History

History — Grade 6

Students in Grade 6 history broaden their knowledge, perspective, and appreciation for world geography, world cultures, and world history. Inquiry, investigation, and research skills are strengthened as students are guided to recognize issues of global importance. Each global issue is examined through case studies in various regions of the world. Students investigate the historic and contemporary challenges of Migration, Standard of Living, Globalization, and Human Rights. Through their investigations, students develop skills for discussion, debate, research, inquiry, writing arguments, and reading informational text. Several cross-curricular elements enhance the course design, such as our study of World War II paired across Grade 6 English, history and science classes.

History — Grade 7

Grade 7 US History is an educational journey reaching back to early migration to the Americas and landing with the Civil Rights Movements of the 1960s. Throughout this course, students will examine history through the use of primary sources. We will look to use a diverse range of viewpoints attempting to gain a greater understanding of US history through the lenses of others as they experienced it firsthand. Students will analyze, interpret, and synthesize the information presented in primary source documents through discussions, presentations, and writing. Students will have the opportunity to express what they have learned in a variety of ways, including the creation of posters, presentations (group and individual), and assessments. Through this journey, students will develop a richer understanding of the past by finding the historic threads in current events that trace back to making a larger connection. Some of the historical moments we will study in this class include the Age of Exploration, