Social Studies
As Social Studies teachers, we hope to help students recognize their position and responsibility in the country that they call their own. We hope to lead you to be aware of the historical and present issues that affect each of us individually and collectively. You will find that the teachers in this department are highly involved in our local neighborhood, this community, as well as the school. We are coaches, mentors, sponsors, and great listeners. You should feel comfortable discussing issues with us, our doors are always open! We are proud to be Norsemen!!
Our Course Offerings:
9th Grade:
WORLD HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY is a year-long course examining the major civilizations of the past and present. This course concentrates on humanity’s more significant political, economic, cultural, and intellectual achievements from 1450 to the present. The impact of geography, nationalism, imperialism, and the rise of science is emphasized. World Geography provides students with an overview of world geography. Topics typically include the physical environment, the political landscape, the relationship between people and the land, economic production and development, and the movement of people, goods, and ideas.
ORADVANCED PLACEMENT WORLD HISTORY* - following the College Board’s suggested curriculum designed to parallel college-level World History courses, AP World History courses examine world history from 8000 BCE to the present with the aim of helping students develop a greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts and how different human societies have interacted. This course highlights the nature of changes in an international context and explores their causes, continuities, and changes.
10th Grade:
U.S. HISTORY - 10th-grade required course is a modern U.S. History that examines the history of the United States from the Civil War or Reconstruction era through the present time. The course typically includes a historical review of political, military, scientific, and social developments. United States History is a two-semester course in which the history and civilization of America are examined from a broad perspective. The course focuses on the analysis of important concepts, events, and people in the American experience. The student is asked to use the historical method and to examine carefully the social, political, and economic forces that shaped America.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT U.S. HISTORY* - following the College Board’s suggested curriculum designed to parallel college-level U.S. History courses, AP U.S. History provides students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to address critical problems and materials in U.S. history. Students learn to assess historical materials and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. The course examines the discovery and settlement of the New World through the recent past. This is a weighted course.
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT US HISTORY is a college-level survey course that offers dual credit for both the District 12 requirement, as well as a 6-credit college course that students can take at no charge.
11th Grade:
U.S. GOVERNMENT is required for all 11th graders. This course is offered as a semester course. U.S. Government provides an overview of the structure and functions of the U.S. government and political institutions and examines constitutional principles, the concepts of rights and responsibilities, the role of political parties and interest groups, and the importance of civic participation in the democratic process. This course may examine the structure and function of state and local governments and may cover certain economic and legal topics.
PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY covers the fundamentals of economic systems with the main focus on market economies. Topics such as supply, demand, market competition, and economic cycles are related to consumer choice and current issues. There will be a strong focus placed on personal finance. Topics such as saving, debt, and investing will be covered.
12th grade:
PSYCHOLOGY - 12th-grade semester course that introduces students to the study of individual human behavior. Course content typically includes (but is not limited to) an overview of the field of psychology, topics in human growth and development, personality and behavior, and abnormal psychology.
SOCIOLOGY - 12th-grade semester course that introduces students to the study of human behavior in society. This course provides an overview of sociology, generally including (but not limited to) topics such as social institutions and norms, socialization and social change, and the relationships among individuals and groups in society.
Law For Everyone* - 12th-grade - examines the basic principles of the American constitutional, legal, and political systems. Students will explore topics that have immediate impact on their lives and will be able to look at government from a variety of perspectives such as the US legal and justice systems, elections, public policy, and citizenship. Although these courses emphasize the legal process, they may also cover the history and foundation of U.S. law (the Constitution, statutes, and precedents). Check out the intro video! You can also check the course syllabus to get an idea of the scope and sequence.