History & Social Science Classes

Students in grade six expand their understanding of history by studying the people and events that ushered in the dawn of the major Western and non-Western ancient civilizations. Geography is of special significance in the development of the human story. Continued emphasis is placed on the everyday lives, problems, and accomplishments of people and their role in developing social, economic, and political structures, as well as the establishing and spreading of ideas that helped transform the world forever. Students develop higher levels of critical thinking by considering why civilizations developed where and when they did, why they became dominant, and why they declined. Students analyze the interactions among the various cultures, emphasizing their enduring contributions and the link, despite time, between the contemporary and ancient worlds.

The goals of this course are to teach the students about cultural awareness and cultural differences. We study the geography of countries and regions, and how climate and terrain shape people's lives. From that point, we study the cultural processes and cultural systems (dress, food, economy, literature, art, politics, and beliefs) that emerge from human interaction with the environment. We learn the lines of latitude and longitude, and about how the actual location of a place on the globe is impacted by climate and terrain, which in turn affects the way people shape their respective world views, their environments, and how they produce and transport goods. We learn from an interdisciplinary approach, combining history, geography, literature, and art in the process.

Eighth grade US History and Geography students will gain an understanding of the people and events that have brought the United States into the twenty-first century. They will draw parallels to the present by learning about the geography of America; colonial heritage and the American Revolution; the Constitution and the Challenges as a new nation; Westward Expansion; the Civil War and Reconstruction; Immigration; the Industrial Age and the Progressive Movement; American Imperialism and the road to World War I.

Cultural Geography examines people, places, and environments on local, regional, national, and international scales. Sociological and cultural perspectives will be covered as well. Students will be provided with the opportunity to study the interaction of people, cultures, and their physical environments. The purpose of this course is to help students develop geographical skills that will enable them to better understand and appreciate the place where they live as well as places around the world. They will also learn about how their lives are interconnected with the lives of people around the world, and will discover that geography is about much more than knowing where places are. It is about understanding the fundamental importance of space and place for all aspects of our lives. We explore the major topics of human geography though detailed case studies that show how demographic, environmental, cultural, social, political, and economic processes shape the geography of the world. Moreover, the topics we explore in this class lead directly into topics studied in numerous other classes including sociology, economics, political science, history, civil engineering, ethnic studies, and gender studies among others.

This one semester required course studies how people and countries use their resources to produce, distribute, and consume goods and services. Included are considerations of traditional economic concepts and principles.

The honors-level course will explore the same topics as the standard-level course, but in a more in-depth manner.

American Government is a one semester course that examines the origins of the American constitutional system, analyzes the structure and function of modern American government and politics, and explores the role of the citizen in a representative democracy. This course meets state Social Science standards as well as graduation and college entrance requirements.

The honors-level course will explore the same topics as the standard-level course, but in a more in-depth manner.

Humanities students will learn to appreciate great works of art, architecture, literature, and poetry.  Students will look at written works, art works, architecture, social groups, culture, personal history, and political institutions as examples of the creative power of the human mind and spirit. Students will be exposed to the message of works, the medium used, and how a method is employed. Students will infuse the text with their own personal opinions and express themselves through various mediums. Their writings and creative projects will serve as an expressive response to the works of others, as well as a major way of forming their own ideas.

Psychology is an elective course is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of psychology. Students will be introduced to the methodology behind psychological research and will learn how to interpret it. Students will also learn how the human mind works from both biological and cognitive viewpoints. Through this learning, students will develop a better understanding of their own behavior and will gain some practical applications for enriching their lives.

Students in U.S. History (often taken in grade eleven) study the major turning points in American history in the twentieth century. Following a review of the nation's beginnings and the impact of the enlightenment on U.S. democratic ideals, students build upon the previous study of global industrialization to understand the emergence and impact of new technology and a corporate economy, including the social and cultural effects. They trace the change in the ethnic composition of American society; the movement toward equal rights for racial minorities and women; and the role of the United States as a major world power. An emphasis is placed on the expanding role of the federal government and federal courts as well as the continuing tension between the individual and the state. Students consider the major social problems of our time and trace their causes in historical events. They learn that the United States has served as a model for other nations and that the rights and freedoms we enjoy are not accidents, but the results of a defined set of political principles that are not always basic to citizens of other countries. Students understand that our rights under the U.S. Constitution are a precious inheritance that depends on an educated citizenry for their preservation and protection.

The honors-level course will explore the same topics as the standard-level course, but in a more in-depth manner.

Students in World History (often taken in grade ten) study major turning points that shaped the modern world from the late eighteenth century through the present, including the cause and course of the two world wars. They trace the rise of democratic ideas and develop an understanding of the historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain to international relations. They extrapolate from the American experience that democratic ideals are often achieved at a high price, remain vulnerable, and are not practiced everywhere in the world. Students develop an understanding of current world issues and relate them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts. Students consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international relations from a variety of perspectives.

The honors-level course will explore the same topics as the standard-level course, but in a more in-depth manner.