Academic Vocabulary Analysis Grade 8 Social Studies - Standards (TEKS) and STAAR Vocabulary

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by McQueen

Academic Vocabulary for PLC Social Studies Grade 8 connects Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) with STAAR assessment vocabulary. It lists standards-aligned academic words used to think, identify, describe, explain, and analyze key content across U.S. history through Reconstruction, alongside early exploration and colonial growth of representative institutions. The tables separate TEKS thinking and content from STAAR vocabulary terms, preparing learners to interpret and use standard-specific terminology for test performance and instruction.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Standards (TEKS): Academic Vocabulary

STAAR: Academic Vocabulary Used on the Assessment

Standard 8.1(A): U.S. History Through 1877

Standard 8.2(A): European Exploration and Colonization

Standard 8.3(A): Growth of Representative Government

Standard 8.4(A): Causes of the American Revolution

Standard 8.4(C): Issues in the American Revolution

Standard 8.4(E): Arguments for and Against Ratification

Academic Vocabulary CONTENT BUILDER FOR THE PLC SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE 8 Academic Vocabulary Analysis Grade 8 Social Studies STANDARDS (TEKS): academic vocabulary directly taken from the standard STAAR: academic vocabulary used on the assessment (source released tests) STANDARD 8.1(A) identify the major eras and events in U.S. history through 1877, including colonization, revolution, drafting of the Declaration of Independence, creation and ratification of the Constitution, religious revivals such as the Second Great Awakening, early republic, the Age of Jackson, westward expansion, reform movements, sectionalism, Civil War, and Reconstruction, and describe their causes and effects | STANDARDS (TEKS) | | STAAR | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Thinking | Content | Content | Common | | Identify | Major eras | Spiritual revival | Promoted | | Describe | Events | Reason | Convened | | | Colonization | Scientific theory | Defining | | | Revolution | States’ rights | Challenged | | | Drafting Declaration of Independence | Mercantilism | | | | Constitution | Global trade | | | | Creation | Intolerable Acts | | | | Ratification | First Continental Congress | | | | Religious revivals | Thomas Paine | | | | Second Great Awakening | Common Sense | | | | Early republic | Era of Good Feelings | | | | Age of Jackson | Revolutionary era | | | | Westward expansion | Jacksonian era | | | | Reform movements | Characteristic | | | | Sectionalism | Ceded territory | | | | Civil War | Great Britain | | | | Reconstruction | Sense of nationalism | | | | Cause | Evangelical revivalists | | | | Effect | Religious traditionalists | | | | | Restructure federal government | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Vocabulary term used on STAAR | | | STANDARD 8.2(A) identify reasons for European exploration and colonization of North America | STANDARDS (TEKS) | | STAAR | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Thinking | Content | Content | Common | | Identify | Reasons | France | Primary | | | Exploration | Overpopulation | | | | Colonization | Europe | | | | North America | Communities | | | | | Religious tolerance | | | | | Profit | | | | | Trade (furs, other goods) | | | | | Joint ventures | | | | | Powers | | | | | | | | | Vocabulary term used on STAAR | | | Academic Vocabulary Analysis Grade 8 Social Studies STANDARDS (TEKS): academic vocabulary directly taken from the standard STAAR: academic vocabulary used on the assessment (source released tests) STANDARD 8.3(A) explain the reasons for the growth of representative government and institutions during the colonial period | STANDARDS (TEKS) | | STAAR | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Thinking | Content | Content | Common | | Explain | Reasons | Parliament | Policy | | | Growth | King of England | Tradition | | | Representative
government | Exercise control | Diagram | | | Institutions | Local matters | | | | Colonial period | Regional matters | | | | | Salutatory neglect | | | | | Self-government | | | | | Proprietary | | | | | Converted | | | | | Royal colonies | | | | | System of common defense | | | | | Economic aid | | | | | Great Britain | | | | | Lawmaking structure | | | | | Traditional rights | | | | | Englishmen | | | | | General council | | | | | Manage | | | | | Strict control | | | | | Institutions | | | | | Appointed | | | | | Governors | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Vocabulary term used on STAAR | | | Academic Vocabulary Analysis Grade 8 Social Studies STANDARDS (TEKS): academic vocabulary directly taken from the standard STAAR: academic vocabulary used on the assessment (source released tests) STANDARD 8.4(A) analyze causes of the American Revolution, including the Proclamation of 1763, the Intolerable Acts, the Stamp Act, mercantilism, lack of representation in Parliament, and British economic policies following the French and India

FAQs

What does the document focus on for Grade 8 Social Studies vocabulary?

It focuses on academic vocabulary drawn directly from TEKS standards and the specific vocabulary used on the STAAR assessment.

How are TEKS and STAAR vocabulary presented in the document?

Each standard is shown with TEKS thinking/content terms and a corresponding STAAR vocabulary section for assessment-related wording.

Which U.S. history topics are covered under Standard 8.1(A)?

Standard 8.1(A) covers major eras and events in U.S. history through 1877, including colonization, revolution, creation and ratification of the Constitution, major religious revivals, the Age of Jackson, westward expansion, reform movements, sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by McQueen