Geography / Exploration

Big Idea: Students will examine exploration and identify why Europeans looked to the sea for profit and colonization.
"    Understanding the historical development of structures of power, authority, and
governance and their evolving functions in contemporary U.S. society and other parts of the world is
essential for developing civic competence. Culture is the way of life shared by a group of people, including their ideas and traditions.
Students need to understand the benefits and costs of economic interaction and interdependence among people,
societies, and governments. Geography includes the study of the five fundamental themes of location, place, regions, movement and
human/environmental interaction. Students need geographic knowledge to analyze issues and problems
to better understand how humans have interacted with their environment over time, how geography has
impacted settlement and population, and how geographic factors influence climate, culture, the economy
and world events. A geographic perspective also enables students to better understand the past and
present and to prepare for the future. Students need to think in an historical context in order to
understand significant ideas, beliefs, themes, patterns and events, and how individuals and societies
have changed over time in Kentucky, the United States and the World.

Colonization

Big Idea:
History is an account of events, people, ideas, and their interaction over time that can be interpreted
through multiple perspectives. In order for students to understand the present and plan for the future, they
must understand the past. Studying history engages students in the lives, aspirations, struggles,
accomplishments and failures of real people. Students need to think in an historical context in order to
understand significant ideas, beliefs, themes, patterns and events, and how individuals and societies
have changed over time in Kentucky, the United States and the World. Economics includes the study of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Students need to understand how their economic decisions affect them, others, the nation and the world.
The purpose of economic education is to enable individuals to function effectively both in their own
personal lives and as citizens and participants in an increasingly connected world economy. Students
need to understand the benefits and costs of economic interaction and interdependence among people,
societies, and governments. Geography includes the study of the five fundamental themes of location, place, regions, movement and
human/environmental interaction. Students need geographic knowledge to analyze issues and problems
to better understand how humans have interacted with their environment over time, how geography has
impacted settlement and population, and how geographic factors influence climate, culture, the economy
and world events. A geographic perspective also enables students to better understand the past and
present and to prepare for the future. Culture is the way of life shared by a group of people, including their ideas and traditions. Cultures reflect
the values and beliefs of groups in different ways (e.g., art, music, literature, religion); however, there are
universals (e.g., food, clothing, shelter, communication) connecting all cultures. Culture influences
viewpoints, rules and institutions in a global society. Students should understand that people form cultural
groups throughout the United States and the World, and that issues and challenges unite and divide
them. The study of government and civics equips students to understand the nature of government and the
unique characteristics of American democracy, including its fundamental principles, structure, and the
role of citizens. Understanding the historical development of structures of power, authority, and
governance and their evolving functions in contemporary U.S. society and other parts of the world is
essential for developing civic competence. An understanding of civic ideals and practices of citizenship is
critical to full participation in society and is a central purpose of the social studies.

American Revolution

Big Idea: Students will examine all of the circumstances that led to the American Revolution. Students will gain an understanding of how warfare changed, the importance of militias, and a general understanding of the feelings of both Great Britain and Americans towards the war.
Understanding the historical development of structures of power, authority, and
governance and their evolving functions in contemporary U.S. society and other parts of the world is
essential for developing civic competence. Culture is the way of life shared by a group of people, including their ideas and traditions.
Culture influences viewpoints, rules and institutions in a global society. Students should understand that people form cultural
groups throughout the United States and the World, and that issues and challenges unite and divide
them Students need to understand the benefits and costs of economic interaction and interdependence among people,
societies, and governments. Students need geographic knowledge to analyze issues and problems
to better understand how humans have interacted with their environment over time, how geography has
impacted settlement and population, and how geographic factors influence climate, culture, the economy
and world events. History is an account of events, people, ideas, and their interaction over time that can be interpreted
through multiple perspectives. In order for students to understand the present and plan for the future, they
must understand the past. Studying history engages students in the lives, aspirations, struggles,
accomplishments and failures of real people. Students need to think in an historical context in order to
understand significant ideas, beliefs, themes, patterns and events, and how individuals and societies
have changed over time in Kentucky, the United States and the World.

New Nation

Big Idea:
Students will look at how our government was formed and how it has lasted for more than 200 years. They will examine the different parts of government and our constitution.
The study of government and civics equips students to understand the nature of government and the
unique characteristics of American democracy, including its fundamental principles, structure, and the
role of citizens. Understanding the historical development of structures of power, authority, and
governance and their evolving functions in contemporary U.S. society and other parts of the world is
essential for developing civic competence. An understanding of civic ideals and practices of citizenship is
critical to full participation in society and is a central purpose of the social studies. Culture influences
viewpoints, rules and institutions in a global society. Students
need to understand the benefits and costs of economic interaction and interdependence among people,
societies, and governments. Geographic factors influence climate, culture, the economy
and world events. History is an account of events, people, ideas, and their interaction over time that can be interpreted
through multiple perspectives. Students need to think in an historical context in order to
understand significant ideas, beliefs, themes, patterns and events, and how individuals and societies
have changed over time in Kentucky, the United States and the World.

Westward Expansion / Manifest Destiny

Big Idea:

Students will try to figure out why people risked their lives to pursue land in the west.
The study of government and civics equips students to understand the nature of government and the
unique characteristics of American democracy, including its fundamental principles, structure, and the
role of citizens. Understanding the historical development of structures of power, authority, and
governance and their evolving functions in contemporary U.S. society and other parts of the world is
essential for developing civic competence. Culture is the way of life shared by a group of people, including their ideas and traditions. Cultures reflect the values and beliefs of groups in different ways (e.g., art, music, literature, religion); however, there are
universals (e.g., food, clothing, shelter, communication) connecting all cultures. Culture influences
viewpoints, rules and institutions in a global society. Economics includes the study of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Students need to understand how their economic decisions affect them, others, the nation and the world. Students need geographic knowledge to analyze issues and problems to better understand how humans have interacted with their environment over time, how geography has impacted settlement and population, and how geographic factors influence climate, culture, the economy
and world events. Studying history engages students in the lives, aspirations, struggles,
accomplishments and failures of real people.

Civil War

Big Idea:
Students will examine the causes and reasons for the civil war. They will examine the lifestyles of both the north and south and then look at the actual battles and outcomes of the war.
The study of government and civics equips students to understand the nature of government and the
unique characteristics of American democracy, including its fundamental principles, structure, and the
role of citizens. Culture is the way of life shared by a group of people, including their ideas and traditions. Cultures reflect
the values and beliefs of groups in different ways (e.g., art, music, literature, religion); however, there are
universals (e.g., food, clothing, shelter, communication) connecting all cultures. Culture influences
viewpoints, rules and institutions in a global society. Students should understand that people form cultural
groups throughout the United States and the World, and that issues and challenges unite and divide
them. Economics includes the study of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services.
Students need to understand how their economic decisions affect them, others, the nation and the world. Students need geographic knowledge to analyze issues and problems to better understand how humans have interacted with their environment over time, how geography has
impacted settlement and population, and how geographic factors influence climate, culture, the economy
and world events. A geographic perspective also enables students to better understand the past and
present and to prepare for the future. Studying history engages students in the lives, aspirations, struggles,
accomplishments and failures of real people. Students need to think in an historical context in order to
understand significant ideas, beliefs, themes, patterns and events, and how individuals and societies
have changed over time in Kentucky, the United States and the World.