Social Studies
Social Studies - Grade 7: United States History- The First Peoples to Reconstruction - one full year. This course is one half of the New York State Middle School U.S. History requirement. Upon completion of this course students will take a Final Exam as well as be able to examine and analyze historical documents in context to the course material. The main topics of study include the following: First civilizations and the Explorers impact on Native Populations, the 13 Colonies to the American Revolution, the Constitution and The Bill of Rights, the Jacksonian Era, Westward Expansion, the Reform period, and events leading to the Civil War.
U.S. History – Grade 8: Students cover from the American Civil War to present day in the second half of US History that started in 7th grade. Topics focus on the social, economic, political and military themes of history while working with various original documents. Students are introduced to the assessment methods used in Regents courses. Course Outline: Civil War, Reconstruction, Gilded Age, US Imperialism, Roaring 20's / Great Depression, World War Two, Cold War, Equal Rights Movement, Current Events.
Global History and Geography – Grade 9: Ninth grade Global History and Geography covers world history in a chronological format from the Neolithic Revolution until 1750. This curriculum provides students with the opportunity to explore what is happening in various regions and civilizations at a given time in history. In addition, it enables students to investigate issues and themes from multiple perspectives and make global connections that lead to in-depth understanding of major themes in history. Focuses include a study of culture, geography, human rights, conflict, turning points, economic, and political systems. (Full year, 1.0 credit)
Pre-AP World History – Grade 9: Students enrolled in Pre-AP World begin this two year course in 9th grade by exploring key themes of world history, including interaction with the environment, cultures, state-building, economic systems, and social structures, from approximately 8000 B.C.E. to 1750. In 10th grade, students will continue their study of chronological history from 1750 to the present. During both 9th and 10th grade students will learn to apply historical thinking skills including the ability to craft arguments from evidence; describe, analyze and evaluate events from a chronological perspective; compare and contextualize historical developments; and analyze evidence, reasoning and context to construct and understand historical interpretations. (Full year, 1.0 credit)
Prerequisites: A minimum average of 85% in 8th grade Social Studies, the Social Studies 8 teacher’s recommendation, a required summer project.
*No college credit is offered for this course.
AP World History - Grade 10: In the second year of this course, students will continue exploring and analyzing history beginning with the French & American Revolutions and concluding with modern perspectives. Students will also review and prepare for the AP World History Exam in May. After the AP Exam, students spend the remainder of the school year reviewing for the 10 Global History and Geography Exam in June. Advanced Placement World History is a challenging course that explores the past over time and focuses on common themes and patterns. AP World History deals with the “big picture”, with comparison of major societies, understanding of change and continuity over time, and analysis of history through primary source documents. (Full year, 1.0 credit)
Prerequisite: a summer project
Global History and Geography – Grade 10: Tenth grade Global History and Geography covers world history in a chronological format from 1750 until today. This curriculum provides students with the opportunity to explore what is happening in various regions and civilizations at a given time in history as well as analyzing the current state of the world. In addition, it enables students to investigate issues and themes from multiple perspectives and make global connections that lead to in-depth understanding of major themes in history. Focuses include a study of culture, geography, human rights, conflict, turning points, economic, and political systems. (Full year, 1.0 credit)
U.S. History and Government – Grade 11: This course consists of an in-depth study of the Constitution and American Government followed by a study of American events. It includes the study of 32 significant Supreme Court cases as well as the study of the post-Civil War United States (circa 1865-present), with a major emphasis on the Industrial and Post-Industrial society of today. This course concludes with the New York State Regents Exam in U.S. History and Government. (Full-year, 1.0 credit)
AP United States History – Grade 11/12: AP United States History is an elective course for juniors combining the Regents U.S. History and Government requirements with college-level assignments. It is a survey course in U.S. History from the arrival of the first Native Americans to the continent to the present. The course requires summer reading and writing projects in preparation for the school year. This course is taught as a college-level course and recommended for students with a strong interest in U.S. history and those willing to invest a significant amount of time and effort beyond the classroom. To achieve AP credit, students will be required to take the AP United States History test in May. After the AP Exam, students will spend the remainder of the school year reviewing for the U.S. History and Government Exam in June. (Full year, 1.0 credit)
Prerequisite: a summer project
Grade 12: A fourth year of Social Studies is mandated by New York State for high school graduation. Students must take one semester of Economics and one semester of Participation in Government or AP American Government.
Economics – Grade 12: Students who take this course will be able to identify basic Economics concepts such as supply and demand, scarcity and opportunity cost and apply these concepts to their current and future roles as producer and consumer in our society. Students will also obtain an understanding of how the “market system” developed and how this system compares to other economic systems currently in existence. Some time will be devoted to contemporary economic issues such as inflation, labor-management strife and the impact of international relations upon our economic affairs. Students will have the opportunity to investigate the stock market and career opportunities. (Half year, .5 credit)
Participation in Government – Grade 12: This course provides students the opportunity to examine how public policy is determined at the local, state, and national levels regarding a variety of legal issues. Students will examine the criminal and civil law codes, the language of law, rights of the accused, the court system, trial procedures, and the penal system. (Half year, .5 credit)
*Required community service component.
AP Government and Politics – Grade 12: This senior year AP course (taken in place of Senior Participation in Gov’t.) provides an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific case studies. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, beliefs and ideas that constitute U.S. political reality. The following topics will be covered in the course culminating in the taking of the AP exam for all participants: constitutional underpinnings of U.S. Government, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties, interest groups, mass media, institutions of national government, public policy and civil rights/liberties. (Full year, 1.0 credit)
Prerequisite: a summer project