sst1-Overview

**Grade 8 - Social Studies Overview**

 * [|Internet site to support our text]: //Exploring Our World: People, Places, and Cultures//
 * Check out the [|Site Map] for quizzes, puzzles, games, etc.
 * [|Study Central] **is the best online tool for our textbook.**
 * [|Spotlight Videos] | [|btw-blog] | [|weblinks]
 * Internet site to support [|our history text]: //Journey Across Time -// [|pdf textbook]
 * Mr. Diener's [|YouTube playlist for SSt-Overview]


 * Mapping**
 * [|Geography Online Games] - gain a mental map of the world's continents, countries, capitals and landscapes | //Use this site to study for map tests//.
 * [|National Geographic Education]
 * [|Printable 1-Page Maps] - helpful for student projects, handouts, and SMART Board
 * [|MapMaker Interactive] - explore the world with themes, data, etc. for online or SMART Board use
 * [|MapMaker Kit] - download, print, and assemble maps of various sizes (from tabletop maps to mega maps)
 * [|Graphic organizers] for social studies
 * [|David Rumsey Map Collection] - online historical map collection

Chapter 1: The World - Using Geography Skills

 * How do I study geography?**
 * [|Five Themes of Geography]
 * [|Practice Test on Five Themes, Maps, and Globe Skills]
 * [|The Six Essential Elements of Geography]
 * [|U.S. National Geography Standards] - benchmarks for studying geography


 * World Geography**
 * [|KidsGeo.com] - //Geography for Kids//: nice site to learn/review the basics of geography (map projections, atmosphere, biomes, cycles, earth in space, atmosphere, hydrosphere)
 * [|The Five Themes of Geography] - location | place | human-environment interaction | movement | region
 * [|Interactive Geography Glossary] - Quiz yourself on types of landforms and bodies of water.

Chapter 2: The World - Earth's Physical Geography

 * The Earth in Space**
 * Spotlight Video: [|Ch1 - Sec 2 The Earth in Space]
 * Geoscience Animations: [|Earth-Sun Relations]
 * Maps in Motion: [|The Sun and Earth's Seasons] | See also, [|Seasons and Ecliptic Simulator]
 * USGS: [|Understanding plate motions] | See also, [|Map showing the Earth's Plates]
 * Click here for help with the //Crustal Plate Model// activity: [[file:mtsd-ls8/major-plate-boundaries.jpg|major-plate-boundaries.jpg]]
 * PBS: [|Japan's Killer Quake] (start the video at 12:00, 40:00, and 47:00)
 * [|Climate Zones of the World]
 * [|Topography of the Ocean Floor] - Study the illustration of features found under the ocean.
 * [|Water Science for Schools] - Explore the physical and chemical properties of water as well as why water is vital for supporting life on earth.

Chapter 3: The World - Earth's Human and and Cultural Geography

 * Population**
 * The [|Population topics] and concepts at this site are excellent.
 * National Geographic - [|7 Billion]: A special series in 2011 - By the end of October 2011, it is estimated that the worldwide population will exceed 7 billion people.
 * [|Video]: [|7 Billion] | [|How Big Is 7 Billion?] | [|Are You Typical?] | [|Food for Thought] | [|World Party] |
 * Photos: [|7 Billion Photo Gallery]
 * BBC: [|Interactive map of Urbanization]
 * PRB (Population Reference Bureau) [|DataFinder]
 * Population Pyramid: What is a [|population pyramid]? | [|Population Pyramid of the World] |
 * [|Ten Fastest Growing Economies] - interactive of the top ten economies ranked by size or growth rate

**Economy (Developing Country / Newly Industrialized Country / Developed Country)**

 * **Intro**: Read this ( [|Page 1] - [|Page 2] ) to understand the //health care// differences between developed and developing countries. This site has excellent explanations of population topics. Note: be sure to compare/contrast this information with the [|Developed and Developing Countries] (Economies and Trade) section in our textbook.
 * [|CIA World Factbook] - (Excellent narrative overviews of **People and Society** and **Economy** as well as lists of worthwhile data.) This is perhaps the most widely used site produced by the US government with accurate information about countries around the world.
 * [|The World Bank: Data] - (**CO 2 Emissions** and other charts) This site explains economic concepts along with visual representations of data.
 * [|NationMaster] - (Juxtapose two countries) Explore the navigation bar at the top of the homepage for additional data about your country.
 * [|International Data Base (IDB)] at the US Census Bureau - (**Population Pyramid**) To see more information at this site, click [|here].
 * Google Public Data Explorer: [|World Development Indicators] (**Economy**, **People**, **Health Care**, etc.) To see more information at this site, click [|here].
 * [|Background Notes] - This site from the US State Department includes up-to-date information about countries and their current situation.
 * [|World By Map] - Offers statistical information in map and chart form.
 * [|Unicef Country Statistics] - Data primarily related to health and education by country.


