Thomas Jefferson Middle School

Today We Learn, Tomorrow We Lead

Social Studies

“The primary purpose of social studies is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.”

                                               -National Council of the Social Studies

                

Edison Township Middle School Social Studies

Our Vision 

The Edison Township Middle School Social Studies Department is passionate about supporting students as they develop into engaged, empathetic, and creative thinkers who are prepared to take an active role in our global society by facilitating the development of thematic and conceptual understandings through thoughtful analysis of significant geographic, political, cultural, and economic developments of the past, as well as recognizing how the impacts of each continue to affect us today.
 

Our Mission

  • To assist our diverse student population in seeing the world from multiple perspectives, while cultivating their own personal views and understanding of their impact on/place in their local and larger communities

  • To foster knowledge of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Social Studies, which connect to the geographic, political, cultural, and economic developments across our world throughout history 

  • To nurture the development of the literacy skills necessary to become thoughtful, engaged, and civic-minded members of society through the incorporation of the companion NJ-SLS ELA standards for reading, writing, and speaking/listening in history, as well as the 2020 NJ-SLS for Career Readiness, Life Literacies, and Key Skills - including Financial Literacy and Digital Citizenship

  • To employ the different tools and techniques necessary for  critical thought, analysis, and self-expression

Current Curriculum Guides

6th Grade:  Our American Stories

7th Grade: Recurring Themes in World History

8th Grade: Civics: Understanding Our Developing Roles

Grading Policy

Major Assessments (45%)

Including, but not limited to:  In-depth inquiries, unit assessments, research projects, long-term projects, process writing/Full CERs

 

Minor Assessments (35%)

Including, but not limited to:  unit/project checkpoints, short-term projects, abbreviated CERs, on-demand writing

 

Classwork (15%)

Including, but not limited to:  work towards lesson/project goals, partial CERs (i.e., as exit tickets or warm-ups), collaborative and independent work

Extended Learning (5%)

Including, but not limited to: engaging with materials to develop questions to extend learning , clarify understanding, complete the day’s goal, and/or prepare for the next day’s learning