Social Studies, Grade 7 - 8, Nailed Down

Social Studies may be one of the more complicated curriculum to figure out, because it does not seem as consistently focused for grade 7 as math.

I have searched the internet and found innumerable "official" sources, state standards from around the country, etc. According to about half of them, the 7th grade focus is US History, from pre-1600 to the present day, including geography and a minor entry into politics. According to a little bit less than half of them, the 7th grade focus is "the Eastern Hemisphere", which most describe as "Europe, Asia and Africa", while some of those include Australia, and others put that in the "Western Civilization" category and so exclude it from the Eastern Hemisphere teaching focus. Some suggest that geography is the real emphasis for grade 7, while others suggest American Government (political development and government operation) as having a key role.

To complicate matters (and the main reason for this situation), in many curriculum grades 7 and 8 are combined. In a few others, grades 6 and 7 are combined. And in some 'middle school' primers, grades 6-8 are inclusive. Obviously this complicates things a bit if the study each year is different, but the overall inclusions are the same -- but different depending on the grade you start with. I have little faith in Ry having learned (memorably) a whole lot of anything last year, so while I don't want to force her to redo 6th grade at the same time she is doing 7th obviously, I do want to see if I can pick up at least a little, in each subject, that allows review of a little prior-year material.

In any case, 7th/8th combined "comes out to" (whichever way it's done) US History, American Government, Eastern Hemisphere, and Geography.

I came up with the following logic:

1. I needed something Eastern-Hemisphere focused;
2. I needed something Geography-focused;
3. I needed something America-development focused.

And as much as can be either
(a) stand-alone workbooks for mostly-independent study (please!), or
(b) in-depth "entertaining" reading for real edu she'll read and learn from, and/or
(c) have some kind of associated quizbook, workbook, teacher's guide, website ancillary, etc.
-- those factors are good for me.

The materials I have here, I believe cover both grade 7 and 8. I could use one focus then the other, or work more slowly through both.

***

I chose a substantial set of books for the main USA curriculum, this is for both 7th and 8th grade if I choose to do it that way. This is a 10 book series of American history from pre-1600 to near-present. The (softcover, they were cheaper!) highly-readable (great reviews for student/kid interest) books have review/question type inclusions in them. I also got Teaching Guides for the first three; they are expensive so I'll work on getting the rest later. There is an 11th book in there, of 'source materials' which has stuff like the Magna Carta, Constitution, etc.

Because these do not seem to have a great deal of late-modern-day info, and because they are so voluminous, I also got a stand-alone sort of "reference guide" to American History. It has an index, and entries range from 1/4- to 6- pages per entry. Kind of a readable encyclopedia just of events, people, etc. related to US history.

I found a formal fairly modern textbook specific to "Eastern Hemisphere" social studies, and while normally $72, there was a used copy for $9 so I got it--because I saw that there was also a good-shape "activity workbook" for that text for five bucks. Plus, I was able to find both a student and teacher website (free) that is an addition to that text.

Finally, I found some materials specific to middle school Geography. One is for grades 6-7, one for grades 7-8, and both are stand-alone workbooks she ought to be able to use fairly independently.

So aside from eventually affording more of the teacher's editions for the US History textbook, I think I'm done with "Social Studies". Whew, it's getting damn expensive. Here's the summary.

American History, Constitution, Political Development:


The Young Reader's Companion to American History (Reference)
==} found it at amazon.com for $0.99 used






A History of US: 11-Volume Set Joy Hakim
(books have review, quizzes, highly readable)
Book 1: The First Americans Prehistory-1600
Book 2: Making Thirteen Colonies 1600-1740
Book 3: From Colonies to Country 1735-1791
Book 4: The New Nation 1789-1850
Book 5: Liberty for All? 1820-1860
Book 6: War, Terrible War 1855-1865
Book 7: Reconstructing America 1865-1890
Book 8: An Age of Extremes 1880-1917
Book 9: War, Peace, and all that Jazz
Book 10: All the People Since 1945
Book 11: Sourcebook
==} found it at amazon.com for $110.00


A History of US : Book 1 , The First Americans, Prehistory -1600
Teaching Guide (2nd Ed, older)
==} found it at amazon.com for $4.71 used

A History of US: Book 2: Making Thirteen Colonies 1600-1740
Teaching Guide (3rd Ed)
==} found it at amazon.com for $18.95

A History of US: Book 3: From Colonies to Country 1735-1791
Teaching Guide (3rd Ed)
==} found it at amazon.com for $18.95


There is a companion website:
Two page printable quiz/activity for book 3
Two page printable quiz/activity for book 6
Two page printable quiz/activity for book 7
Some instructor notes, lesson suggestions etc. for book 1
Some instructor notes, lesson suggestions etc. for book 2
Some instructor notes, lesson suggestions etc. for book 9
Simple Overall Quiz
Lots of related (free) weblinks


World History: Eastern Hemisphere


The World and Its People, Eastern Hemisphere, Student Edition
==} found it at amazon.com for $9.10 used (hardcover) (new is 72.64)

The World and Its People, Eastern Hemisphere, Activity Workbook, Student Edition
==} found it at amazon.com for $5.12 used


There is a companion website:
Student main website
Teacher main website
Student interactive websites with history (some related) info
Related (free) weblinks, ref: Eastern Hemisphere
Web Activities, Quizzes, Puzzles, for each chapter


Middle School Geography


Discovering the World of Geography: Grades 7 & 8
==} found it at amazon.com for $11.99






The World Almanac for Kids Puzzler Deck: World History and Geography: Ages 11-13, Grades 6-7
==} found it at amazon.com for $1.22 used





.99 + 110 + 181.04 + 4.71 + 18.95 + 18.95 + 9.10 + 5.12 + 11.99 + 1.22 + 16(s/h) = $181.04.
Though in fairness I do think this is more like 2 years of curriculum than one.

I'll say more detail about them when I receive them.