Addressing The Academic Content Standards

The 8th Grade State Standards for Government require us to help students understand why government is necessary and how it works. Being in our nation’s capital, touring historic government buildings, and seeing national artifacts will allow history to come alive in the minds of our students. Our 8th grade curriculum ends with a study of the Civil War. The State Standards require us to help students understand the causes and consequences of the Civil War with a focus on Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Battle of Gettysburg. Students will understand the realities of war more clearly by standing on the actual battlefield of historic Gettysburg while learning facts presented by trained tour guides.  Students will be able to describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts utilizing informational text. Students will draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research with their scavenger hunt.

Every student going on the trip must complete an on-site research scavenger hunt that fulfills multiple state standards.  Prior to the trip, trip advisors will explain the on-site research scavenger hunt. Each student will be assigned a list of required on-site locations to provide images and explanations delving into United States History and Government.  All trip chaperones will gather the scavenger hunts, grade for completeness and turn in to the History teachers.