Course: Social Studies 8

Instructor: Mr. Doug Manaker

E-mail: manaker@stmattsaints.org

Course Description

The object of this course is to teach the students about the development of the Montana, from the prehistoric period to the Montana’s early people, through the exploration, the Copper and Silver booms, logging, homesteading, up to World War II and Modern Montana. The students will be learning about Montana through four major topics: History, Politics, Geography, and Economics. A variety of activities and assignments will be used, as well as individual and group projects designed to assess student understanding of the major concepts. Major projects will be spread throughout the year.

Learning Objectives

The students will be learning about the major events, causes, people, and geography of the following historical eras and topics of Montana:

Montana Physical Geography

Kalispell History and Geography

Montana’s Early People

Exploration and the Fur Trade

Montana’s Gold and Silver Boom

Railroads and the Open Range

The Copper Kings

Logging

Early Reservation Years

Homesteading and Early Towns

Progressive Era

The Great Depression

World Wars I and II

Modern Montana

For a monthly schedule and topics to be covered, see the Curriculum Map. The curriculum follows the Montana Standards for Social Studies which can be viewed online at: http://www.opi.state.mt.us/

Learning Activities

Maps

Tests and Quizzes

Writing Assignments

Guided Reading and homework assignments

Kalispell Notebook Project

Montana Native Americans Project

Montana Logging Project

Family Tree Project

Textbook and Supplemental Materials

Text: Montana Stories of the Land

Videos: Lewis and Clark, The West, Open Range, Stories of the Century, Montana Mosaic, Frontier House, Bannack: A Window in Time.