 * Other Helpful Sites with Data and Information about Countries of the World**
 * BBC News - [|Country Profiles] - information on history, politics, and economy from a news/current events perspective.
 * [|Factmonster.com] - countries, geography, facts, stats, timelines, etc.
 * [|Gapminder] - a site to help visualize data about countries of the world
 * [|GeoHive] - statistics about population, geopolitical data, and economic statistics
 * [|Infoplease] - web-based almanac of factual information
 * National Geographic: [|EarthPulse] : Maps and Global Trends
 * [|DK Eyewitness Travel Guides] - use this site throughout the year for great information and photos.
 * [|World Clock] - continuously updated global data
 * [|World Meters] - continuously updated global data with links to more detailed statistics by country.
 * [|LS IMC Reference Shelf] - links to additional sites with great information.

More Mapping

 * National Geographic MapMaker Interactive
 * [|1-Page Maps]
 * [|World Physical MapMaker Kit]
 * [|Asia MapMaker Kit]
 * [|MapMaker Interactive for the SMART Board]
 * Google Maps
 * [|Click here] for YouTube videos about Google Maps.
 * [|Click here for Google Maps Help.]
 * [|Click here to view and add maps made by others.]
 * [|Map Projection Poster] from the USGS and [|WikiGIS] (map projections)
 * Map of the World - [|Shaded Relief] - interactive map of the world powered by Google Maps
 * National Geographic - [|Xpeditions Atlas] - maps made for printing and copying
 * Univ of Texas: [|World Maps] - Age Structure | Megacities | World Water Availability | Water Scarcity | See also, Thematic > Population
 * Map projections: [|Types of Maps and Projections] | [|Unfolding the Earth] | [|G.Projector]
 * Visualize the World
 * [|FlashEarth] - satellite and aerial imagery of the earth
 * [|GeoGames] - build planet Earth; map countries and cities
 * National Geographic - [|Travel: Countries] - photos from around the world

History

 * This Day in History: [|History.com] | [|World History International] |
 * World History: [|HyperHistory Online] - people, history, events, maps
 * Timeline of World Religions: [|Eastern] | [|Western]
 * Online timeline sites: [|Timetoast] |

**Folk music by John McCutcheon**
 * //Intro// - [|Calling All the Children Home] | [|Greatest Story Never Told] | [|Immigrant] | [|Step by Step]
 * //Middle East// - [|Children of Abraham]
 * //Africa// - [|Stole and Sold from Africa] | [|Know When to Move]
 * //Europe// - [|Christmas in the Trenches]
 * //Latin America// - [|Caught in the Crossfire] | [|No Mas!] | [|Santiago]
 * //September 11// - [|Follow the Light] | [|Not in My Name]
 * //Black History Month// (February) - [|One in a Million] | [|Travelin' in the Wilderness]


 * Social Studies Essential Questions**

3. How have people and cultures adapted throughout time in order to meet individual and group needs? How have people transmitted their culture from one generation to the next?
 * __Major themes to consider__: The role of individuals in their society, leadership in the world throughout history, adaptations and changes in society due to environmental and historical events and their impact on daily living

4. How has the imbalance that exists between unlimited wants and limited available resources challenged societies and created choices, basic economic problems and global conflict?
 * __Major themes to consider__: Issues on world environment, revolutions, economic theories, global interdependence, global responsibility, global unrest and conflicts, morality and ethics, five themes of geography

5. How have differing values and opposing goals resulted in disagreements, tensions, and sometimes violence throughout history? How do lessons learned about conflict, coexistence, and resolution influence society today?
 * __Major themes to consider__: Understanding values, their impact, how they differ between cultures and individuals, and how they may or may not change over time