Best 8th Grade Social Studies Curriculum for Homeschooling

This post contains affiliate links and we may earn a commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Typically, eighth-grade social studies focuses on American history. But when it comes to homeschooling, many families do not do things the typical way! Some homeschooled kids take American history earlier in middle school and are thus ready for a different subject in eighth grade. Others choose to wait until high school to take a traditional American history course. Whatever your reasons, there’s nothing wrong with choosing a different subject for eighth-grade social studies in your homeschool. 

In this article, we’ll tell you about three of our favorite homeschool social studies curriculums for eighth-grade students. These programs include some combination of history, civics, and geography, though they don’t all include every one of these subjects. Also, none of the curriculums we’ll talk about here are traditional American history programs. If you are interested in finding a good U.S. history curriculum for your eighth-grader (or for any homeschooled middle schooler), check out our article Best 8th Grade U.S. History Homeschool Curriculum. 

Best Integrated Program

My Country, My State, My Responsibility! Angela O’Dell

If you are looking for a solid, hands-on program that integrates U.S. geography, U.S. government, and state history, consider Angela O’Dell’s fantastic My Country, My State, My Responsibility! While it is possible to purchase separate programs in U.S. geography, government, and state history, many kids in this age range do not need to devote a whole year to just one of these subjects and will instead benefit more from a course like this that combines all three subjects in an integrated, creative way.

In creating this curriculum, O’Dell did a fantastic job of perfectly targeting the creativity and capabilities of middle school students. The program challenges students to combine their readings skills with hands-on activities in order to develop their critical thinking abilities. Yet the material is still presented in a way that is basic and broad enough for middle schoolers to easily understand. The program does a fantastic job of laying a foundation for the more advanced social studies curriculums that students will use in high school. It also provides a great structure in which students can learn more about their own home states.

This curriculum is comprised of four units: “The Geography of the U.S.A.”, “Study Your State”, “America’s Government and Symbols”, and “State and City Civics”. Each unit has nine lessons, and each of these lessons is divided over three days of work, making this program perfect for a 36-week school year if used three times per week. The program is clearly structure, making prep time minimal for parents.

The materials required for this curriculum include the main My Country, My State, My Responsibility! text along with the National Geographic Kids United States Atlas and Loree Pettit’s Eat Your Way Through the U.S.A. You’ll also need pictures or postcards of the various states as well as clear tape, glue, fine-tipped markers, and colored pencils.

Best Classical History Program

Story of the World, Susan Wise Bauer

If you are looking for a history-based alternative to the American history courses traditionally taken in eighth grade, consider the excellent Story of the World curriculum by Susan Wise Bauer. The program is what it sounds like – a history of the entire world, from pre-historic times to the modern age. Although it is primarily focused on the history of the Western world (Europe and the United States), it also incorporates the history of civilizations in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Bauer narrates the story in a simple, approachable, and engaging way that most students and parents really enjoy.

Story of the World is classical in its approach, following the educational philosophy promoted in The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home. Prominent people and foundational events in Western history are emphasized, but the method of instruction itself caters well to a range of homeschool styles. The main text can be read or listened to on audio CD, and chapters are short and very easy to understand. An optional activity guide and test booklet can be used alongside the text. 

Story of the World is a secular curriculum, but not rigidly so. The text discusses early Christian history and includes occasional Bible excerpts, but Christianity is treated in a historical context, as are other world religions such as Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. When Bible excerpts are featured, they are presented as passages describing the cultural beliefs of a certain religious group, not necessarily as factual history (passages from other sacred texts and mythological stories are also included). This curriculum nevertheless works fluidly with a Christian-based homeschool approach, and the program is thus very popular among Christian as well as secular homeschoolers. 

This curriculum consists of four texts, each of which is designed to be used over one school year. The texts are organized chronologically, beginning with Ancient Times and continuing onto The Middle Ages, Early Modern Times, and finally The Modern Age. Ideally, children begin with Ancient Times in first grade and complete The Modern Age in grade four, then cycle through the series again during grades five to eight. 

If your student is beginning this series in eighth grade, however, it is fine to choose any of the texts to study. If you want the course to include some American history, consider using one of the last two texts in the series, Early Modern Times or The Modern Age. Both give a lot of attention to U.S. history, with Early Modern Times focused more on early America (pre-Civil War) and The Modern Age emphasizing later U.S. history (including the Civil War and the twentieth century). Most eighth-grade students have never had the chance to study ancient or medieval history, however, and so the first two texts – Ancient Times and The Middle Ages – are also excellent options.

Best Literature-Based Program

Beautiful Feet Books Literature Packs

If you are looking for a homeschool social studies program that will immerse your eighth grader in high-quality, classic literature, consider the fantastic literature pack curriculum programs offered by Beautiful Feet Books. Each of these courses is built around a collection of classic texts – including fiction, non-fiction, and biographies – to present history to students in an engaging and memorable way. Every pack includes a teacher guide and, in some cases, supplementary materials like timelines. 

Each literature pack focuses on a different theme, and the teacher guides make the experience easy for students and parents alike. The guides include detailed lesson plans, comprehension questions, and assignment and project ideas. The guides provide a clear structure for parents to use while their kids are reading the books, yet they also allow for creativity and imagination in the learning process. Many Charlotte Mason-style homeschoolers appreciate the literature-based, creative approach of this curriculum. It is also an excellent option if your student struggles with traditional, textbook-based programs.

At the eighth-grade level, Beautiful Feet offers the following literature pack-based courses: Early American and World History, Modern American and World History, Ancient History, Medieval History, and the History of Classical Music. For more information about the texts included in each pack, check out the Beautiful Feet Books website.

Conclusion

There are many excellent homeschool social studies curriculum options for eighth-grade students. If you are looking for an eighth-grade homeschool curriculum focused on U.S. history, check out our article Best 8th Grade U.S. History Homeschool Curriculum. If you have questions or would like more information, please email us!