Author: User

Assessment
Student’s understanding and skills will be assessed by a variety of methods. They include:
Formative:
Unit assessment
Collaborative projects
Demonstrations
Performance tasks
Constructed response
Informal one-on-one
Facilitated discussion
Daily activities
Rubrics
Quizzes
Written tests
Self reflection
Observation
Summative:
End of the year—district
State assessment

Parent Communication
Parents are encouraged to talk with their child’s teacher at any time during the school year. Student progress is assessed every six weeks (six progress reports per school year) for middle school students. Following is a list of ways that you may communicate with and/or review your child’s progress:
SnapGrades/School Fusion
Teacher’s web site/e-mail/voice mail
Regular parent-teacher conferences (Fall/Spring)

Ways you can help your child at home . . .
P Subscribe to news magazines, a daily newspaper, or specialty magazines like National Geographic or the Smithsonian. Discuss interesting articles. Make sure to identify where the article is taking place.
P Visit historic sites and museums in your community or while on vacation.
P Discuss your family heritage with your child.
P Discuss how your family’s religious or cultural values affect the decisions that you make as a family.
P Notice and point out natural features of the environment while you are driving or looking at pictures in a book or magazine. Discuss how they got there.
P Put a map of Michigan or the United States in your home. Use it to show distances and where things are happening.
P Discuss community issues at home. Share your opinions on the issue.
P Watch the TV news together and talk about the stories presented.
P Identify core democratic values when they are part of a story in the news.
P When at a store, show the receipt to your child. Ask them where the tax is added and how does the community spend the tax dollars?
P Know the name of the Governor & the President.
P Know who your state & national representatives and senators are.
P Explain how the government gets its authority. It is legal authority that is granted by the citizens.
P Engage in community service with your child.

Grand Blanc Community Schools

A Parent’s Guide
to our
Middle School
SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM

Our Mission

The mission of Grand Blanc Community Schools, the hallmark of academic and personal excellence, is to ensure students actualize their own unique genius, freely and without fear, through a system distinguished by
Dedication to the discovery of profound learning.
Exemplary models of character and judgment.
Global experiences in life and living
Emphasis on individual autonomy and self direction.
Unremitting pursuit of the highest human ideals.

Vision Statement
After completing an integrated study of the social sciences, young people will be prepared to act as responsible, informed citizens.

What is a Responsible Citizen?
Someone who displays social understanding and civic efficacy.
Social understanding is the knowledge of . . .
■ The social aspects of the human condition and how they evolve over time.
■ The variations that occur in differing physical environments and cultural settings.
■ The emerging trends that appear likely to shape the future.
Civic Efficacy . . .
■ Is the readiness and willingness to assume citizenship responsibilities.
■ To make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a pluralistic, democratic society in an interdependent world.
Overview of Grade Level
Content Expectations
6th Grade World Studies
•The World in Spatial Terms
•Places & Regions, Physical Systems, Human Systems
•Environment & Society
•Global Issues, Past & Present
•Purpose, Structure & Functions of Government
•Relationship of US to Other Nations
•Market, National & International Economy
•Public Discourse, Decision Making & Citizen Involvement
7th Grade Ancient World History
•Beginnings of Human Society
•Early Civilizations and Cultures, Emergence of Pastoral Peoples
•Classical Traditions, World Religions, Major Empires
•Global Issues, Past & Present
•Public Discourse, Decision Making & Citizen Involvement
8th Grade Integrated United States History
•Era 3 Creating New Governments
•Era 4 Challenges to an Emerging Nation
•Regional & Economic Growth
•Reform Movements
•Era 5 Coming of Civil War
•Civil War
•Reconstruction
•Era 6 America in the last half of the 19th Century
•Policy Issues in Eras 3-6
•Public Discourse, Decision Making & Citizen Involvement

Purpose of Social Studies
Since responsible citizenship requires one to develop social studies understanding and civic efficacy, the social studies curriculum builds the following four capacities in young people:

1. Disciplinary Knowledge is used by students to construct meaning through understanding of powerful ideas drawn primarily from the disciplines of history, geography, civics, and economics.
2. Thinking Skills necessary for effective involvement in public life are practices and improved within the social studies curriculum.
3. Democratic Values motivate citizens to safeguard their rights, to fulfill their responsibilities as citizens, and to hone the dignity of all people.
4. Citizen Participation experiences stimulate interest in public affairs and strengthen competencies for self-government.

Overview of Social Studies
The social studies curriculum is designed so that students meet 25 standards that are indicators of responsible citizenship. These standards are based on national standards and are broken down into grade level content expectations. Students make continuous progress toward meeting these expectations at each level of schooling. These content expectations are established to clearly designate what each student is expected to know and be able to do by the end of each grade.

Area of Focus

6th Grade — World Studies
Integrated study of Geography, Economics and Civics
7th Grade — Ancient World History
Era 1 Beginnings of Human Society
Era 2 Early Civilizations
Era 3 Classical Traditions and World Religions
8th Grade — United States History
Era 3 Revolution & the New Nation
Era 4 Expansion & Reform
Era 5 Civil War & Reconstruction
Era 6 Industrial United States