Gary Coyle’s Grade 8 Humanities

Eighth grade Humanities explores four themes, one per quarter that address the concept of power. The first question is: How has industrialization changed the world in terms of interdependence, power, patterns of economic systems, and social and economic disparity?  The first unit begins with an introduction to economic theory. Then, students will trace the sequence of events, which begins with England’s industrial revolution, continues through the American industrial revolution, and ends with the attempts of developing countries to industrialize today.  Students will explore the roles of demography, agriculture, transportation, and capitalism as they relate to the Industrial Revolution.  An examination of the changes in industrial society will include discussion of the emerging middle class, the assembly line, urbanization, and the boom/bust cycle.  Students will be involved in stock market simulation activities as well as an independent stock market investment project and research paper.  Students will also investigate the negative impact of industrialization on working class life, and the reform movements, which emerged in response.  In the second unit students ask the question: What is imperialism and how has it played out in history? In this unit students examine issues of power, culture and corruption in terms of imperialism and colonization.  They begin by defining imperialism and becoming familiar with modern competing theories of imperialism.  They review the division and conquest of the world by European powers (with Africa as the primary focus in a series of case studies), and the impact of industrialization on colonization.  Students discuss slavery as a legacy of imperialism, as well as issues of economic and social prejudice. The third unit asks the question: How are conflicts related to the daily processes of government, as well as to the political struggles for independence and preservation?  This unit focuses on conflicts world-wide.  Students will examine motivations for revolutions. They will also evaluate the connections among military force, revolutionary idealism and the corruption of power as related to specific conflicts.  Student will analyze the economic and political causes of conflict and assess how individuals and groups attempt to resolve conflict. The year culminates with the question: How have the changes brought by the Information Age affected the present and how will they shape the future?  Students will begin this unit with a review of the principal inventors and inventions related to communications technology.  Students will identify and assess the societal impact of key early inventions, including the telephone and the cathode ray tube.  Then students will describe the influence of advanced computing machines on WWII and Cold War flashpoints.  A contemporary analysis will follow as they analyze the net effect of the internet, microchips, and interactive computing.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of censorship, mass culture, and the cultural need for instant gratification through discussion and activities related a variety of readings.

PLEASE NOTE: Unless you have an excused absence LATE WORK IS NOT ACCEPTED. Additionally, all work must be printed BEFORE CLASS or it is considered late.

Below are the nuts and bolts that relate to your Humanities 8 experience.

• Rules of the Road
• Humanities 8 Syllabus