Middle Grades Social Studies Concentration

Students will study American political, economic, cultural and social history from the age of discovery through the Civil War. In addition to gaining an awareness of the great sweep of early American history, students will focus on important individuals, crucial events and fundamental concepts in the unfolding of the American nation. Class assignments are designed to help students develop reading, writing, and critical thinking skills necessary for both further historical study and general academic success.

Students will explore American political, economic, cultural and social history from the dawn of Reconstruction through the present. In addition to gaining a valuable framework for modern United States history, students will focus on the individuals, events and concepts that were crucial in both the internal struggle to achieve the American dream and external rise to the level of global superpower. Class assignments are designed to help students develop reading, writing, and critical thinking skills necessary for both further historical study and general academic success.

Students will explore the nature and evolution of the major contributions of world societies from their ancient Near East origins through the 16th century. In addition to gaining a valuable historical framework, the student will also build critical thinking skills by taking an analytical and thematic approach. Themes might include: the changing status of women; the human perception of the divine; the question of individual freedom; culture as a mirror of society; the development of Western thought. Students will be evaluated primarily on writing assignments.

Students examine what they have learned in previous history courses by applying methods used by professional historians. Emphasis will be on historical research and writing and viewing historical events from multiple perspectives. Theoretical perspectives will be applied to answering student generated questions.