Dilworth STEM Academy

8th
Grade Social Studies
Mrs. Eichstedt & Ms. Kosturos
Contact information for Mrs. Eichstedt and Ms. Kosturos
E-mail: Jeichstedt@washoeschools.net

kkosturos@washoeschools.net
Phone: (775) 353-5740mailto:JStaup@washoeschools.net
Course Objectives:

Every student in this class will learn to be a historian. Students will establish
and build upon different skills that help historians figure out the past, such as
analyzing several different types of documents and how to write as a
historian. Students will also learn a variety of different topics in U.S. History,
which will help them make connections to current events.
Course Outline:
First Quarter:

Civil War Review

Reconstruction
2nd industrial revolution
Gilded age
Third Quarter

1920s
Great Depression

Second Quarter

Election
Imperialism
WWI
Fourth Quarter

WWII

Classroom Expectations:
Come to class prepared, on time, and ready to learn.
Be respectful of the learning environment, which includes; peers, teachers and the
classroom.
Be a responsible student.
Follow the school rules of Dilworth STEM Academy.
Consequences:
Failure to follow the listed expectations will result in a check mark that represents a
disciplinary mark.
Mark 1: warning
Mark 2: Parent phone call home
Mark 3: Conference with parent and teacher and a phone call home
Mark 4: referral to discipline office.

Classroom Procedures:
1. Entering and leaving the classroom
Upon entering the classroom students are to begin their starter. Students are to
enter the room quietly and go to their assigned seats. Class begins with the bell and
if any students arrive after the bell, they are tardy. If students have questions about
assignments, tests, projects, or general questions they will wait until after the first
five minutes of class. When leaving the classroom students are to wait till the
teacher excuses them and I will notify the students when they are to begin cleaning
up activities.
2. Tardy Policy
The tardy policy is a school wide policy and if the student is not in their seat by the
time the bell rings at the beginning of class, they will be marked tardy.
Tardy 1 and 2- Warning
Tardy 3- Detention
Tardy 4- Detention and a phone call home.
3. Locker and bathroom passes
Students have passes for each quarter. Once the student runs out of passes they
will not receive any more. However they will have opportunities to earn more,
through extra assignments or tasks.
4. Homework and Classwork
Students will have homework due once a week due on Friday. Students will be using
Edmodo for their homework assignment. They will need to complete this on a
computer, so if they do not have access to one at home they are able to use the
computers at school (library after school and during lunch). We will also have a
quarterly article that they will need to do for homework, however during the time
we have that for homework there will be NO Edmodo that week. If students have
any questions about the homework they may contact us via e-mail at any time.
Students are to complete all classwork BEFORE they leave class. Students will not
be able to take their classwork home to complete. They will be graded on the work
from the day, if they would like to redo the assignment once it has been graded
they may.
What will happen if homework is not completed?
Students will have two weeks from the date the assignment is entered into Infinite
Campus (I.C.) to make up any missing work (absences or otherwise). Assignments
that can be made up will be indicated by an M (missing) in I.C. After two weeks,
the assignment becomes a zero, and the student may no longer make up the work.
(Exception: Section 504 and IEP accommodations)
Knight School: Students are always welcome to work with their
teachers at arranged times outside of class and/or attend Knight
School. This is extra study/homework time provided at Dilworth. It
is offered daily at the beginning of the students lunch. (Rest
assured, the student still gets lunch!) It is also possible, at the

individual teachers discretion, for your child to be assigned Knight

School should s/he have missing work.

5. Make-up work/ Missing Work/ Participation

If a student is absent, they will be allowed an opportunity to make up their
assignments. According to district policy, students have the number of days they
were absent plus 1 additional day to complete missing work without any penalty.
Missing work will be allowed up to 2 weeks after the grade for the assignment has
been posted. Students may redo an assignment for a better grade up to 2 weeks
after the grade has been posted for the assignment. Students are expected to
participate in class discussions and work with peers on a daily basis.

