Correlations to New Jersey’s Course of Study
Module I
8000 years of American Prehistory
Grades 5-8:
Standard 6.1: (Social Studies Skills) All students will utilize historical thinking, problem solving, and research skills to maximize their understanding of civics, history, geography, and economics.
A. Social Studies Skills
1. Analyze how events are related over time.
2. Use critical thinking skills to interpret events, recognize bias, point of view, and context.
3. Assess the credibility of primary and secondary sources.
4. Analyze data in order to see persons and events in context.
8. Compare and contrast competing interpretations of current and historical events.
9. Interpret events considering continuity and change, the role of chance, oversight and error, and changing interpretations by historians.
11. Summarize information in written, graphic, and oral formats.
Standard 6.4: (United States and New Jersey History) All students will demonstrate knowledge of United States and New Jersey history in order to understand life and events in the past and how they relate to the present and future.
A. Family and Community Life
1. Discuss how families long ago expressed and transmitted their beliefs and values through oral tradition, literature, songs, and celebrations.
Module II
From Forest to Farm and Back Again
Grades 5-8:
Standard 6.1: (Social Studies Skills) All students will utilize historical thinking, problem solving, and research skills to maximize their understanding of civics, history, geography, and economics.
A. Social Studies Skills:
5. Examine current issues, events, or themes and relate them to past events.
11. Summarize information in written, graphic, and oral formats.
Standard 6.5 (Economics) All students will acquire an understanding of key economic principles.
B. Economics and Society:
3. Discuss how societies have been affected by industrialization and by different political and economic philosophies.
Standard 6.6 (Geography) All students will apply knowledge of spatial relationships and other geographic skills to understand human behavior in relation to the physical and cultural environment.
B. Places and Regions
2. Describe how regions change over time.
D. Human Systems:
1. Discuss how technology affects the ways in which people perceive and use places and regions.
4. Analyze the patterns of settlement in different urban regions of the world.
Module III
Fueling the Fires of American Industrialization
Grades 5-8:
Standard 6.1: (Social Studies Skills) All students will utilize historical thinking, problem solving, and research skills to maximize their understanding of civics, history, geography, and economics.
A. Social Studies Skills:
5. Examine current issues, events, or themes and relate them to past events.
11. Summarize information in written, graphic, and oral formats.
Standard 6.4: (United States and New Jersey History) All students will demonstrate knowledge of United States and New Jersey history in order to understand life and events in the past and how they relate to the present and future.
B. State and Nation:
5. Identify and discuss major scientific discoveries and inventions, the scientists and inventors who developed them, and their impact on life today.
Standard 6.5 (Economics) All students will acquire an understanding of key economic principles.
B. Economics and Society:
3. Discuss how societies have been affected by industrialization and by different political and economic philosophies.
4. Describe how inventions and innovations have improved standards of living over the course of history.
Standard 6.6 (Geography) All students will apply knowledge of spatial relationships and other geographic skills to understand human behavior in relation to the physical and cultural environment.
D. Human Systems:
1. Discuss how technology affects the ways in which people perceive and use places and regions.
E. Environment and Society:
1. Discuss the environmental impacts or intended and unintended consequences of major technological changes.
Module IV
From Arbor Day to Earth Day
Grades 5-8:
Standard 6.1: (Social Studies Skills) All students will utilize historical thinking, problem solving, and research skills to maximize their understanding of civics, history, geography, and economics.
A. Social Studies Skills:
1. Analyze how events are related over time.
5. Examine current issues, events, or themes and relate them to past events.
11. Summarize information in written, graphic, and oral formats.
Standard 6.2 (Civics) All students will know, understand and appreciate the values and principles of American democracy and the rights, responsibilities, and roles of a citizen in the nation and the world.
A. Civic Life, Politics, and Government:
6. Explain how non-governmental organizations influence legislation and policies at the federal, state, and local levels.
Standard 6.6 (Geography) All students will apply knowledge of spatial relationships and other geographic skills to understand human behavior in relation to the physical and cultural environment.
E. Environment and Society:
2. Analyze the impact of various human activities and social policies on the natural environment and describe how humans have attempted to solve environmental problems through adaptation and modification.
Module V
A New Profession Takes Seed
Grades 5-8:
Standard 6.1: (Social Studies Skills) All students will utilize historical thinking, problem solving, and research skills to maximize their understanding of civics, history, geography, and economics.
A. Social Studies Skills:
5. Examine current issues, events, or themes and relate them to past events.
11. Summarize information in written, graphic, and oral formats.
Standard 6.2 (Civics) All students will know, understand and appreciate the values and principles of American democracy and the rights, responsibilities, and roles of a citizen in the nation and the world.
A. Civic Life, Politics, and Government:
5. Discuss examples of domestic policies and agencies that impact American lives.
Standard 6.5 (Economics) All students will acquire an understanding of key economic principles.
B. Economics and Society:
5. Compare and contrast various careers, examining educational requirements and costs, salary and benefits, longevity, impact on society and the economy, and demand.
Module VI
From Forest to Farm to Urban Forest
Grades 5-8:
Standard 6.1: (Social Studies Skills) All students will utilize historical thinking, problem solving, and research skills to maximize their understanding of civics, history, geography, and economics.
