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Department Chair: Mrs. Tamar Appel
Social Studies incorporates a broad range of disciplines, including history, geography, economics and Government, in an attempt to help students understand and appreciate the world in which they live. The subject matter of courses offered encompasses the growth of civilization, the development of democracy, European history, and United States history and government. Advanced Placement courses and a variety of electives are also offered.
The goals of the Social Studies program are to:
COURSE OF STUDY
Students are required to take four years of Social Studies. During the first two years, students study the growth of civilization from the rise of the great ancient civilizations through an exploration of European history and its effects on the world today. Each year begins with a study of geography and how that discipline affects the cultural, economic and political character of our civilization. Students are required to read the New York Times on a regular basis in an attempt to keep them informed about the major events taking place in our ever-changing world.
All social studies courses interact with other disciplines to provide a well-integrated course of study. This interdisciplinary approach to learning promotes a better understanding of the social and cultural aspects of our civilization. It helps develop reading, writing, thinking, communication and research skills referencing both traditional printed, audio-visual and technological library resources.
In ninth grade, the history curriculum focuses on the ancient civilizations of the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin; the Greek and Roman civilizations; the Middle Ages as a prelude to the modern world; the ideas of the Renaissance; the Age of Discovery and the growth of democracy.
The study of world history in the tenth grade takes the student on a trip from the democratic revolutions of the 17th and 18th centuries to the events of the modern world. The students explore such topics as nationalism, war, democracy, and the triumph of man over his oppressors and his environment. The course stresses current events by comparing the major occurrences of yesterday with the events of today. The Internet is used as an addition to the textbook, enabling the students to explore history in both greater breadth and depth. Students come away from this course with a greater appreciation for the contributions individuals have made to world progress.
This course is offered to sophomores who have demonstrated proficiency and intense interest in history in their freshman year, and who possess advanced writing skills.
In the eleventh grade, students cover the history of the United States and its place within international affairs. American history is approached from political, social and economic perspectives. Students are encouraged to see the reconstruction of the past as an unfinished project that is open to revision, and are taught to critically employ primary documents in this effort. The goal is to make history a living thing that can be used by the students in coming to their own understanding of how American values and American traditions condition their nation and their own lives.
Students who have demonstrated proficiency in history are encouraged to take the United States History Advanced Placement course. This college-level course employs a text that is frequently used by universities in their introductory-level U.S. history courses, in order to expose students to those methodologies and controversies that shape the best work done in this field at the present time.
In the senior year students are exposed to an intensive overview of U.S. Government. The constitutional foundations of our system and the contemporary operation of that system in real-world politics are studied. The course develops citizen engagement of political issues and a sophisticated awareness of the social profile of our country.
Students who have demonstrated proficiency in history are encouraged to take the Advanced Placement United States Government course, a college-level introduction to the foundations and operations of the United States government.
This course explores the thought and culture of China, Japan, the Indian subcontinent, Africa south of the Sahara, and Latin America. On the way, students develop an understanding and appreciation of the historic, religious, and cultural backgrounds that placed these areas on today’s international stage.
Each decade in American history has its own style, culture, entertainment, and history. This course engages students in an in-depth exploration of one decade of the twentieth century through study of magazines, newspapers, posters, and other primary sources. Through oral and local history, museum visits and web searches, a decade from the past is brought to life.
This course examines the American criminal justice system by examining both the rules (i.e., what defines a criminal act) and the procedures (i.e., from investigation to arrest to jail . . . or worse) that guide the system. Students look at real-life crimes, study real-life cases, and view the videos of famous trials. The class also delves into the Constitutional issues that are so often written about in the news, such as “innocent until proven guilty,” Miranda rights, right against self-incrimination, right to bail, etc. Interwoven into all portions of the course is an exploration of the social/political issues that rivet our criminal justice system, including issues of race, poverty, the death penalty, punishing juveniles, etc. Guest lectures or field trips to the court house to view actual trials leave the students with a realistic sense of both the flaws and the strengths of our fascinating legal system.
Advanced Placement Psychology introduces students to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The course surveys the major subfields of psychology, and considers the theoretical and empirical orientations that have shaped the discipline. Topics studied include neuroscience, genetics, and behavior. The bio-psycho-social perspective is used to study psychological disorders and therapy. Areas in cognition such as perception, learning, memory, language and thinking, and intelligence are covered. Study of the individual focuses on child development, personality, and emotion. Critical thinking and statistical reasoning are important elements of the curriculum.
This course is an 11th grade elective, in which students are introduced to the field of psychology through an overview of multiple psychological themes, including developmental psychology, abnormal psychology and treatment, memory, and states of consciousness. These themes are explored through various media, including video presentations, role-playing, and group projects.