Grades:
40% classwork
25% Assessments
15% BMA
20% Homework
Class website
Our class has a website and students will be provided with the link the first week of
school. This website is to be used as a resource for the students and parents.
The website link is: www.mrseichstedtushistory.weebly.com
Missing handouts/PowerPoints: Students will be able to access ALL
handouts and PowerPoints through the website. If they are absent or need
another copy they will need to get it from the website.
Blog: There will be a blog available for both students and parents on the
website. Students will have this available if they have questions about
homework assignments, classwork, or anything else related to school.
Students are not to use inappropriate language, they are expected to use this
resource appropriately. If students do not, they will not be allowed to use it.
Turing in assignments: There is a place where students may be asked to
turn in assignments on the website. They will need to follow the directions for
submission. If students are having a difficult time turning in an assignment
they may contact us or bring a hard copy of the assignment.
Resources: Students will have a resource area where they can find things
that we talk about in class such as the difference between a primary and
secondary source document, RACE, and other things that are in our
classroom. I strongly encourage students to use this on a regular basis.

Printed Material
By signing below I hereby agree to allow my student to read a
variety of texts throughout the year that have been approved by the
Washoe County School District, that exemplify the common core state
standards, and are academically appropriate for this age group or grade
level. Such works may include but are not limited to: Newspapers and
other publications, school textbooks, historical novels, etc.
Student Signature:___________________________Date:_____

Discipline and Homework Policy

We have read, discussed, and understand the discipline policy and the
homework policy on page 2 of the welcome packet.

Student Signature:__________________________Date:_____
Parent/Guardian Signature:__________________Date:_____

Parent/Guardian Signature:___________________Date:_____
Online Material
By signing below I hereby agree to allow my student to access a
variety of websites, applications, and online media throughout the year
that have been approved by the Washoe County School District, that
exemplify the common core state standards, and are academically
appropriate for this age group or grade level. Such works may include but
are not limited to: News sites and online periodicals, YouTube, Prezi,
Google Docs, weebly, Edmodo, etc.

Special Exceptions
If there is any information youd like us to know about your student
please list it below:

Student Signature:__________________________Date:_____
Parent/Guardian Signature:__________________Date:_____
Technology
Weebly

Students will use this as a resource and a place to turn in assignments. Please check if yes and sign if you give permission for your student to access an
use our class website. If you do not want your child to use or access the website please check no and sign.
_______Yes, I give permission for my son/daughter to access weebly. Signature: __________________________________________
_______No, I do not give permission for my son/daughter to access weebly. Signature: _____________________________________

Edmodo
Students will be using Edmodo for homework assignments. Please check if yes and sign if you give permission for your student to access

and use Edmodo . If you do not want your child to use or access Edmodo please check no and sign. If your student does not use Edmodo they will nee
to complete an alternative assignment.
_______Yes, I give permission for my son/daughter to access Edmodo. Signature: _________________________________________
_______No, I do not give permission for my son/daughter to access Edmodo. Signature: ____________________________________

Gmail/google drive/google

In class we will be doing a variety of activities using computers and creating documents. I would like students to have access to google where they can
have an email and google drive, where they can save assignments and work collaboratively with group members. Please sign and check yes if you give
permission for your student to create and access gmail/google/google drive. If you do not wish for your student to access this please check no and sign
_______Yes, I give permission for my son/daughter to access google. Signature: __________________________________________
_______No, I do not give permission for my son/daughter to access google. Signature: _____________________________________
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us.

Academic Dishonesty:

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated at all. Students who are found plagiarizing will receive a zero on the assignment and will have a phone cal
home to notify parents. If there are any other further instances where there is academic dishonesty the students will receive a referral and further actio
will be taken.
Parent Signature: ________________________ Date:_____________________
Student Signature: _______________________ Date:_____________________

DILWORTH STEM ACADEMY

255 Prater
Way
Sparks, NV
89431

Washoe County
School District

Laura Petersen, Principal

Teresa Quintana, Asst.
Principal
Tammie Moniz, Dean of
Students
August
8, 2016

Main Office: (775) 3535740

Fax: (775) 353-5584

Parents, Students, and Guardians:

