Middle School US History Semester Class: Section 1 of 3 - Flexible Pay Available
Welcome to the thrilling world of US History! In this full curriculum US History class we study American history in an engaging and interactive way. This class covers Indigenous Peoples, European Exploration, & the British colonies.
Taylor Wirthlin
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(169)
What's included
18 live meetings
16 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursAssignments
1-2 hours per week. ⭐The full curriculum class spans the entire school year from September-May. It is split into three sections, which each have two units. ⭐This class is section one which covers units 1 & 2 Each class I provide a note template that students will fill out as we move through the lesson. Information from the notes will be included in the unit final that students will take at the end of each unit to assess their learning. Each note assignment is worth 2 points and is based on completion. I also assign one project per unit that students will present to the class and receive a grade on. To enhance student learning, I also provide coloring pages that students can print and color during class and six enrichment activities per unit (12 total for Section 1). These are both optional and will not affect students' final letter grade. Each unit I assign one reading assignment students should complete prior to class to facilitate a class discussion.Assessment
We will have informal assessments in each class (such as class discussions, drawing a picture to display understanding, etc.) and one short quiz in each unit. At the end of each unit we will have a final multiple choice assessment that students will do on their own time. The final assessments range from 18-30 questions.Letter Grade
The letter grade is based on completion of notes, projects, quizzes and the final unit tests. The grade can be seen on Google Classroom throughout Section 1.Grading
Students can turn assignments in on Google Classroom to receive a letter grade.Class Experience
US Grade 6 - 8
This full curriculum class will be the the ultimate US history adventure! Join us on a thrilling journey from ancient America all the way to the Civil War with other middle school students from around the country. Get ready to explore the amazing civilizations that flourished long before Europeans set foot on American soil. We'll learn about the incredible achievements of ancient North American civilizations, and discover details of their ancient cultures. But that's just the beginning! 🔹We'll investigate the disappearance of the first British Colony 🔹Interview the soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre 🔹Create art to commemorate the Cherokee Nation on the Trail of Tears 🔹Support the abolitionists in their fight to end slavery 🔹And witness the many ups and downs of the nation as it headed towards the Civil War This class will not be just a dry lecture! All the lessons are taught on Nearpod to engage students and provide them with real-time feedback on their work. Nearpod is extremely easy (and free) to access. If technology makes you stressed, have no fear! I'll provide everything you need to easily access and incorporate Nearpod into our learning. Our lessons include interactive discussions, quiz games, drawing, and many other engaging activities that will keep you on your toes and help you truly connect with the material. You will leave this class with much more than memorized facts about US history... Students leaving this class will: ✅ Recognize credible information and distinguish bias ✅ Convey opinions through evidence-based arguments ✅ Have gratitude for the rights enjoyed in the United States ✅ Know how to take action in their communities Each class of this unit will focus on at least one of the following skills to help students achieve the above goals: 1. Source: analyzing the origin of an artifact 2. Summarize: synthesizing difficult reading passages 3. Determine Context: challenging and recognizing bias 4. Challenge Credibility: determining if a source is trustworthy 5. Argue: creating logical arguments and supporting them with evidence 6. Sequence: understanding the relationship of events ⭐ The full curriculum class spans the entire school year from September-May. It is split into three sections, which each have two units. ⭐ This class is section one which covers units 1 & 2 ⭐ This class is an in depth look at US History and will challenge your student. If you are looking for a class that is more of an overview check out my Elementary US History class here --> https://outschool.com/classes/social-studies-for-elementary-students-us-history-full-curriculum-semester-class-JmyUgEAl?usid=tu9PLRYP&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link In this engaging class, students will be actively involved in both learning and note-taking. Each session, you'll receive a note sheet with questions to answer as we dive into our discussions and activities. It’s important that you stay on top of your notes while participating in our class explorations. Don’t worry—while keeping up with your notes is a key part of the course, we’ll still make learning history exciting and interactive. So, what are you waiting for? Join us on this epic journey through time and discover the incredible history of the United States like never before!
Learning Goals
Students leaving this class will:
✅ Recognize credible information and distinguish bias
✅ Convey opinions through evidence-based arguments
✅ Have gratitude for the rights enjoyed in the United States
✅ Know how to take action in their communities
Each class of this unit will focus on at least one of the following skills to help students achieve the above goals:
1. Source: analyzing the origin of an artifact
2. Summarize: synthesizing difficult reading passages
3. Determine Context: challenging and recognizing bias
4. Challenge Credibility: determining if a source is trustworthy
5. Argue: creating logical arguments and supporting them with evidence
6. Sequence: understanding the relationship of events
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum2 Units
18 Lessons
over 9 WeeksUnit 1: ANCIENT AMERICA AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Lesson 1:
Welcome to U.S. History & Historical Thinking Skills
- Why is it important to study history? What will we learn about in this class?
- Class procedures including introducing Nearpod and Google Classroom 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Historical Thinking Skills
- What skills do I need to succeed in studying history? How do I decide if I can trust a source?
- Skill introduction and practice: sourcing, determining context, challenging credibility, cross checking, summarizing, arguing, sequencing 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Northeast Woodland Native Tribes
- What was the basic culture of the Northeast Woodland Native American Tribes? 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Southwest Native Tribes
- What was the basic culture of the Southwest Native American Tribes? How did their cultures differ from the previous tribes discussed? 55 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Some sensitive topics that will be covered include:
UNIT 1: Disease (in the Americas and in Europe), genocide of Native American Tribes, Christopher Columbus.
UNIT 2: Land theft, colonization, genocide, the Atlantic Slave Trade, the Salem Witch Trials, violent events that led to the American Revolution, and the battles of the American Revolution.
Some of the sources that we study contain inaccurate content (for example: A Young People's History of the United States uses the term "Indians" instead of Indigenous Peoples). I will always point out these inaccuracies in class as part of our discussions. If you have concerns about a specific source, please contact me.
Pre-Requisites
Students should be able to type and label the USA & all continents on a map. They should be familiar with basic US History concepts i.e., Native Americans lived in North America before Europeans, the US fought a war for Independence, etc.
Supply List
Students will need to purchase the book ‘A Young People’s History of the United States’ by Howard Zinn (approximately $15). 'An Outline of US History' can be found online for free at https://archive.org/details/OutlineOfUSHistory/page/n65/mode/2up
1 file available upon enrollment
Joined February, 2021
5.0
169reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
North Carolina Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Over the course of the year, this class will cover several sensitive topics including: the genocide of Indigenous Nations including the Aztec, Inca, Maya, and North American tribes from the Northeast Woodland, Southeast, Southwest, Plateau, California, and Northwest Coast regions by European explorers, the immoral Atlantic Slave Trade and conditions that enslaved people experienced, violent events that led to the American Revolution, and the battles of the American Revolution. This unit specifically will cover the genocide of Indigenous Nations.
I am an experienced Social Studies teacher in both Utah and North Carolina. In my training and experience teaching in the classroom I have found that the best way to approach these sensitive topics is to address them explicitly and have an open conversation with my students. We discuss the mindset of historical societies, the moral implications of their actions, how it affects us to today, and why it can be difficult to talk about these subjects at times.
I make it clear to my students that they are always welcome to meet with me individually if they are bothered by any of these discussions. I also ask them, and the parents to contact me if they are concerned with my class content or delivery. These topics can be difficult to navigate and I am always trying to improve!Reviews
Live Group Course
$32
weekly or $288 for 18 classes2x per week, 9 weeks
55 min
Completed by 35 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-14
3-7 learners per class
Financial Assistance
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