A. Social Studies Skills:
5. Examine current issues, events, or themes and relate them to past events.
11. Summarize information in written, graphic, and oral formats.
Standard 6.5 (Economics) All students will acquire an understanding of key economic principles.
B. Economics and Society:
3. Discuss how societies have been affected by industrialization and by different political and economic philosophies.
Standard 6.6 (Geography) All students will apply knowledge of spatial relationships and other geographic skills to understand human behavior in relation to the physical and cultural environment.
B. Places and Regions:
2. Describe how regions change over time.
D. Human Systems:
1. Discuss how technology affects the ways in which people perceive and use places and regions.
4. Analyze the patterns of settlement in different urban regions of the world.
E. Environment and Society:
1. Discuss the environmental impacts or intended and unintended consequences of major technological changes.
Module VII
Trees in Your Own Back Yard
Grades 5-8:
Standard 6.1: (Social Studies Skills) All students will utilize historical thinking, problem solving, and research skills to maximize their understanding of civics, history, geography, and economics.
A. Social Studies Skills:
5. Examine current issues, events, or themes and relate them to past events.
11. Summarize information in written, graphic, and oral formats.
Standard 6.2 (Civics) All students will know, understand and appreciate the values and principles of American democracy and the rights, responsibilities, and roles of a citizen in the nation and the world.
A. Civic Life, Politics, and Government:
4. Describe the processes of local government.
Module VIII
Harvesting Today in a Global Forest
Grades 5-8:
Standard 6.1: (Social Studies Skills) All students will utilize historical thinking, problem solving, and research skills to maximize their understanding of civics, history, geography, and economics.
A. Social Studies Skills:
5. Examine current issues, events, or themes and relate them to past events.
10. Distinguish fact from fiction by comparing sources about figures and events with fictionalized characters and events.
11. Summarize information in written, graphic, and oral formats.
Standard 6.2 (Civics) All students will know, understand and appreciate the values and principles of American democracy and the rights, responsibilities, and roles of a citizen in the nation and the world.
E. International Education: Global Challenges, Cultures, and Connections:
1. Analyze ways in which nation-states interact with one another through trade, diplomacy, cultural exchanges, treaties or agreements, humanitarian aid, economic incentives and sanctions, and the use or threat of military force.
Standard 6.5 (Economics) All students will acquire an understanding of key economic principles.
B. Economics and Society:
1. Discuss how meeting the needs and wants of a growing world population impacts the environment and economic growth.
Standard 6.6 (Geography) All students will apply knowledge of spatial relationships and other geographic skills to understand human behavior in relation to the physical and cultural environment.
D. Human Systems
7. Explain and identify examples of global interdependence.
E. Environment and Society:
5. Describe world, national, and local patterns of resource distribution and utilization, and discuss the political and social impact.
Module IX
Fire:Fight, Flight, or Coexistence?
Grades 5-8:
Standard 6.1: (Social Studies Skills) All students will utilize historical thinking, problem solving, and research skills to maximize their understanding of civics, history, geography, and economics.
A. Social Studies Skills:
5. Examine current issues, events, or themes and relate them to past events.
6. Formulate questions based on information needs.
7. Use effective strategies for locating information.
11. Summarize information in written, graphic, and oral formats.
Standard 6.6 (Geography) All students will apply knowledge of spatial relationships and other geographic skills to understand human behavior in relation to the physical and cultural environment.
B. Places and Regions
2. Describe how regions change over time.
E. Environment and Society:
4. Compare and contrast various ecosystems and describe their interrelationship and interdependence.
Module X
The Significance of Private Forests in the U.S.
Grades 5-8:
Standard 6.1: (Social Studies Skills) All students will utilize historical thinking, problem solving, and research skills to maximize their understanding of civics, history, geography, and economics.
A. Social Studies Skills:
5. Examine current issues, events, or themes and relate them to past events.
6. Formulate questions based on information needs.
7. Use effective strategies for locating information.
11. Summarize information in written, graphic, and oral formats.
Standard 6.2 (Civics) All students will know, understand and appreciate the values and principles of American democracy and the rights, responsibilities, and roles of a citizen in the nation and the world.
A. Civic Life, Politics, and Government:
5. Discuss examples of domestic policies and agencies that impact American lives.
Standard 6.6 (Geography) All students will apply knowledge of spatial relationships and other geographic skills to understand human behavior in relation to the physical and cultural environment.
E. Environment and Society:
4. Compare and contrast various ecosystems and describe their interrelationship and interdependence.
Module XI
Forest Research: Who, What, Where & Why?
Grades 5-8:
Standard 6.1: (Social Studies Skills) All students will utilize historical thinking, problem solving, and research skills to maximize their understanding of civics, history, geography, and economics.
A. Social Studies Skills:
5. Examine current issues, events, or themes and relate them to past events.
7. Use effective strategies for locating information.
11. Summarize information in written, graphic, and oral formats.
Standard 6.6 (Geography) All students will apply knowledge of spatial relationships and other geographic skills to understand human behavior in relation to the physical and cultural environment.
D. Human Systems:
1. Discuss how technology affects the ways in which people perceive and use places and regions.
E. Environment and Society:
2. Analyze the impact of various human activities and social policies on the natural environment and describe how humans have attempted to solve environmental problems through adaptation and modification.
4. Compare and contrast various ecosystems and describe their interrelationship and interdependence.
