Warwick School District

Course Description

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This course organizes history by dividing it into blocks of time from 2800 B.C. to 1500 A.D. focusing on geography, physical and human systems including government and cultural contributions, and economic systems.

Core Curriculum Content Standards

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PA Common Core: History and Social Studies (2012)

• Reading Informational Text: Students read, understand, and respond to informational text – with emphasis on comprehension, making connections among ideas and between texts with focus on textual evidence.

• GRADES 6-8

• Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.(8.5.6-8.A)
• Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.(8.5.6-8.B)
• Identify key steps in a text’s description of a process related to history/social studies (e.g., how a bill becomes law, how interest rates are raised or lowered).(8.5.6-8.C)
• Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.(8.5.6-8.D)
• Describe how a text presents information (e.g., sequentially, comparatively, causally).(8.5.6-8.E)
• Identify aspects of a text that reveal an author’s point of view or purpose (e.g., loaded language, inclusion or avoidance of particular facts).(8.5.6-8.F)
• Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.(8.5.6-8.G)
• Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text.(8.5.6-8.H)
• Analyze the relationship between a primary and secondary source on the same topic.(8.5.6-8.I)

• Writing: Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content.

• GRADES 6-8

• Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.(8.6.6-8.C)
• With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.(8.6.6-8.D)
• Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas clearly and efficiently.(8.6.6-8.E)
• Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.(8.6.6-8.F)
• Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.(8.6.6-8.G)
• Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis reflection, and research.(8.6.6-8.H)
• Write routinely over extended time frames (time for reflection and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.(8.6.6-8.I)

Civics and Government (2009-2012)

• Principles and Documents of Government

• GRADE 7

• Cite functional examples of how the rule of law protects property rights, individual rights, and the common good.(5.1.7.A)
• Identify the different types of government and the processes they use in making laws.(5.1.7.B)
• Summarize the basic principles and ideals within documents and the roles played by the framers as found in significant documents: -Declaration of Independence -United States Constitution -Bill of Rights -Pennsylvania Constitution(5.1.7.D)

• Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

• GRADE 7

• Compare the methods citizens use to resolve conflicts in society and government.(5.2.7.B)
• Describe the role of political leadership and public service.(5.2.7.C)
• Describe the citizen’s role in the political process.(5.2.7.D)

• How Government Works

• GRADE 7

• Compare and contrast the responsibilities and powers of the three branches of government.(5.3.7.A)
• Identify various types of governments.(5.3.7.J)

Economics (2009-2012)

• Scarcity and Choice

• GRADE 7

• Explain how positive and negative incentives affect behavior.(6.1.7.D)

• Markets and Economic Systems

• GRADE 7

• Examine how various economic systems address the three basic questions. - What to produce? - How? - For whom?(6.2.7.G)

• Functions of Government

• GRADE 7

• Describe the impact of government involvement in state and national economic activities.(6.3.7.B)
• Explain the cost and benefits of taxation.(6.3.7.C)

Geography (2009-2012)

• Basic Geographic Literacy

• GRADE 7

• Explain how common geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places, and environment.(7.1.7.A)
• Explain and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.(7.1.7.B)

• Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions

• GRADE 7

• Explain the characteristics of places and regions.(7.2.7.A)

• Human Characteristics of Places and Regions

• GRADE 7

• Describe the human characteristics of places and regions using the following criteria: -Population -Culture -Settlement -Economic activities -Political activities(7.3.7.A)

• Interactions Between People and the Environment

• GRADE 7

• Describe and explain the effects of the physical systems on people within regions.(7.4.7.A)
• Describe and explain the effects of people on the physical systems within regions.(7.4.7.B)

History (2009-2012)

• Historical Analysis and Skills Development

• GRADE 7

• Demonstrate continuity and change over time using sequential order and context of events.(8.1.7.A)
• Identify and use primary and secondary sources to analyze multiple points of view for historical events.(8.1.7.B)

• World History

• GRADE 7

• Summarize the social, political, cultural, and economic contributions of individuals and groups in world history.(8.4.7.A)
• Explain the importance of historical documents, artifacts, and sites which are critical to world history.(8.4.7.B)
• Differentiate how continuity and change have impacted world history. -Belief systems and religions -Commerce and industry -Technology -Politics and government -Physical and human geography -Social organizations(8.4.7.C)
• Explain how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have impacted the history of the world.(8.4.7.D)

