The 8th grade social studies curriculum at Southern Lehigh Middle School is divided into four general areas of emphasis. The first marking period is devoted to an in-depth study of the Origins of US Government. Lessons range from exploration of the reasons underpinning the apparent human need for community and higher levels of existence to the history and philosophies which contributed to the establishment of our current Republic. The neatest part of the first marking period is a strategic simulation that I've created. This simulation deals with the history and issues that led the 13 colonies to seek independence from Great Britain.
The second marking period sees students embarking on an exploration of the Republic's "Ship of State", the Constitution. Among the exciting things done in the course of our study of the Constitution is a mock Constitutional Convention. Students play the role of the delegates and create from scratch a full-blown Constitution of their own. Our students take this very seriously. The debate and interaction with the issues that shape this "Bundle of Compromises" makes for quite a learning experience. This creation is a learning experience in the making, because at every point comparisons are made with the actual Constitution. Some awesome ideas have come out of this process! In addition to the mock convention students also participate in the Docendo Discimus Unit-[L] for "we learn by teaching." Yes, all students are given a part of the basic workings of the Federal Government to create a lesson plan and teach the rest of the class. Working closely with students in small group instruction during this time leads to outstanding lessons and is an invaluable experience for our students.
The third marking period is often the one, that, even years down the line, students never forget. When students come back to visit me at the Middle School they seem to always talk fondly about this part of the year. An intensive study of the Bill of Rights and the other Constitutional Amendments leads naturally into a unit on criminal and civil law. Students are subjected to a series of case studies which allows me to determine where individual students will best fit in when we turn my classroom into a courtroom and conduct a mock criminal trial. The outcome of the trial is not in any way predetermined and a jury from outside of my classes is selected. Students in all of my classes are plugged into the trial process as everything from the District Attorney to the Court Recorder. Each of my four sections has a DA which decides, independently of the other sections, what charges to bring against the accused after about one week of pre-trial investigation, interviews, evidence gathering and practice. This past year, the accused, a Bloomsburg University student by the name of Tobias Drexler, faced various charges in the mysterious death of Woody Cossen.
The fourth marking period is devoted exclusively to the study of economics. Emphasis is placed on the practical, including: How a credit card works and how to use it properly; how to buy or lease an automobile and what the difference is; how different types of home mortgages work; how the stock and bond market works; helpfull hints for consumers. This is a partial list of the many topics covered during the last marking period. The final project for the year emphasizes entrepreneurship. Students chose their partners, come up with an original saleable concept and create a display.
All of my Social Studies sections will also partake in a series of political debates and discussion forums. This is a quarterly enrichment course that all students will be cycled through. This graded course functions as an addendum to the regular 8th grade Social Studies curriculum. Students are teamed up and go head to head on the vital issues of our time. The others who are not in front of the class on a particular day are required to participate by asking questions of both sides.
Contact Information
If you have any questions for Mr. Orr please feel free to contact him at the Middle School. The best time to reach Mr. Orr is 8:30 to 10:00 during the morning hours and between 2:30 to 3:00 afternoons.