Classroom Highlights
8th Grade Summer Independent Reading
Students are to have read the loaned book, My Brother Sam is Dead by James L. Collier & Christopher Collier, by the start of the school year.
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There will be an assessment to check for overall learning of the historical content.
A study guide will be provided to all students prior to the assessment.
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Replacement costs apply for lost or damaged books.
Clean Classroom
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Donated boxed tissues and/or wipes for the classroom are greatly appreciated.
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Hand sanitizer is provided as supplies last.
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Desktops are regularly cleaned & sanitized.
What is an Enduring Issue Essay?
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Parents are invited to attend a workshop focused on Enduring Issue essays and other Social Studies writing assignments that students will be assigned.
An overview of types of writing assignments and expectations will be discussed.
Parents will learn the instructional strategies used in class as means to help support their student's writing.
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Enduring Issue Essays:
A Parent's Night
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Date: XXX
Time: XXX
Location: XXX
Social Studies Textbook
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Students are directed to keep their loaned Social Studies Textbook at home and to complete unit readings as assigned.
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Parents, you should see your students reading their textbooks at home.
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Unit textbook readings for the current unit of study is listed on the website.
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Replacement costs apply for lost/damaged textbooks...Brand new texts cost $75.00!
Study Guides
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Prior to all unit vocab & summative assessments, students will receive a study guide for their review.
Students will be directed to review their completed guided notes as their study guide for Mid-Unit Content Quizzes.
What Materials
Should Students Keep Organized?
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Students should keep all guided notes, study guides, quizzes, and tests in preparation for the final exam.
Mr. Lecce's
Candy Bucket
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Students are at times rewarded with candy.
Candy given to students may include: Tootsie Rolls, Bubble Gum, Skittles, M&Ms, Starburst & Lollipops.
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Candy containing any nuts and/or peanut butter will NOT be given to students.
Stay-After
with Mr. Lecce
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Students are welcome to stay-after school with Mr. Lecce on Mon., Wed., and Thurs. to:
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Review learned content material
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Complete any homework, owed classwork & make-up missed assessments
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Receive support & feedback on writing assignments & projects
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Buy-Back an absence/missed class
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Discuss current events
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Please note - Due to other commitments, Mr. Lecce may NOT always be available after-school.
Students should confirm with Mr. Lecce before planning on staying after-school.
8th Grade
Social Studies
Final Exam
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The Final Exam consists of 3 parts:
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Vocabulary
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Multiple-Choice/Short Answer
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Thematic Essay
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The Final Exam will be given over a series of class days in early June 2020.
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A study guide for the Final Exam will be given to students.
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The Final Exam is weighted at 20% of the students final course grade.
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Parent/Teacher
Communication
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Please contact Mr. Lecce via email or phone with questions and/or concerns.
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Contact information is listed at the bottom of each of the site's webpages.
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Email is the quickest way to contact Mr. Lecce.
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Should the need for Mr. Lecce to contact parents via phone - calls to parents will be made between 3-7pm.
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Suggested
Student Materials
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Tabbed 3-Ring Binder: Notes, Study Guides, Quizzes, Tests
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Blue or Black Pens*
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Durable Pocket Folder*
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USB (students are urged to save & back-up their written work)
*Required
Classroom Highlights
Grade 8 History of the United States and New York State II
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The NYS Grade 8 Social Studies Framework Curriculum is arranged chronologically and incorporates geography as well as economic, social, and political trends.
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The course content is divided into Key Ideas, tracing the human experience in the United States from Reconstruction until modern times, with a focus on the people, events, and places in New York State as applicable.
Grade 8 Unit Key Ideas:
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Unit 1: The Reconstruction Era - Regional tensions following the Civil War complicated efforts to heal the nation and to redefine the status of African Americans. (Quarter 1)
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Unit 2: The Progressive Era - Industrialization and immigration contributed to the urbanization of America. Problems resulting from these changes sparked the Progressive movement and increased calls for reform. (Quarter 1)
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Unit 3: US Expansion & Imperialism - Beginning in the second half of the 19th century, economic, political, and cultural factors contributed to a push for westward expansion and more aggressive United States foreign policy. (Quarter 1)
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Unit 4: World War I - Various diplomatic, economic, and ideological factors contributed to the United States decision to enter World War I. Involvement in the war significantly altered the lives of Americans. (Quarter 2)
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Unit 5: The Roaring Twenties - Postwar America was characterized by economic prosperity, technological innovations, and changes in the workplace. (Quarter 2)
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Unit 6: The Great Depression - Economic and environmental disasters in the 1930s created hardships for many Americans. Amidst much debate about the appropriate role of government, President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped to create intensive government interventions in the United States economy and society. (Quarter 2)
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Unit 7: World War II / The Holocaust - The aggression of the Axis powers threatened United States security and led to its entry into World War II. The nature and consequences of warfare during World War II transformed the United States and the global community. The damage from total warfare and atrocities such as the Holocaust led to a call for international efforts to protect human rights and prevent future wars. (Quarter 3)
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Unit 8: The Cold War Era - The period after World War II has been characterized by an ideological and political struggle, first between the United States and communism during the Cold War, then between the United States and forces of instability in the Middle East. (Quarter 3)
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Unit 9: The Civil Rights Movement - The civil rights movement and the Great Society were attempts by people and the government to address major social, legal, economic, and environmental problems. Subsequent economic recession called for a new economic program. (Quarter 4)
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Unit 10: Modern America - After World War II, the population of the United States rose sharply as a result of both natural increases and immigration. Population movements have resulted in changes to the American landscape and shifting political power. Increased economic interdependence and competition, terrorism, as well as environmental concerns, are challenges faced by the United States. (Quarter 4)
Current Unit of Study: Unit 7 - World War II & the Holocaust
Unit Vocabulary:
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Totalitarianism
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Fascism
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Nazi
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Appeasement
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Internment
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D-Day
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Genocide
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Holocaust
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Manhattan Project
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Atom Bomb
Unit Textbook Readings:
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Chapter 26: World War II
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Section 1 – The War Begins, page 804
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Section 2 – The Home Front, page 810
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Section 3 – War in Europe & North Africa, page 815
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Section 4 - War in the Pacific, page 820
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Section 5 - Victory & Consequences, page 825
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In-Class Enduring Issue Essay:
None at this time
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Guest Speaker: Holocaust Survivor - Mr. Ivan Vamos
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Unit 7: World War II & the Holocaust - Tentatively Planned Assessment/Due Dates:
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Checks for Understanding: Ongoing
Vocabulary Quiz: TBD
Mid-Unit Content Quiz: TBD
WWI Propaganda Poster Project: TBD
Unit 7 Test: TBD
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Mr. Lecce's Classroom Guidelines & Policies
Classroom Guidelines:
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All students are expected to Be Prepared, Be Here & Ready to Learn, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful.
