Eighth grade students examine the roles of people, events, and issues in North Carolina history that have contributed to the unique character of the state today. Building on the fourth grade introduction, the time frame for 8th grade emphasizes revolutionary to contemporary times.

COMPETENCY GOAL 1: TLW analyze important geographic, political, economic, and social aspects of life in the region prior to the Revolutionary Period.
* impact of geography on settlement and developing economy of the Carolina Colony
* Americans Indians
* motives for European exploration
*Columbian Exchange
*founding and settlement of the American colonies
*creation of a distinct NC colony
*roles and contributions of diverse groups

COMPETENCY GOAL 2: TLW trace the causes and effects of the Revolutionary War, and assess the impact of major events, problems, and personalities during the Constitutional Period in North Carolina and the new nation.
*events leading up to the war
*contributions of key NC and national personalities
*role of NC in the war
*reasons for colonists' victory over the British
*impact of the following documents:
    Mecklenburg Resolves
    Halifax Resolves
    Albany Plan of Union
    Declaration of Independence
    State Constitution of 1776
    Articles of Confederation
    United States Constitution
    Bill of Rights

North Carolina Social Studies Skill Competency Goals K-12
These skills will be taught and reinforced all year.
Goal 1: The learner will acquire strategies for reading social studies materials and for increasing social studies vocabulary.

Goal 2: The learner will acquire strategies to access a variety of sources, and use appropriate research skills to gather, synthesize, and report information using diverse modalities to demonstrate the knowledge acquired.

Goal 3: The learner will acquire strategies to analyze, interpret, create, and use resources and materials.

Goal 4: The learner will acquire strategies needed for applying decision-making and problem-solving techniques both orally and in writing to historic, contemporary, and cntroversial world issues.

Goal 5: The learner will acquire strategies needed for effective incorporation of computer technology in the learning process.

18 August  
Ratification of the 19th Amendment (1920)

28 August
Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech (1963)

1 September
Labor Day

14 September
British bombardment of Fort McHenry, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write
"The Star Spangled Banner" (1814)

State Fair Trip
Watch for information concerning the 8th grade trip to the State Fair in Raleigh.