The social studies curriculum is designed as a two-year format. The first year involves a focus on the United States, from pre-1776 to the modern nation. The second year involves a world studies focus, enabling the students to explore the ever-changing global community. The two year format however allows for both American and world studies to be investigated together.
American and Global Heritage
- Students will work forward from some initiating event to its outcome recognizing cause and effect factors, but also considering the accidental or irrational as a causal in history.
- Students will consider how framing of questions, elements of argumentation, and perspective influence historical interpretation.
- Students will construct a definition of culture and compare the American culture with others around the world.
- Students will study the basics of cultures, such as philosophical and religious ideas, customs, rituals, and traditions that "define" their people.
- Students will consider the use of geographical themes of place, human relationships with environment, movement, and regions to show the interrelationship between geography and historic and cultural events.
- Students will describe ways in which natural processes and human activities contribute to global environmental problems.
