A U.S. history curriculum for middle schoolers covers important events, geography, and key turning points as they relate to the development of the United States of America. Students will research and analyze how various eras shaped U.S. history, gain an understanding of political changes, explore the importance of cultural diversity, and more.
What is Taught in Middle School U.S. History?
Teaching U.S. history for middle school is an opportunity for your student to learn about all the important events and people that helped establish and shape the United States. By making your child’s U.S. history curriculum come alive, he or she will be engaged and more open to learning.
Below are a few tips to help you teach U.S. history.
Set the stage for each lesson with a story, visual aid or props
Use technology/multimedia to bring lessons to life
Focus on true understanding of events and concepts rather than just facts
Incorporate writing assignments and reading comprehension exercises to build literacy skills
Activate your child’s prior knowledge with questions before beginning a lesson
Ask questions and have open discussions to develop critical thinking skills
Use maps, videos, charts, and more to add depth to the material
Incorporate field trips to living history museums, national parks and other historic destinations
Measure your child’s progress at the end of each lesson/chapter with a quiz, test or other assessment method
Middle School U.S. History Objectives
An American history homeschool curriculum will include numerous objectives for students. By the end of the eighth grade year, students should be able to explain important principles pertaining to U.S. history, describe specific events, and identify the impact of these events.
Below are just a few middle school U.S. history curriculum objectives.
Explain the foundations of democratic rule in the American colonies.
Examine the rise of the abolitionist movement.
Explain the economic changes that took place in the 1920s.
Identify the freedoms provided to all citizens in the Bill of Rights.
Describe the cultural and economic challenges facing new immigrants.
Describe the events that resulted in the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Describe the events of 9/11 and the U.S. response to those events.