The Social Science curriculum will prepare students to become active citizens in our American democracy. Through research, debate, and discussion – supported by a broad foundation of knowledge – students will gain the confidence to communicate their views. It is the ability to ask questions – and know where to find the answers – that promotes understanding for enthusiastic lifelong learning. A connection to history invites you into the present and guides you into the future.
The History curriculum will offer students grounding in American history and the development and operation of its government. It will include, but is not limited to the European settlement of North America, the Thirteen Colonies, the American Revolution, Arizona history, the growth and expansion of America, slavery and the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution and Immigration. Students also study the branches of American government, citizenship, and the lives of US presidents and other famous Americans.
The curriculum will also provide a brief introduction to World history through literature and current events. This will include, but is not limited to a foundation in the civilizations of ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, the British Monarchy, Africa, China, and Japan. Students will use and evaluate primary sources, historical documents, and the internet to responsibly and critically access information.
In geography, students will develop an understanding of maps and map reading. They will be able to name and identify the 50 United States and their capitals, the major bodies of water, major landmasses and the five regions of the United States.
During the 6th grade the study of ancient history offers a strong foundation for students. Students will explore the Stone Age and the Bronze Age, as well as early civilizations, including, Mesopotamia, the Persian Empire, Babylonia, the Egyptians, and the Tigris and Euphrates Valleys. Judaism and the rise of monotheism, the ancient cultures of China and India will be covered. The influence of Greek civilization and the Roman Republic will be studied, as well as the rise of Christianity and Islam. The course will end with an examination of the feudal system, religious warfare, and the growth of towns and cities within the context of the Middle Ages.
United States History is taught in 7th grade and in the 11th grade. During the 7th grade Pre-History to the Civil War and Arizona History will be taught with the focus on Prehistoric cultures, the investigation of European contact, the establishment of the thirteen colonies, the Revolutionary War, the Articles of Confederation and the formation of the Constitution, the foundation for political parties, social and cultural differences between the North and South, and the Civil War. This course will have a multicultural perspective.
During the 8th grade Western Civilization from the Renaissance to the present will offer students insight into the interaction between our history and that of the rest of the western world. Special consideration is given to the humanism of the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the philosophers of the Enlightenment, the French Revolution and American Revolution as models of revolutions around the world, comparative government, the rise of socialism, capitalism, and other isms. There will be a focus on the 20th century to increase the understanding of modern history’s impact on our own lives.
In 9th grade an introduction to Social Sciences offers a more in-depth foundation of U.S. government and the Constitution that will allow for analysis and interpretation at a more appropriate developmental level. Students also cover relevant topics in the fields of Economics, Sociology, Political Science, and Psychology.
In 10th grade Modern Civilization will cover global issues focusing on thought provoking issues around the world like war/peace, global interdependence, environmental concerns, the global economy, poverty around the world, and current global topics that affect students’ lives.
In 11th grade U.S. History will encompass the Reconstruction to the Present including the time from the Reconstruction to the Civil Rights Movement, the social movements of the 20th century, World War I and II, the Great Depression, the Cold War and Post-World War II economy. This course will also take a multicultural perspective.
During the 12th grade the course will deal with an introduction to Government and Politics which will invite students to take a more active role in community, government and politics. Students will understand the political process, follow elections, host guest speakers to prepare them for active roles as citizens in American society. This course will also take a multicultural perspective.