Middle School History and Social Science Curriculum
Students will use historical and geographical analysis skills to explore the history of the United States and understand the ideas and events that strengthened the Union. The standards for the middle school program relate to the history of the United States from pre-colonial times to the present. Students will continue to learn fundamental concepts in civics, economics, and geography as they study United States history in chronological sequence and learn about change and continuity in our history. They will also study documents and speeches that laid the foundation for American ideals and institutions and examine the everyday life of people at different times in the country’s history through the use of primary and secondary sources. Students will examine the roles citizens play in the political, governmental, and economic systems in the United States by studying the foundational documents and principles around which the constitutions of Virginia and the United States were established. The program focuses on identifying citizens' rights, duties, and responsibilities; it describes the structure and operation of government at the local, state, and national levels. Through the economics standards, students will compare the United States economy to other types of economies and consider the government’s role in the U.S. economy.
For more information on the courses and descriptions available in Prince William County Public Schools, visit the Secondary Course Catalog.
Sixth Grade
United States History to 1865 Pacing and Units of Study
Quarter 1
Unit 1: Early American Cultures
This includes an introduction to history and social science skills)
This unit focuses on geography's impact on the development of Early North American Cultures. We have some understanding of how people lived by studying archaeological evidence. Combining knowledge of the geography of North America (USI.2b) and knowledge of the cultures allows students to identify differences among regions to understand that geography and natural resources shape the economy and culture.
Includes Standards USI.2 (b, c), USI.3 (a-c)
Unit 2: Exploration
Exploration has been a part of civilization for centuries, but beginning in the late 15th century, European rulers sent explorers to search for trade routes, wealth, and land for their nations despite many obstacles. Technological innovations and the desire for spices and gold drove the exploration boom. First, Portuguese ships, then Spanish, and finally, British, French, and Dutch ships set out to discover the world. However, the New World was inhabited by native people. A “clash of cultures” resulted in intended and unintended consequences and opportunities for conflict and cooperation.
Includes Standards USI.2 (a, c, d), USI.4 (a-c)
Standards of Learning (SOLs)
Seventh Grade
United States History to 1865 Pacing and Units of Study
Quarter 1
Unit 1: Reconstruction
This includes an introduction to history and social science skills)
This unit continues the survey course of United States History, which started in 6th grade. A quick review of the Civil War will set the context for students. Students need to understand the intent of the Reconstruction Amendments and why Reconstruction is seen today as a failure. The efforts of Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, and Frederick Douglass to make the reunion of the states a peaceful process is a focus, but the failure of the nation to ensure that basic civil rights, protected by the Constitution, were guaranteed to all citizens has had a lasting impact on the United States since 1865.
Includes Standards USII.2 (c), USII.3 (a-c), USII.4 (c)
Unit 2: Westward Expansion
This unit focuses on the social, economic, and political factors that drew settlers west and the new technological innovations that made westward expansion possible. Students will examine the settlement of large new territories in the Southwest and West that led to confrontations with other nations and interrupted the lifestyles and livelihoods of Native Americans. Students will focus on the resistance to this westward expansion by various American Indian nations and the eventual decline of these nations' way of life.
Includes Standards USII.2 (a, c), USII.4 (a)
Eight Grade
Civics and Economics Pacing and Units of Study
Quarter 1
Unit 1: Citizenship
The unit focuses on being a good citizen, which is an individual with certain rights, responsibilities, and duties under a government and who, by birth or by choice, owes allegiance to that government.
Includes Standards CE.3 (a-e), CE.4 (a-g)
Unit 2: Constitutional Foundations
This unit has students analyze key documents and principles that are the foundation of the United States democracy
Includes Standards CE.2 (a-d)
Unit 3: Political Processes
In the previous unit, students learned about the foundations of the United States Constitution. This unit focuses on the political processes of the local, state, and national governments. Students will identify the roles and purposes of political parties, analyze campaigns and the role the media plays within campaigns, analyze voter trends and campaign finance reforms, and examine the Electoral College. Students will participate in simulations throughout this unit to better understand these processes. Following this unit, students will delve into the specifics of the Constitution and the structure of the United States government.
Includes Standards CE.5 (a-f)