American Studies I – Grade 9

District 2853

Month

Content

Technology Used

Skills for Student Achievement

Assessment

 

1 Week

·         Themes of Geography

·         Tools of Geography

·         Landscape in America

·         Climate and Resources

·         Video

·         Describe how geographers study the Earth

·         Explain how geography is related to cultural diversity in the U.S.

·         Identify how Geography and history are linked

 

1 Week

·         First Americans

·         Prehistory

·         Video

·         Identify how the earliest Native Americans lived

·         Describe the 3 largest civilizations developed in Central and South America

 

1 Week

·         Explorers Reach America

1000-1535

·         Video

·         Identify why European nations wanted to explore Americas

·         Describe how the explorers treated Native Americans

 

2 Weeks

·         European Empires in the Americas

1500-1700

·         Video

·         Explain how the Spaniards settled and governed the lands

·         Explain what drew French, Dutch, and Swedish settlers to North America

 

2 Weeks

·         English Colonies

1607-1733

·         Video

·         Identify the reasons people migrated to the American Colonies

·         Describe the ways that the Thirteen Colonies grew and developed

 

4 Weeks

·         The American Revolution

1776-1783

·         Video

·         Identify how the British policies changed after the French and Indian Wars

·         Describe the weaknesses and strengths of the British and Americans

·         Identify the events that led to the American Revolution

·         Examine why the American victory at Saratoga was a turning point

·         Explain how European Allies helped the Continental Army

 

2 Weeks

·         The Federalization Era

1789-1800

·         Video

·         Explain the organization of a new national government

·         Identify the cause and affect of internal and foreign challenges to U.S. Government

·         Describe the political views that led to the growth of party politics

 

1 week

·         The Age of Jefferson

1800-1815

·         Video

·         Describe the opportunities that the Louisiana Purchase brought to the United States

·         Identify the events leading up to and during the War of 1812

 

1 Week

·         The Nation Grows

1815-1830

·         Video

·         Identify the impact the growth of industry had on the American way of life

·         Explain how the United States began to emerge as a world power

 

2 Weeks

·         The Age of Jackson

1820-1842

·         Video

·         Identify groups that gained or lost rights in the 1820s

·         Describe the new political practices that emerged in the Jackson Era

 

3 Weeks

·         Manifest Destiny

1820-1860

·         Video

·         Identify the reasons why Americans moved westward

·         Explain Texans declaring independence from Mexico

·         Identify what caused the war between Mexico and the United States

·         Describe how the Gold Rush of 1848 changed the history of California

 

2 Weeks

·         Sectional Differences

1820-1860

·         Video

·         Describe how inventions changed the economy in the North

·         Identify why the cotton gin contributed to increased slavery in the South

·         Explain how southern society was structured

 

1 Week

·         Road to Civil War

1850-1860

·         Video

·         Identify major differences between the North and the South

·         Describe the events that led seven Southern States to secede from the Union

 

4 Weeks

·         The Civil War

1861-1865

·         Video

·         Computer Research

·         Internet

·         Describe how major battles affected the outcome of the war

·         Identify the role transportation system played in the Civil War

·         Describe how the border states influenced President Lincoln’s decisions

·         Describe events that led to the South surrender

 

4 Weeks

·         Careers Investigation

·         Booklet

·         Computer

·         Internet

·         Complete a Job Resume

·         Investigate a career

·         Complete booklet skills (tasks)

·         Complete a research on occupation

·         Deliver a 5 minute presentation and create a visual display for a chosen occupation

 

3 Weeks

·         Current Events

·         Junior Scholastic

·         Relate current event to back in history

·         Friday - twice per month