Manitoba · Grade 8
Social Studies, Grade 8
Manitoba’s Grade 8 social studies course, from Understanding Societies Past and Present to Shaping the Modern World (Circa 1400 to 1850).
- Units
- 5
- Lessons
- 6
- Skills
- 61
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- Manitoba Education
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, with its official code.
Unit 1 · 11 skills
Understanding Societies Past and Present
World Views and Societies
The concept of world view
I can explain what a world view is.
Official code: KI-005
What creates differences in world views
I can describe what makes world views differ between societies.
Official code: KI-006
Society and civilization
I can compare and contrast society and civilization.
Official code: KI-007
Why societies stay the same or change
I can give reasons why societies may stay the same or change over time.
Official code: KI-008
How societies organize and continue
I can describe how societies organize, maintain, and continue themselves.
Official code: KI-009
Sources of historical evidence
I can identify sources of historical evidence and explain how each helps us understand the past.
Official code: KH-027
Why knowing the past matters
I can explain why knowing the past and understanding history matters.
Official code: KH-028
Stories and theories of human origins
I can relate various stories and theories about the origin and development of human life.
Official code: KI-010
The hunter-gatherer way of life
I can identify the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of hunter-gatherer life.
Official code: KI-011
The rise of agrarian societies
I can describe how agrarian societies developed and differed from hunter-gatherers.
Official code: KI-012
The environment and the growth of societies
I can give examples of how the natural environment shaped the growth of societies.
Official code: KL-022
The official wording · 11 outcomes
- KI-005
- Explain the concept of world view.
- KI-006
- Describe influences that create differences in world views.
- KI-007
- Compare and contrast the concepts of society and civilization.
- KI-008
- Give reasons why societies may stay the same or change over time.
- KI-009
- Describe ways in which societies organize, maintain, and perpetuate themselves.
- KH-027
- Identify various sources of historical evidence and information and explain how each enhances understanding of the past.
- KH-028
- Explain the importance of knowing the past and understanding history.
- KI-010
- Relate various stories and theories of the origin and development of human life.
- KI-011
- Identify the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of a hunter-gatherer way of life.
- KI-012
- Describe the development of agrarian societies and explain how they differed from hunter-gatherer societies.
- KL-022
- Give examples of the influence of the natural environment on the development of societies.
Key ideas
A world view is the set of beliefs and assumptions through which a society sees the world.
It shapes how a people understands life, nature, and each other.
Geography, history, religion, and experience shape different world views.
These influences explain why societies see the world differently.
A society is any group living together; a civilization is a complex society with cities, writing, and government.
Watch out for
- Thinking a world view is just one opinion.
- Thinking everyone shares the same world view.
- Thinking all differences are just disagreements.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 9 skills
Early Societies of Mesopotamia, Egypt, or the Indus Valley
Early Societies of the River Valleys
Landforms, water, and population of the early society
I can locate the major landforms, bodies of water, and population clusters of an early river society.
Official code: KL-023
The environment and ways of life
I can give examples of how the environment shaped ways of life in the early society.
Official code: KL-024
Life for various groups in the early society
I can describe life for different groups in the early society.
Official code: KI-013
Art, architecture, and science
I can describe the art, architecture, and science of the early society.
Official code: KI-014
People, events, and ideas of the early society
I can identify important people, events, and ideas in the early society.
Official code: KH-029
The development of writing
I can describe the impact and significance of the development of writing in the early society.
Official code: KH-030
Governance in the early society
I can describe how the early society was governed.
Official code: KP-045
Technologies and tools
I can describe the technologies and tools of the early society.
Official code: KE-054
Defining characteristics of early civilizations
I can identify defining characteristics of early civilizations from 3500 to 500 BCE.
Official code: KG-038
The official wording · 9 outcomes
- KL-023
- Locate on a map the major landforms, bodies of water, and population clusters of a society of Mesopotamia, Egypt, or the Indus Valley.
- KL-024
- Give examples of the influence of the natural environment on ways of life in an early society of Mesopotamia, Egypt, or the Indus Valley.
- KI-013
- Describe life for various groups in an early society of Mesopotamia, Egypt, or the Indus Valley.
