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Three credits of Social Studies are
required for graduation. This must include one credit of US History
and a half a credit of Government. In addition to our Social Studies
Department's classes we have extracurricular Social Studies activities.
Some such extracurricular activities are Model United Nations class trip
to the Hague to participate in a mock United Nations conference. We also
have MUSS (Model United States Senate), where students work after school
and sometimes on the weekends in order to participate in a mock
Senate.
Social Studies
Courses
WORLD
REGIONS
GRADE LEVEL:
9
LENGTH OF COURSE: 36 WEEKS
PREREQUISITE US HISTORY: 8
MAJOR CONCEPTS/CONTENT:
This course is designed for students to study other cultures
and enable the students to understand the global community in which we
live. Students develop skills that are necessary to analyze change as well
as continue the study of geography begun in the elementary grades and in
middle school in grade seven. An overview of concepts of physical
geography is accomplished in the first unit of study. A working
understanding of this vocabulary is fundamental to the course. The
cultural regions studies will primarily be drawn from the Eastern
Hemisphere: the Middle East and North Africa, East Asia, South Asia,
Southeast Asia, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The geography
and culture of the United States and the host country are used as a basis
of comparison throughout. Students are introduced to Service Learning with
twenty hours of curriculum related project work. This fulfills the new
DoDDS graduation requirement of eighty hours that began with the Class of
2002.
WORLD HISTORY
World
History Links
GRADE
LEVEL: 9-12
LENGTH OF COURSE: 36
WEEKS
PREREQUISITE: NONE
MAJOR CONCEPTS/CONTENT:
This is a general course covering the scope of
World History from the pre-historic period to the present day. The course
is presented in a chronological-thematic fashion; that is, it follows
history in a procession of events, while at times it dwells on the
development of science, the arts,
exploration, and the rise of the nation states as some
examples. Students will be assigned daily reading with homework
assignments, frequent oral reports, possible written and construction
projects for extra credit, with films and lectures to comprise the bulk of
the course. The grade is based on the homework assignments, projects,
reports, participation, quizzes, and tests.
U.S.
HISTORY
GRADE LEVEL:
11-12
LENGTH OF COURSE: 36
WEEKS
PREREQUISITE: NONE
MAJOR CONCEPTS/CONTENT:
This is a chronological study of American History.
The students will use study questions, lectures, discussions, and readings
to reach the established objectives. Related current events are also
included. The political, economic, and social history of the United States
is all covered to a
certain extent in this
course. The main focus is the time period from the Civil War to present
day. Students are expected to keep a notebook. The grade is based on
tests, quizzes, homework assignments, and participation in class.
U.S.
GOVERNMENT
GRADE LEVEL:
12
LENGTH OF COURSE: 18 WEEKS
PREREQUISITE: SENIOR
MAJOR CONCEPTS/CONTENT:
The course examines the organization and operation of our
federal
government. Students study how laws
are made, how they are interpreted and applied. Topics discussed will
include the Constitution, electoral process, separation of powers, checks
and balances, and current affairs. Discussion will be stimulated from
chapter terms and questions, supplemented by videotapes and lectures.
Students are expected to bring materials and take notes. Grade is based on
the percentage of work completed out of the required work. This work
includes tests, quizzes, homework assignments, classroom assignments, and
study sheets.
SOCIOLOGY
GRADE
LEVEL: 10-12
LENGTH OF COURSE:
18 WEEKS
PREREQUISITE:
NONE
MAJOR
CONCEPTS/CONTENT:
As a survey
course, the class will examine: the development of the field
of sociology, in terms of both structure and
action; the pressing social issues of society; and the possibilities of
future action. The major emphasis will be on American society. A basic
text is used and supplemented by a variety of activities, outside
readings, and some research. A major investigative project using
the
skills learned in the class is part of
the final grade. The grade is based on the percentage of work completed
out of the total assigned work. It includes tests, quizzes, homework
assignments, and study sheets and research projects.
PSYCHOLOGY
Web
link to Course Objectives GRADE LEVEL: 11-12
LENGTH OF COURSE: 18 WEEKS
PREREQUISITE: NONE
MAJOR CONCEPTS/CONTENT:
The primary objective of this course is to introduce the
students to the concepts and vocabulary that one will encounter in a study
of psychology. The course is designed to familiarize the student with
important psychological concepts, research findings, and basic principles
of behavior. The grade is based on tests, quizzes, participation, and
homework assignments. The students are expected to have a notebook that is
also graded.
STREET
LAW
GRADE LEVEL:
9-12
LENGTH OF COURSE: 18
WEEKS
PREREQUISITE: NONE
MAJOR CONCEPTS/CONTENT:
The focus of this course is American law. Students
will be given the opportunity to learn about the practical side of
everyday law and how it involves their lives. An
introduction to individual legal rights and
responsibilities, criminal and juvenile justice, family law, housing law
and an examination of individual rights and liberties will be covered
during the course. This is a highly participatory class that involves
role-playing, case studies, mock trials and other related scenarios.
Students are expected to keep a notebook on the cases studied and be
involved in-group activities.
A.P. AMERICAN
HISTORY
GRADE LEVEL:
11-12
LENGTH OF COURSE: 36
WEEKS
PREREQUISITE: INSTRUCTOR
APPROVAL
RECOMMENDATION: B OR BETTER
IN PREVIOUS SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSES
MAJOR
CONCEPTS/CONTENT:
The AP class in
United States History is designed to provide students with the analytical
skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal with the problems and
materials in United States History. The program prepares students for
intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them
equivalent to those made by full-year introductory college courses.
Students will be required to assess historical materials- their relevance
to a given interpretive problem, their reliability, and their importance-
and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical
scholarship. Aside from tests, quizzes and homework/classwork assignments,
students will also be required to do both verbal and written reports.
While this class can be very rewarding, the students must realize that it
will require a great deal of time and responsibility on their part. There
is a mandatory seminar class at least one day a week.
MODEL UNITED
NATIONS
GRADE LEVEL:
9-12
LENGTH OF COURSE: 18 WEEKS
(1ST SEM)
PREREQUISITE: APPROVAL OF
INSTRUCTOR
MAJOR
CONCEPTS/CONTENT:
The Model
United Nations course is designed to study the major operations and
functions of the United Nations and the role of diplomacy in the
organization’s work. The major political, economic, and cultural concerns
of Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East will be studied
with major emphasis on assigned countries. A representative group of
students will participate in the annual Model UN program in The Hague,
Netherlands.
ECONOMICS/TEL
GRADE
LEVEL: 10-12
LENGTH OF COURSE:
18 WEEKS
PREREQUISITE: APPROVAL
OF INSTRUCTOR
MAJOR
CONCEPTS/CONTENT:
The course is
designed to acquaint students with the major concepts in the study of
economics. Students study how scarce resources are allocated among
competing demands. The production, distribution, and accumulation of
wealth are discussed and analyzed. Supply and demand, business
organizations, money and banking, the role of the federal government, and
comparisons among economic systems are major topics of study. This is
taught via a computer and an instructor at an alternative site.
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