (Assessments FOR learning)
3. Summative Assessments is designed to provide information to be used in making judgement about a student’s achievement at the end of the sequence of instruction, e.g. final drafts/attempts, tests, exams, assignments, projects, performances. (Assessment OF learning)
1. Pre-Assessment takes place prior to instruction; designed to determine a student’s attitude, skills or knowledge in order identify student needs. (Pre-Assessment are not used in the evaluation of student’s final grade.)
2. Formative Assessment is designed to provide direction for improvement and/or adjustment to a program for individual students or for a whole class, e.g. observation, homework, initial drafts. (Assessments FOR learning)
3. Summative Assessments is designed to provide information to be used in making judgement about a student’s achievement at the end of the sequence of instruction, e.g. final drafts/attempts, tests, exams, assignments, projects, performances. (Assessment OF learning)
Unit TitlePolitics and Persuasion
Model Government |
MonthSeptember - November
|
Required ReadingU.S. Constitution
The New York Times - Upfront Magazine Crossing the Wire |
Justice
|
January - April
|
Malcolm X
March - Book 1 & 2 Warriors Don’t Cry Night on Fire |
8th Grade Canoe Journey Project
|
April - June
|
The Adventures of Ulysses
|