- KI-014
- Describe the art, architecture, and science of an early society of Mesopotamia, Egypt, or the Indus Valley.
- KH-029
- Identify people, events, and ideas in an early society of Mesopotamia, Egypt, or the Indus Valley.
- KH-030
- Describe the impact and significance of the development of writing in an early society of Mesopotamia, Egypt, or the Indus Valley.
- KP-045
- Describe governance in an early society of Mesopotamia, Egypt, or the Indus Valley.
- KE-054
- Describe technologies and tools in an early society of Mesopotamia, Egypt, or the Indus Valley.
- KG-038
- Identify defining characteristics of societies in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, and China, from 3500 to 500 BCE.
Key ideas
Early societies grew along rivers like the Tigris, Euphrates, Nile, or Indus.
Population clustered near water and fertile land.
The river's floods and soil shaped farming, food, and daily life.
The environment influenced homes, work, and beliefs.
Early societies had different groups — rulers, priests, workers, and enslaved people.
Watch out for
- Confusing the society with the whole region.
- Thinking people spread evenly, not near rivers.
- Thinking the environment didn't affect early life.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 15 skills
Ancient Societies of Greece and Rome
Ancient Greece
Social organization of ancient Greece
I can describe the social organization of ancient Greece.
Official code: KC-001
The rise of democracy in ancient Greece
I can describe how democracy rose in ancient Greece.
Official code: KC-002
Citizenship: ancient Greece and Canada
I can compare citizenship in ancient Greece and in Canada today.
Official code: KC-003
Sparta and Athens
I can compare and contrast life in Sparta and Athens.
Official code: KI-015
Myths in ancient Greek culture
I can describe why myths were important in ancient Greek culture.
Official code: KI-016
The origins of the rule of law
I can identify the origins and significance of the rule of law.
Official code: KC-004
Ancient Rome
The expansion of the Roman Empire
I can illustrate the expansion of the Roman Empire on a map.
Official code: KL-025
Structures of governance in ancient Rome
I can describe how ancient Rome was governed.
Official code: KP-047
War and territorial expansion in Rome
I can describe war and territorial expansion in the Roman Empire.
Official code: KP-048
The rise and decline of Greece and Rome
I can identify factors in the rise and decline of ancient Greece and Rome.
Official code: KP-046
People, events, and ideas of Greece and Rome
I can identify significant people, events, and ideas in ancient Greece and Rome.
Official code: KH-031
How Greece and Rome shaped today's world
I can identify ways ancient Greek and Roman ideas influence today's world.
Official code: KH-032
Technologies and achievements of Greece and Rome
I can describe technologies and achievements of ancient Greece and Rome.
Official code: KE-056
Trade and the exchange of ideas in Rome
I can describe how trade spread ideas within the Roman Empire and beyond.
Official code: KE-055
Ancient civilizations, 500 BCE to 500 CE
I can identify defining characteristics of ancient civilizations from 500 BCE to 500 CE.
Official code: KG-039
The official wording · 15 outcomes
- KC-001
- Describe the social organization of ancient Greece.
- KC-002
- Describe the rise of democracy in ancient Greece.
- KC-003
- Compare criteria for citizenship and participation in government in ancient Greece and in contemporary Canada.
- KI-015
- Compare and contrast life in Sparta and Athens.
- KI-016
- Describe the importance of myths in ancient Greek culture.
- KC-004
- Identify the origins and significance of the rule of law.
- KL-025
- Illustrate on a map the expansion of the Roman Empire.
- KP-047
- Describe structures of governance in ancient Rome.
- KP-048
- Describe the nature of war and territorial expansion in the Roman Empire.
- KP-046
- Identify factors that influenced the rise and decline of ancient Greece and Rome.
- KH-031
- Identify significant people, events, and ideas in ancient Greece and Rome.
- KH-032
- Identify ways in which today’s world has been influenced by the ideas of ancient Greece and Rome.
- KE-056
- Describe technologies and achievements in ancient Greece and Rome.
- KE-055
- Describe the influence of trade on the exchange of ideas within the Roman Empire and between Rome and other places in the world.
- KG-039
- Identify defining characteristics of the ancient civilizations of China, Greece, Rome, Persia, and the Mayans from 500 BCE to 500 CE.
