MYP Year 3 Humanities - Le Jardin Academy

MYP Year 3
Humanities
Ms. Julia Fahey
Room 310
julia.fahey@lejardinacademy.org
(808) 261-0707 x 3050
American history is a compilation of compelling people, their stories and their
accomplishments. This course balances the idealistic nature of nationhood with the realities
of struggle and inequity. While students come to terms with these challenging issues, they
are expected to use historical figures as role models and rise up to be strong leaders in their
grade, school and community.
2011 – 2012 Scope and Sequence
All Unit Dates are projected and may be subject to change.
Unit 1: Introduction to United States Geography Unit Dates: Mid-August- Early September
Unit Question: Where is it?
Area of Interaction: Approaches to Learning
Content
-United States Geography
One cannot learn history without understanding a place’s geography. For this
reason, MYP 3 students start the year with an intense geography orientation and
review. This unit is facilitated through a game called Geography Baseball. Students
complete daily geographic challenges and then collaborate with teammates to work
their way around our classroom baseball field.
Summative Assessment Tasks
Regions Rap (Criterion D)
Unit Test and Post-Test at end of school year (Criterion A)
Unit 2: Three Worlds Meet
Unit Dates: Early-September- Mid-October
Unit Question: How is the combination of cultures both creative and destructive?
Area of Interaction: Human Ingenuity
Content
-Early Exploration
-Colonization
-Slave Trade
In the 1400’s, brave people crossed uncharted waters to find new trade routes and
discover their destiny. From here, the world was changed forever. People from
Europe, Africa and the Americas were sharing their lives together for the first time as
some sought their fortune, some became enslaved and some were conquered.
Students will examine the time in history when these three worlds met.
Summative Assessment Tasks
Opposing Viewpoints RAFT (Criterion C)

Unit 3: The Early Colonies
Unit Dates: Mid-October – Mid-November
Unit Question: What makes a healthy community?
Area of Interaction: Health and Social
Content
-Early Colonies
The American identity was initially shaped by the early settlers and Native Americans.
As colonies developed, the identity solidified into three major regions-the New
England colonies, the Middle Colonies and the Southern Colonies. Traditions and
values of the Old World merged with geographic realities of the New World to create
uniquely “American” cultures.
Summative Assessment Tasks
Early Colonies Circlebooks (Criterion B)
Unit Test (Criterion A)
Unit 4: The Revolutionary War
Unit Dates: Mid-Nov – Mid-Feb
Unit Question: How does media communication change a society?
Area of Interaction: Community and Service
Content
- The Revolutionary War
Students will learn why Patriot colonists imperiled “their lives, their fortunes, their
sacred honor” for the sake of principle. Like any revolution, this time period was
riddled with opposing voices struggling to be heard. Colonists were wild with
rebellion, news was spreading rapidly and change was inevitable.
Summative Assessment Tasks
Revolutionary War Newspaper (Criterion C)
Unit Test (Criterion A)
Unit 5: Creating a Nation
Unit Dates: Mid-Feb – Early-April
Unit Question: Is healthy leadership required for a healthy society?
Area of Interaction: Health and Social
Content
-US Constitution: history and current applications.
Students will use three provocative resources to bring this document to life-TCI: The
Constitution in a New Nation, Democracy in Action and We the People. Eighth graders
will work in small groups to apply their knowledge of the Constitution to current
events (Congressional Hearing) and as a class make a plan that will affect policy
change in their community (Project Citizen). At the end of this unit, students will
understand their crucial role in our country’s government.
Summative Assessment Tasks
Congressional Hearing (Criterion B, C)
Project Citizen (Criterion D)
Unit 6: A Nation Divided
Unit Dates: Early-April – May
Unit Question: How do people determine what is “right”?
Area of Interaction: Human Ingenuity
Content
-Westward Movement
-Civil War

-Native American issues
As the physical area of the United States spread, people needed to shift their
locations, beliefs and ideologies. Issues over land affected all inhabitants of the
Americas from land owners to Native Americans to slaves. Native Americans were
forced west, new states were forced to make decisions regarding slavery and
American citizens could choose to move to new and far-away locations. While the
country grappled with westward expansion and civil war, Americans were tasked
with balancing their own ambitions with what doing what was right. Each eighth
grade class will analyze real historical figures more deeply through a series of
simulated trials. In their examination of the dilemmas of historical figures, students
will see that it is not always easy to do what is “right”.
Summative Assessment Tasks
Historical Trial Simulations (Criteria B, D)
Unit Test (Criterion A)