Themes connect past and present

Several social studies state standards in Wisconsin ask students to connect the past with current events. We ask students to recognize historical patterns and make predictions about the present. In recent years we've realized that this is not a strength. When asked how we address or assess this standard, teachers often say - "I talk about it." 
Well, hearing someone talk about something does not equal learning.
In looking for themes in history to build my student's background, the resources I found came up pretty short. I created my own, and I'm excited to use them as we study the legacy of WWI.

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To develop these themes, I looked no further than my syllabus. Eighth-grade social studies are focused on US History from 1861-present; deep understanding and mastery of skills would not be possible if we skimmed the surface of such an extended period. We plan our curriculum around essential questions. This allows us to adjust the events we focus on from history while focusing on teaching skills to build up proficiency to meet the social studies standards.

While these may not be the traditional "themes of social studies," I feel confident that my students can relate to each one and will successfully identify these themes in history. I know they can see examples of these themes in current events. The experiment in April will be putting the past and present together. Stay tuned.