Economics (2026)

• Fundamentals of Economics

• Grades 6 to 8

• Describe and identify the characteristics of traditional, command, and market systems.(6.1.6-8.A)
• Explain how traditional, command, and market economies answer the basic economic questions: What goods and services should be produced? How will goods and services be produced? Who will consume goods and services?(6.1.6-8.B)
• Describe ways to deal with scarcity within various communities.(6.1.6-8.C)
• Explain that scarcity is the condition of not having all the goods and services wanted because resources are limited.(6.1.6-8.D)
• Explain how resources can be used in different ways to produce different goods and services.(6.1.6-8.E)
• Explain how the additional cost and additional benefit of a choice affects decision-making (marginal analysis).(6.1.6-8.F)
• Explain the opportunity cost of a public choice from different perspectives.(6.1.6-8.G)
• Explain how incentives affect the behaviors of workers, savers, consumers, and producers.(6.1.6-8.H)
• Describe how specialization may lead to increased production and consumption.(6.1.6-8.I)
• Explain how trade may improve a society's standard of living.(6.1.6-8.J)
• Explain why governments sometimes subsidize or restrict trade (i.e., tariffs or quotas).(6.1.6-8.K)
• Explain how specialization and trade lead to interdependence.(6.1.6-8.L)
• Explain how opportunity costs influence where goods and services are produced locally and regionally.(6.1.6-8.M)

• Microeconomics

• Grades 6 to 8

• Explain the flow of goods, services, and resources in an economy.(6.2.6-8.A)
• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of competition for consumers in markets.(6.2.6-8.B)
• Explain how supply and demand affect the prices of goods and services.(6.2.6-8.D)
• Explain how the location of resources, transportation, and technology have affected United States economic patterns.(6.2.6-8.E)
• Define wages and explain how wages are determined by the supply of and demand for workers.(6.2.6-8.F)
• Describe how productivity is measured and identify ways in which a person can improve his or her productivity.(6.2.6-8.G)
• Explain how profits and losses serve as incentives.(6.2.6-8.I)

• Macroeconomics

• Grades 6 to 8

• Define fiscal policies available to the federal government.(6.3.6-8.C)
• Define the three different types of tax structures (progressive, proportional, and regressive) and different tax bases, such as income, wealth, property, etc.(6.3.6-8.E)
• Compare the taxation policies of local, state, and national government levels in the economy.(6.3.6-8.F)
• Analyze the economic roles of governments in market economies in promoting growth and stability and providing legal frameworks (laws and regulations).(6.3.6-8.G)
• Identify policies governments can use to address unintended consequences (i.e., externalities) of market activities.(6.3.6-8.H)
• Explain why the government provides public goods and services (e.g., education, infrastructure, national defense, safety and health).(6.3.6-8.I)

• Money & Economic Institutions

• Grades 6 to 8

• Identify and explain various forms of payments used in markets.(6.4.6-8.A)
• Explain why you have to exchange currencies to purchase goods when you visit another country.(6.4.6-8.B)

Units

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Unit #1 - The Early Greeks

Unit #2 - Sparta and Athens

Unit #3 - Persian Wars

Unit #4 - Age of Pericles

Unit #5 - The Culture of Ancient Greece

Unit #6 - Greek Philosophy/History and the Spread of Greek Culture

Unit #7 - Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age

Unit #8 - Rome's Beginnings

Unit #9 - Roman Republic

Unit #10 - Fall of Republic

Unit #11 - Early Roman Empire

Unit #12 - Life in Ancient Rome

Unit #13 - Fall of Rome

Unit #14 - The First Christians

Unit #15 - The Byzantine Empire

Unit #16 - The Christian Church

Unit #17 - Spread of Christian Ideas

Unit #18 - The Rise of Islam

Unit #19 - Islamic Empires

Unit #20 - Muslim Ways of Life

Unit #21 - Early Middle Ages

Unit #22 - Feudalism

Unit #23 - Kingdoms and Crusades

Unit #24 - Church and Society

Unit #25 - Late Middle Ages