The concepts, skills and learning standards of Cornerstone’s middle school history program are based largely on the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks; however they are presented with careful attention to a Christian worldview. A variety of texts, articles, primary source documents and other informational resources are used including materials from both Christian publishers like ABeka Book, and secular publishers like Prentice Hall’s World Explorer’s series, and Teacher’s Curriculum Institute’s History Alive! series.

Grade 5

Students study the major pre-Columbian civilizations in the New World; the 15th and 16th century European explorations around the world, in the western hemisphere, and in North America in particular; the earliest settlements in North America; and the political, economic, and social development of the English colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. They also study the early development of democratic institutions and ideas, including the ideas and events that led to the independence of the original 13 colonies and the formation of a national government under the U.S. Constitution. The purpose of the grade 5 curriculum is to give students their first concentrated study of the formative years of U.S. history.

Grade 6

Sixth graders systematically study the world outside of the United States and North America by addressing standards that emphasize political and physical geography and embed five major concepts: location, place, human interaction with the environment, movement, and regions. Students systematically learn geography around the world continent by continent, similar to the way in which atlases are organized. They also learn about each continent in an order that reflects, first, the early development of the river valley civilizations and then the later development of maritime civilizations in the Mediterranean area and in Northern and Western Europe. In so doing, students are better prepared for the study of early civilizations around the Mediterranean area in grade 7.

Grade 7

World History 1.1 (BC - 500 AD-fall of the Roman Empire)

Seventh graders study early Bible history in the Old Testament times, including the origins of human beings and the ancient and classical civilizations that flourished in the Mediterranean area. They study the religions, governments, trade, philosophies, and art of these civilizations, as well as the powerful ideas that arose in the ancient world and profoundly shaped the course of world history. Course of study concludes with the fall of the Roman Empire. Students begin the study of the rise of Christianity.

Grades 8

World History 1.2 (500 AD – 1800 AD)

Students continue to study the rise of Christianity and Bible history in New Testament times.  They cover the history of the major empires and political entities that emerged after the fall of the Roman Empire, including the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Moghul Empire, the Chinese dynasties, and the major pre-Columbian civilizations that existed in Central and South America. Students also examine the important political, economic, and religious developments of this period, including the development of democratic, scientific, and secular thought in Europe.