Edge on Greatness Handout for Parents

1. The Great Race to the North Carolina
Social Studies Final Exam
2016
NC Final Exams were developed to replace locally developed
assessments, providing teachers and principals with a common
measure for all students state-wide during a given testing window.
North Carolina’s Final Exams for Middle Grade Social Studies
courses will measure students’ academic progress in the Essential
Standards, adopted by the North Carolina State Board of Education.
The 8th
Grade NC Final Exam is composed of 38 multiple choice
questions and 2 constructive response questions. Students have
120 minutes to complete the exam.
Many of the test questions require students to process factual
content as they read, interpret, and/or analyze stimulus materials.
Stimulus materials include maps, charts, graphs, excerpts of
primary and secondary sources.
Constructive Response
(8th Grade Only)
The constructive response questions allow students
to demonstrate their understanding of social studies
concepts by using facts to support ideas through
written expression. Students are only allowed to
write on the lines provided. Any writing on the blank
space or underneath the line will not be scored.
The ACE strategy is a great method to help with
responding to the constructive response questions.

2. 8th Grade Social Studies Era’s
Era 1:
North Carolina Native Americans
European exploration
Columbian Exchange
13 Colonies
Era2:
French and Indian War
American Revolution
Articles of Confederation
US Constitution
New Government
Era 3:
Louisiana Purchase
Manifest Destiny
Civil War
Reconstruction
Era 4:
Industrial Revolution
Immigration
Labor Unions
Era 5:
WWI
Roaring 20’s
Stock Market Crash
Great Depression
New Deal
Era 6:
WWII
Cold War
Space Race
Korean War
Vietnam War
Era 7:
Civil Rights Movement
Era 8:
Globalization
Reagan
Fall of the Soviet Union
Terrorism
War
INSPECT each era of History
Ideas~ Thoughts and Philosophies that have shaped that era.
Natural/Geographic~ Movement; Region; Location; Interaction; Place
Social~ Where you fit in on the social pyramid or groups you may belong to
Political~ Government; Leaders; State Structure (How the government is organized); War; Diplomacy
(Intervention between countries); Treaties (Agreements between countries)
Economic~ How money or goods are exchanged; Industry; trade; or commerce; Types of Businesses
Cultural~ Knowledge and values shared by a society. Religion, art, and music are part of culture.
Technological/Scientific~ Achievements; New tools/weapons; Ways to improve life; Technical
solutions; Infrastructures (water, roads, railroads, etc)