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These classroom guidelines will be discussed and practiced during the first weeks of school and will be further supported by procedures all year long.
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The result from following classroom guidelines is a safe, positive, engaging, and stress-free learning environment for all students!
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Classroom Policies:
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All Germantown Central School District policies, & procedures will be followed & adhered to in the classroom.
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If a student is absent from class, it is the student’s responsibility to collect any missed classwork and homework when the student returns to school.
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Classwork and homework missed due to absence will be graded at full credit if completed and submitted appropriately on time.
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If a student missed an assessment due to an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to schedule to take the missed assessment during a study hall or after school as soon as possible following the student’s return to school.​
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Late writing assignments/projects are subject to a deduction in points for every day late, up to 5 days. Upon the 6th day late, the writing assignment/project may not be accepted for credit.
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Students found cheating &/or plagiarizing may receive no credit for the assignment/assessment, be assigned a teacher detention, and/or be referred to the Principal.
Mr. Lecce's 8th Grade Social Studies Grading Policies
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A student's quarterly grade will be calculated using a weighted-average system.
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Quarterly grade components and weights are listed below.
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A student's final course grade will be calculated using a weighted-average system.
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Each quarter and the Final Exam are weighted at 20%.
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Writing assignments/projects will be graded using a criteria-defined assessment rubric.
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Students, upon their own initiative, may improve a writing assignment and/or classwork grade by: meeting with Mr. Lecce to discuss the student's writing/classwork, and/or revising/rewriting the assignment.
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Extra Credit assignments & opportunities may be available to students throughout the year.
Student Quarterly Grade Components/Weights
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Homework – 10%
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Unit Vocabulary Definitions
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Guided Reading & Response Tasks
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"Lecce's Weekly" Review Assignments
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Other as assigned
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Writing Assignments/Projects – 30%
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Graphic Organizers
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Document Analysis Tasks
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Thematic/DBQ/Enduring Issue Essays
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Special Projects
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Other as assigned
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Classwork – 20%
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Bellringer/Exit Slips
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Collaborative Learning Tasks
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Independent Learning Tasks
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Other as assigned
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Assessments – 40%
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Unit Vocabulary Quizzes
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Mid-Unit Content Quizzes
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Unit Tests
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Other as assigned
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8th Grade Field Trip - American Roots Project
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The American Roots Project is a lesson on US Immigration, involving 8th grade Social Studies students.
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The lesson will conclude with a visit to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration/Statue of Liberty OR the Tenement Museum, both located in New York City.
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Supported by the Social Studies curriculum, students will explore and learn the history of US immigration ranging from the Reconstruction Era through Present-day.
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Special emphasis will be placed on US immigration from 1850 to 1930, as well as the design, function, and significance of the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island Immigration Station.
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Students may also research and learn the political, social, economic, and cultural characteristics of one of the many nations that many present-day immigrants to the US migrate from.
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Depending on received financial support, students may be asked to contribute towards ticket/travel costs.
Anticipated Date of Field Trip: Thursday, May 7, 2020
Mr. Lecce's Use of Multimedia in the Classroom
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As different topics, ideas, concepts, historical and current events are studied in class, various forms of multimedia are used to support, promote, and enrich understanding, engagement, and inquiry.
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Any multimedia resource used in the classroom is carefully considered before student viewing or use for appropriateness, content material relevancy, degree of bias, and overall historical accuracy.
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Some multimedia resources depict historically accurate & relevant content material which may include: battlefield action, violence/gore, profane language, discrimination, racial issues, genocide, social unrest, and opposing contemporary political, social, and economic viewpoints.
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Sensitive consideration is given when selecting multimedia resources used to enrich the study of the Holocaust.
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Common multimedia resources used in the classroom are: BrainPop.com, Kahoot.com, History.com, Castlelearning.com, The History Channel's Series: America - The Story of Us, YouTube's Mr. Betts Class, and various clips from YouTube, TeacherTube, documentaries, and feature films.
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If you have any questions or concerns about the use of these types of multimedia resources, please contact Mr. Lecce by email or directly at the school.