8th grade Social Studies: how to help at home
What your child learns in 8th grade social studies in the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, and simple things to try at home.
Focus areas this year
- Theme: Global Studies
- Governments, economies and human rights around the world
- Population, migration and cities
- Global trade and beliefs
Easy ways to practice social studies at home
- Follow a current event together and ask who is affected and why people see it differently.
- Build a timeline of a family event or a historical topic they are studying.
- Use an atlas or online map to trace a trade or travel route.
- Ask “Whose voice is missing from this story?” when reading about the past.
What each unit covers
Human Rights Around the World
Practices what human rights are and looks at selected examples of human rights issues around the world.
World Beliefs
Where and when major religions and philosophies began (Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Christianity, Islam), their key figures, texts and ideas, described respectfully and factually.
Maps, Graphs & Data
Reading map scales and legends, choropleth maps, scatter graphs and correlation (and why correlation does not prove cause), and what population pyramids say about a country's age and growth. The data in the questions are made up for practice.
Forms of Government
Practices the main forms of government around the world (democracies and republics, monarchies, dictatorships and others), what a constitution does, and how the US system compares with other countries' systems.
Economies & Global Trade
Practices traditional, command, market and mixed economies, what GDP and economic growth measure, why countries trade, and how consumer, producer and government choices affect society.
Population & Migration
Practices how populations change, urbanization, cultural diffusion and diasporas, push and pull factors in migration, and the immigrant and refugee communities who have made Minnesota home since the 1950s.
The World Since 1945
Practices the world since World War II: the United Nations and human rights, independence movements and the challenges of new nations, the end of apartheid, the Cold War and its end, alliances, and how media and technology connect cultures.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Beginning
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Minnesota report card guide.
Common questions
Follow a current event together and ask who is affected and why people see it differently. Build a timeline of a family event or a historical topic they are studying. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards 8th grade social studies units include Human Rights Around the World, World Beliefs, Maps, Graphs & Data, Forms of Government, Economies & Global Trade, Population & Migration.
Free printable 8th grade social studies practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.