Middle School Social Studies Curriculum
While all the changes that come with middle school may seem daunting, homeschooling parents can harness this energy into their student’s education. This is particularly true in middle school social studies curriculum. If students want to engage in current political or social arguments, for example, then lessons about elections, economics, or lawmaking are a great way for middle schoolers to support their budding enthusiasm with education. Students who are dreaming of becoming world travelers, they can investigate a variety of cultures and countries through geography lessons. If your child is finding themselves interested in history, then social studies lessons loaded with technological inventions and world conflicts provide them with a way to explore those subjects more deeply.
Regardless of where your child’s interests naturally lie, the topics discussed in social studies are valuable for every informed citizen. The goal of a strong middle school social studies curriculum is to build competence and awareness in their civic knowledge, such as how the voting process works or how supply and demand can influence a local business. Social studies lessons should contribute to the well-rounded adults that middle schoolers are striving to become.
Literacy in Social Studies
Perhaps no two subjects align as much as social studies and English. Students will practice reading and analytical skills at the same time they are learning about ancient Romans or Viking exploration. Middle schoolers who are writing about a local government issue or World War 1 need practice explaining their thoughts clearly and citing appropriate evidence when needed. Weaving social studies and English lessons together is a great way to build competence in both of these areas.
Middle School Social Studies
A complete middle school social studies curriculum typically covers lessons that prepare them for their high school education and beyond. Social studies for middle schoolers bridges the foundational information they’ve learned in elementary school with the increasingly complex information they’ll encounter later on. Topics in middle school social studies include:
- American history
- Government, civics, and economics
- World geography
- Migration, exploration, colonization, and slavery
- Wars, political divisions, and alliances
- Ancient civilizations to the modern world
6th Grade Social Studies Curriculum
Sixth grade social studies often connects what students have learned in fifth grade to the analytical skills they’ll need in middle school. Miacademy addresses these needs by offering lessons about:
- United States capitals
- American landmarks
- How prices are set
- Products, services, and goods
- Early US history
7th Grade Social Studies Curriculum
Students in the seventh grade generally combine their growing understanding of American systems with the diversity of geographies and cultures from around the world, including how they have interacted with each other over time. In Miacademy’s curriculum, for example, students learn about:
- Spanish colonization of the Americas
- European countries and capitals
- Oceania and Antarctica
- Asia and Africa
- The reasons and consequences of the world wars
8th Grade social studies Curriculum
By the time students reach the eighth grade, they can feel like they have conquered another stage in their educational journey, even as they look toward beginning again in high school. A common goal of eighth grade social studies is to ensure that students have the investigation and analysis skills they will need once they enter ninth grade. Miacademy supports this goal by offering lesson plans that discuss:
- World geography activities and quizzes
- Ancient histories, such as Egyptian, Greek, Mesopotamian civilizations
- The Revolutionary War
- The Declaration of Independence
- Slavery and the Civil War
Miacademy’s Middle School Social Studies Curriculum
Our social studies lessons are designed to be as flexible as you need them to be. We believe that homeschool students learn best when parents can adapt their curriculum to a variety of learning needs and lifestyles. Each of our lessons gives you the room to include your own experiences, connections, and resources. Instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach, we strive to offer a one-stop shop for you and your child.
We have dozens of social studies lessons that span 6th through 8th grade, and we’re adding more all the time! Our lessons include engaging videos, fun activities, games, and helpful PDFs. Students can get the support they need with read-aloud features, non-timed tests and more. You are also able to reassign any lesson if your child needs extra practice.
Additionally, supplementing your current social studies with ours enables you to apply learning in fun, engaging ways. You can use our site to allow them to move ahead or slow down where your main curriculum will not. This empowers your child to take on a new challenge when they’re ready, and gives them the time they need to build their confidence in any subject. Plus, our community offers many fun ways for your child to apply their learning.
Our curriculum is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Schools – Western Association for Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC). Miacademy’s accredited middle school courses are designated as a Supplementary Education Program, indicating that they meet the high standards for educational quality in a homeschool or distance-learning program. Our resources and lesson quality can also contribute to reaching state and federal standards, such as the C3 Framework for Social Studies.
Middle School Social Studies Resources
There are many exciting ways to integrate your child’s interests into history lessons! Here are some great resources you could also explore with your child:
- National Archives – Students can use this website to search genealogy records, investigate their heritage, and read foundational documents of the United States.
- National Museum of African American History and Culture – This Smithsonian museum’s website provides a wealth of videos, lesson plans, and valuable stories that celebrate and recognize African American history
- TeachRock – This searchable collection offers a huge selection of music-related lesson plans that combine historical and cultural events with the music that was influenced by them.
Contact one of our friendly customer service representatives to hear about how Miacademy’s middle school social studies curriculum can benefit you!