Key ideas
Ancient Greek society had citizens, non-citizens, women, and enslaved people.
Rome grew from a city into an empire around the Mediterranean.
Social organization determined who had rights and power.
Its expansion spread Roman rule, roads, and ideas.
Athens developed early democracy, where citizens could take part in decisions.
Watch out for
- Thinking everyone in Greece was a citizen.
- Thinking Rome was always a large empire.
- Thinking Greek society had no divisions.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 4 · 15 skills
Transition to the Modern World (Circa 500 to 1400)
Transition to the Modern World (Circa 500 to 1400)
The fall of the Western Roman Empire
I can identify the consequences of the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Official code: KH-033
Characteristics of medieval Europe
I can describe the characteristics of medieval Europe.
Official code: KH-035
The Catholic Church in medieval Europe
I can describe the influence of the Catholic Church in medieval Europe.
Official code: KP-052
Work and education in medieval Europe
I can identify how work and education were organized in medieval Europe.
Official code: KE-057
Motivations and consequences of the Crusades
I can identify the motivations for and consequences of the Crusades.
Official code: KH-034
The Arab conquests
I can locate and describe the Arab conquests of the seventh and eighth centuries.
Official code: KP-049
Islamic achievements, 7th to 15th centuries
I can identify Islamic achievements and describe how they influenced other societies.
Official code: KI-018
The Viking invasions
I can locate and describe the impact of the Viking invasions on Europe.
Official code: KP-050
The Mongol Empire
I can locate and describe the expansion of the Mongol Empire in the thirteenth century.
Official code: KP-051
China as an advanced civilization
I can explain why China was one of the most advanced civilizations of this era.
Official code: KI-019
Major events, 5th to 15th centuries
I can identify major events across the world from the fifth to fifteenth centuries.
Official code: KG-040
The spread of ideas and technologies
I can describe why the spread of ideas and technologies between societies mattered.
Official code: KG-041
Achievements in diverse societies
I can give examples of achievements in diverse societies from the fifth to fifteenth centuries.
Official code: KG-042
The Ottoman Empire
I can locate and describe the Ottoman Empire and its expansion from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries.
Official code: KP-053
Technological developments, 5th to 15th centuries
I can describe the impact of technological developments from the fifth to fifteenth centuries.
Official code: KE-058
The official wording · 15 outcomes
- KH-033
- Identify the consequences of the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
- KH-035
- Describe characteristics of medieval Europe.
- KP-052
- Describe the influence of the Catholic Church in medieval Europe.
- KE-057
- Identify how work and education were organized in medieval Europe.
- KH-034
- Identify motivations for and consequences of the Crusades.
- KP-049
- Locate on a map and describe the Arab conquests in the Middle East, North Africa, India, and southern Europe in the seventh and eighth centuries.
- KI-018
- Identify Islamic achievements from the seventh to fifteenth centuries and describe how they influenced other societies.
- KP-050
- Locate on a map and describe the impact of the Viking invasions on Europe from the ninth to twelfth centuries.
- KP-051
- Locate on a map and describe the expansion of the Mongol Empire into China, Europe, and the Middle East in the thirteenth century.
- KI-019
- Explain why China may be regarded as one of the most advanced civilizations of the fifth to fifteenth centuries.
- KG-040
- Identify major events in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas from the fifth to fifteenth centuries.
- KG-041
- Describe the significance of the spread of ideas and technologies between societies from the fifth to fifteenth centuries.
- KG-042
- Give examples of achievements in art, architecture, literature, and science in diverse societies from the fifth to fifteenth centuries.
- KP-053
- Locate on a map and describe the nature of the Ottoman Empire and its expansion into the Middle East, North Africa, India, and Europe from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries.
- KE-058
- Describe the impact of technological developments from the fifth to fifteenth centuries.
Key ideas
When the Western Roman Empire fell, Europe broke into smaller kingdoms.
This began the medieval period, with new powers and instability.
Medieval Europe was organized around feudalism, lords, and peasants.
The Church, castles, and manors were central to life.
The Catholic Church was powerful in medieval life, shaping belief, learning, and politics.
Watch out for
- Thinking Rome fell in a single day.
- Thinking the fall had no lasting effects.