At Dilworth STEM Academy we recognize the need to activate all learning styles in order to reach all types of
learners. Throughout the year, many of the content areas employ the use of motion picture, video, and music
either in part or wholeto gain our students interest and/or to stimulate our visual/auditory learners for a deeper,
richer learning experience. Washoe County School District has specific guidelines for using these types of media in
the classroom. For middle school the policy states:
When G-rated films are shown in the classroom, the principal must be notified.
When PG-rated films are shown in the classroom, the principal and parents must be notified and
their written approval given.
PG-13-rated films will not be shown at the middle school level, unless the principal determines
that the film/video meets the guidelines set forth under item 2* of this Administrative Regulation.
Parents must be notified and their approval given.
R-rated films will not be shown.
*Item 2: The teacher shall preview the media material; and demonstrate that the showing of
the media material is appropriate to the age and maturity level of the student, that it
contributes to an appropriate classroom instructional objective, and that it does not
consume an inordinate amount of instructional time.
With this policy in mind, the 8th grade Social Studies department would like to notify you of our intent to utilize
certain media in our classrooms and ask, in advance, for permission to enrich your childs learning experience using
the items on the attached pages. Please read over the list and for each of the items initial the items for which you
approve, sign the bottom of the form, and have your student return it to his/her Social Studies teacher by
Friday, August 12, 2016. Should you not approve your childs viewing/listening of any/all of the items listed below,
rest assured there will be an equitable alternate assignment that will utilize the same content standards without the
benefit of the accompanying media.
Thank You,
The 8th Grade Social Studies Team

All movie summaries and running times courtesy of http://parentpreviews.com/, http://wwwimdb.com, and
http://www.amazon.com. Ratings courtesy of the Motion Picture Association of America
(http://www.filmratings.com)
KEEP THIS FORM FOR REFERENCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Quarter
of Use

Title

1-4

YouTube
music and
video

NR

1-4

America The
Story of US

NR

Century

NR

Cinderella
Man

PG- 13

Charley
Chaplin
Modern
Times

Fantasia
2000:
Rhapsody
and Blues

Im Still

Rating

NR

Summary and Rationale

Rationale: Throughout the year, as teachers, we like

to employ the use of current media (commercials,
music videos, etc.) to be in touch with our students
and teach concepts. These are previewed and *Item
2, as supplied in board policy, applies.
Summary: A six-night miniseries presenting the
history of how the United States was invented,
looking at the moments where Americans harnessed
technology to advance human progress -- from the
rigors of linking the continent by transcontinental
railroad to triumphing over vertical space through
the construction of steel-structured buildings. The
series also is a story of conflict, with Native
American peoples, slavery, the Revolutionary War
that birthed the nation, the Civil War that divided it,
and the great world war that shaped its future.
RUNNING TIME: 45 minute episodes
Rationale: Throughout the year we use this series to
bring a visual representation for students of historical
events. There are times where we will use only short
clips of the video and sometimes we will use full
episodes. This series touches on several historical
time periods that we teach throughout the year.
Summary: Peter Jennings hosted this 6 episode
special that reviews some of the most important
events of the 20th Century. Each episode is a two
part examination of two events in history that
happened at different times during the 20th century,
but are loosely connected and help explain the
complexity of America and its place in the world.
RUNNING TIME: 45 minutes
Rationale: Throughout the year we use this series
to bring a visual representation for students of
historical events. There are times where we will use
only short clips of the video and sometimes we will
use full episodes. This series touches on several
historical time periods that we teach throughout the
year.
Summary: The story of James Braddock, a
supposedly washed-up boxer who came back to
become a champion and an inspiration in the 1930s.
RUNNING TIME: 2 hours 24 minutes
Rationale: This film will be shown to demonstrate
the struggles of people during the Great Depression
and how the transition between the Roaring Twenties
and the Great Depression effected different people.
Students will complete an assignment with this film
and correlate it with several documents we have used
when during the Unit of Great Depression.
Summary: The Tramp struggles to live in modern
industrial society with the help of a young homeless
woman.
RUNNING TIME: 1 hour
Rationale: This film demonstrates the advances in
technology with films and it also shows students the
life of an individual during the 1920s.
Summary: An update of the original film with new
interpretations of great works of classical music.
RUNNING TIME: 20 minutes
Rationale: We will use this video to demonstrate the
transition of music for the 1920s. They will
complete an activity using this video.
Summary: This a film of experiences from the
Holocaust.
RUNNING TIME: 1 hour
Rationale: This film will be used during our study

Clip(s)

Full
Film

Initial
to
approve
viewing/
listening

By signing below, you acknowledge receipt and understanding of Washoe County School Districts video policy for middle
school. You also understand that by initialing each media item on the previous pages you are granting permission for your child
to access the media during Social Studies class at Dilworth STEM Academy.
Parent/Guardian Name (Print): _______________________________________________________________________
Parent Guardian Signature:

________________________________________________________________________
Please return this completed form to your teacher!