History and Social Science

History and Social Science in Shrewsbury Middle Schools: Our main focus here in Shrewsbury are the Massachusetts Frameworks State skill sets for History and Social Science grades five thru eight:  

Standards for History and Social Science Practice

  1. Demonstrate civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions.
  2. Develop focused questions or problem statements and conduct inquiries.
  3. Organize information and data from multiple primary and secondary sources.
  4. Analyze the purpose and point of view of each source; distinguish opinion from fact.
  5. Evaluate the credibility, accuracy, and relevance of each source.
  6. Argue or explain conclusions, using valid reasoning and evidence.
  7. Determine next steps and take informed action, as appropriate.

The Topics Five thru Eight History and Social Science:

Grade 5 United States History: Building on their knowledge of North American geography and peoples, students learn about the history of the colonies, the early Republic, the expansion of the United States, and the growing sectional conflicts of the 19th century.

G5 SS Topics and Sequence:

  1. Exploration of North America
  2. Colonies of  Jamestown, Plymouth
  3. Road to Revolution
  4. Revolutionary War
  5. Constitution
  6. Westward Expansion

Grade 6 Ancient and Classical civilizations: This is a thematic study of selected civilizations using essential questions to explore how humans move from hunter-gathers to develop complex civilizations.

G6 Topics and Sequence:

  1. Thinking Like a Historian
  2. Interactions with the Environment
  3. Culture
  4. Power and Expansion
  5. Inventions, Achievements and Legacy

Grade 7 World Geography: Students study the physical geography, economics, and political systems of modern nation states by region to answer the essential question: “How does geography affect how societies develop and interact?”

G7 SS Topics and Sequence:

  1. Latin America,
  2. Asia
  3. Middle East
  4. Africa
  5. Europe

Grade 8 United States and Massachusetts Government and Civic Life: Students study the roots and foundations of U.S. democracy, how and why it has developed over time, and the role of individuals in maintaining a healthy democracy.

G8 SS Topics and Sequence:

  1. The philosophical foundations of the United States political system
  2. The development of the United States government
  3. The institutions of the United States government
  4. Rights and responsibilities of citizens
  5. The Constitution, Amendments, and Supreme Court decisions
  6. The structure of Massachusetts state and local government
  7. Freedom of the press and news/media literacy
Oak Middle School

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