- Thinking the Middle Ages were only 'dark' and empty.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 5 · 11 skills
Shaping the Modern World (Circa 1400 to 1850)
Shaping the Modern World (Circa 1400 to 1850)
The Renaissance
I can give examples of how the Renaissance was expressed in art, ideas, and science.
Official code: KI-020
Individuals and significance of the Renaissance
I can identify individuals and ideas of the Renaissance and describe why the period was significant.
Official code: KH-036
The Protestant Reformation
I can identify individuals and ideas of the Protestant Reformation and describe its significance.
Official code: KH-037
Major events, 15th to 18th centuries
I can identify major events across the world from the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries.
Official code: KG-043
Voyages of European explorers
I can illustrate the voyages of European explorers from the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries.
Official code: KL-026
Motivations and impact of global exploration
I can explain the motivations for and impact of global exploration and expansion.
Official code: KG-044
Europeans and indigenous peoples
I can give examples of the impact of interactions between Europeans and indigenous peoples.
Official code: KI-021
Science and technology, 15th to 19th centuries
I can describe the impact of advances in science and technology from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries.
Official code: KE-059
The Industrial Revolution
I can describe the impact of the Industrial Revolution on individuals and societies.
Official code: KE-060
World religions of antiquity
I can identify defining characteristics of world religions that emerged in antiquity.
Official code: KI-017
The continuing influence of past societies
I can give examples of how ideas and technologies of past societies still influence us.
Official code: KE-061
The official wording · 11 outcomes
- KI-020
- Give examples of the expression of the Renaissance in its art, architecture, philosophy, literature, science, or technology from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries.
- KH-036
- Identify individuals and ideas of the Renaissance and describe the historical significance of this period.
- KH-037
- Identify individuals and ideas of the Protestant Reformation during the sixteenth century and describe the historical significance of this movement.
- KG-043
- Identify major events in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas during the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries.
- KL-026
- Illustrate on a world map the voyages of European explorers during the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries.
- KG-044
- Explain the motivations for and the impact of global exploration and territorial expansion from the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries.
- KI-021
- Give examples of the impact of interactions between Europeans and indigenous peoples of Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries.
- KE-059
- Describe the impact of advances in science and technology on societies from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries.
- KE-060
- Describe the impact of the Industrial Revolution on individuals and societies.
- KI-017
- Identify defining characteristics of world religions that emerged in antiquity.
- KE-061
- Give examples of the continuing influence of ideas and technologies of past societies.
Key ideas
The Renaissance was a rebirth of art, learning, and ideas in Europe from the 1300s to 1500s.
It produced great art, new science, and new ways of thinking.
Thinkers and artists like Leonardo da Vinci shaped the Renaissance.
The period marked a turning point toward the modern world.
The Reformation, led by figures like Martin Luther, split Western Christianity.
Watch out for
- Thinking the Renaissance was only about painting.
- Thinking it changed nothing.
- Thinking the Renaissance had no lasting importance.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
The official curriculum
This page follows Manitoba’s own curriculum for Social Studies, Grade 8.
Study it in MapleMind
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Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep Social Studies, Grade 8 organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
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- Fillable fields
- 1,917
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Questions about Social Studies, Grade 8
What is Social Studies, Grade 8?
Manitoba’s Grade 8 social studies course: 5 units and 61 skills, from Understanding Societies Past and Present to Shaping the Modern World (Circa 1400 to 1850).
What units are in Social Studies, Grade 8?
1. Understanding Societies Past and Present, 2. Early Societies of Mesopotamia, Egypt, or the Indus Valley, 3. Ancient Societies of Greece and Rome, 4. Transition to the Modern World (Circa 500 to 1400) and 5. Shaping the Modern World (Circa 1400 to 1850).
Is there a provincial exam for Social Studies, Grade 8?
No. Manitoba gives no provincial exam for Social Studies, Grade 8.
What comes after Social Studies, Grade 8?
Social Studies, Grade 9 (Canada in the Contemporary World).
Can MapleMind help with Social Studies, Grade 8?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of Social Studies, Grade 8, step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.
Get ready for Social Studies, Grade 8
Practise every skill of Social Studies, Grade 8 in MapleMind, free with daily limits.
