Grades 9-12
The high school Social Studies curriculum utilizes an inquiry-based instructional methodology adapted from the Understanding by Design model. The 3-year mandatory sequence includes Ancient World History, Civics, Modern World History, and United States History. Electives range from Law and Justice, Economics, and Psychology to European History, African-American Studies, and Latin Studies.
Grade 9
Unit 1 – Ancient Greece
- How did the geography of Greece affect the growth of its civilizations?
- How did cooperation and conflict define the course of Ancient Greek history?
- How did beliefs shape Greek individuals, institutions, and city-states?
Unit 2 – Ancient Rome
- How did Roman individuals and institutions demonstrate effective and ineffective leadership?
- What was the role of technology in Roman history and its effect on World History?
- How did various forces (e.g. PERSIA) contribute to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire?
Unit 3 – China and Feudal Japan
- What were the P.E.R.S.I.A aspects of the Empire of China and Feudal Japan?
- What factors contributed to the rise and fall of great empires? (Han Dynasty)
- What were the origins, central ideas, and factors that led to the emergence and spread of belief systems? (Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese Philosophies)
Unit 4 – Early Modern Ages and the Rise of Islam
- How did the needs, wants and the availability of resources shape the development of regional civilization? (Medieval Europe & the Muslim World)
- How did beliefs shape individuals and institutions in the various regions of the world?
- What were the causes and results of the encounters between regional civilizations?
Unit 5 – European Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution
- How did various forces (e.g. PERSIA) contribute to the rise of Early Modern Europe?
- How did technology shape the history of Early Modern Europe?
- How did changes in beliefs shape the individuals, institutions and nations of Early Modern Europe?
Unit 6 – Global Encounters – Asia
- How did interactions between needs, wants and resources influence exploration, expansion and colonization?
- What were the various reactions of non-Europeans civilizations to European exploration, expansion and colonization?
- How is technology part of the global exchange?
Unit 7 – Global Encounters: Africa and Latin America
- How does the interaction between needs, wants and resources influence global exploration?
- How did forces (PERSIA) impact the development of the New World?
- How did the beliefs of the Europeans impact the people of Latin America and Africa?
Unit 8 – Absolutism and Enlightenment
- How did absolutism shape nations in Europe?
- How does the view of effective leadership change from the Age of Absolutism to the Age of Enlightenment?
- What factors led to the Enlightenment and how did it influence the beliefs of individuals, institutions and the growth of nations?
Unit 9 – Age of Revolution and Reaction
- How did cooperation and conflict influence various revolutions?
- How is effective leadership defined during the Age of Revolution?
- What were the causes and results of the Age of Revolution?
Grade 10 CIVICS
UNIT 1 – Your Role as a Citizen
- What is citizenship?
- What are the rights of citizens?
- What are the responsibilities of citizens?
UNIT 2 – Foundations of American Government
- What are the historical and political origins of the government of the United States?
- How does the structure and function of government in the United States reflect the balance between local/state and federal governments?
- What values and principles are basic to the government of the United States?
UNIT 3 – American Political System
- How does the American political system provide for choice and opportunities for participation?
- What is the role of public opinion and media in the American political system?
- What is the role of interest groups in American politics?
UNIT 4 – The United States and It’s Role in World Affairs
- What is the role of the United States in international affairs?
- How do domestic politics influence world affairs?
- How have other nations influenced American politics?
Grade 11 US History
UNIT 1 – Colonial America: Impacts on Patterns of Development, 1607-1754
- What motivated people to immigrate to America?
- What were the major reasons for the regional differences among the colonists?
UNIT 2 – American Revolution and A New Nation, 1754-1781
- How did Americans switch from seeing themselves as British colonists to Americans”?
- What were the major causes of the American Revolution?
- How did the turning points of the American Revolution impact America and its relationship with other countries during and after the war?
UNIT 3 – Constitution and the Early Republic, 1781-1824
- How did the Americans view the proper role and responsibility of government in the post-revolutionary era?
- How did the policies of the Federalist presidents shape American domestic and foreign policy?
- How did the nation cope and deal with the transition of political power from one party to another?
UNIT 4 – Age of Jackson and Expansion, 1801-1860
- What were the major reasons for U.S. expansion west?
- What impact did U.S. expansion have on the American continent and its people?
- How did American democracy change during the Age of Jackson?
UNIT 5 – Sectionalism and Reform, 1830-1860
- How did political issues and economic differences influence sectionalism?
- How did the issues of slavery, immigration and reform influence domestic development?
UNIT 6 – Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877
- What were the causes and effects of the Civil War on American society?
- What were the difficulties associated with Reconstruction and its long-term impact on American society, focusing specifically on African Americans?
- What were the roots of segregation, and how did it affect American society?
UNIT 7 – Emergence of Modern America: Domestic Issues, 1870-1917
- How did immigration contribute to the urbanization and modernization of America?
- How did industrialization impact American society?
- How did the problems associated with modernization shape the Progressive reform movement?
UNIT 8 – Emergence of America as a World Power, 1890-1920
- Why did the United States expand overseas and what impact did it have on U.S. foreign policy?
- What impact did World War I have on U.S. domestic policy during and after the war?
UNIT 9 – The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression, 1920-1941
- Why is the decade of the 1920s seen as a period of contrast between traditional and modern American culture?
- What were the causes and impacts of the Great Depression?
- How did the role of government change due to the Great Depression?
UNIT 10 – World War II, 1932-1945
- How did world economic and political situation lead to WW II?
- What impact did WW II have on American society?
- How did military strategy and technology influence the outcome of WWII?
UNIT 11 – The Cold War, 1945–1989
- How did political and economic differences between the East and West create conflicts in the post WW II era?
- How did the social and political movements of the post-war years shape American society?
- How did America’s role in the world change after WW II?
UNIT 12 – Contemporary America, 1950-Present
- How did America’s struggle for social reform change social, political and economic beliefs?
- What role has the Supreme Court played in designing the American society?
- How did the movements of social change impact American society?
- How has September 11th 2001, redefined American domestic and foreign policy?