Corvian

Community

School

Social Studies

7th Grade Social Studies

At Corvian Community School, we will establish an integrated model where social studies and language arts teachers plan cohesive units that integrate the standards. Our classrooms will be highly integrated with book clubs, research papers, word study, various projects, and opportunities to build a community of readers, writers, speakers and listeners. Students will learn, apply, and synthesize the language arts curriculum goals through the study of world cultures, historical events, and the local and global community. We are committed to involvement in the community, establishing global connections, and gaining respect and understanding for diversity within cultures and communities. Through our cohesive approach to learning we will produce well-rounded students who appreciate and recognize historical perspectives and therefore are able to begin establishing their own individual identity. Students will also experience further curricular integration through grade-level global themes. We will adhere closely to the standards set forth at the national and state level.

Theme for the year: Change

Essential Questions:
What is my role and responsibility in this world?
How and why do people come together?
What do I know and understand about other cultures?
What causes change and how can we predict it?
How is change linked to time?

What is progress, and does change always represent progress?

In 7th grade the students will build on the 6th grade theme of "Perspective" and start to explore the theme of "Change". Seventh graders study the world from the Age of Exploration to contemporary times in order to understand the implications of increased global interactions. Students will assess the relationship between physical environment and cultural characteristics of selected societies and regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia as well as the connections between historical events and contemporary issues. They will analyze the impact of interactions between humans and their physical environments of each continent. They will study the effects of social, economic, military and political conflict among nations, regions, and groups. They will also summarize the ideas that have shaped political thought in various societies and regions and explain how environmental conditions and human response to those conditions influence modern societies and regions.

8 Strands

Geographic Relationships
Historic Perspective
Economics and Development
Government
Global Connections
Cultures and Diversity
Individual Identity and Development
Technological Influences and Society

Major Focus:

Global Interdependence and Map Skills: use geographic tools to understand societies and regions, political and environmental boundaries and demographics
Renaissance/Reformation: cultural understanding, power and authority, political vs. religious thought, art
Age of Exploration & Global Exchange: trade and economics, colonization, Enlightenment, technology, great thinkers/explorers
Age of Enlightenment, Scientific Revolution, Agricultural & Industrial Revolution:science and religion influence on politics, scientific theories and discoveries, great philosophers, power and economics
Age of Imperialism, Emerging Powers, WWI and Russian Revolution: colonization of Africa, Imperialism, Nationalism, economic impact, technology of warfare
WWII and Cold War: social, economic, political and military conflicts, League of Nations, dictatorship, propaganda, rise of superpowers,space race
Contemporary Issues: global organizations, developing nations, population growth, western vs. Islamic cultures