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The first term Timeline Text Overview Sunshine State Standards	Overview The First Twenty Weeks Eighth Grade US History Curriculum. Note: The standards have undergone major revision and an updated set of Sunshine State Standards will be applied next school year (2010--2011.) Teaching history to eighth grade gifted students is a challenge on many levels. The ultimate goal of this class is to produce young Americans that want to get involved in the responsibilities of citizenship, have a need to be informed in current world, national, and local events, possess a love of their country and their history, and exhibit a thirst for knowledge that makes them independent learners. Of course, when an eighth grade gifted student is asked what they want out of class it's either an, "I dunno," or, "I want to be with my friends." It is with that realization that this course has been conceived and developed. The outline that follows is the skeleton. The day-to-day lessons make up the muscle and sinew.
	Content Covered in Class	Sunshine State Standards Addressed
	1. The First Americans A. People arrive in the Americas B. Ancient North America C. Indians of North America in 1492	B.1.3.1 A.1.1.1-2 A.3.3.2-3 Various language Arts standards.
	2. Europeans Reach Outward A. Early European Explorers B. An Awakening Europe C. The Search for Sea Routes D. The Voyages of Christopher Columbus E. On to the Pacific	A.4.3.1.1-3 Various language Arts standards.
	3. Spain Builds an Empire A. Caribbean Beginnings B. Spain Conquers Mexico and Peru C. The Lure of North America D. The World of New Spain/Displacing the indigenous peoples E. Smallpox!	A.4.3.1.1-3 Various language Arts standards.
	IV. Challenges to Spanish Power A. Search for a Northwest Passage B. The Religious Challenge C. The English Challenge at Sea D. The First English Colony	A.4.3.1.1-3 Various language Arts standards.
	V. English Colonies in North America A. Roanoke-The Lost Colony B. Success at Jamestown C. The Pilgrims at Plymouth D. The Settlement of New England E. An Expanding Empire	A.4.3.1.1-3 Various language Arts standards.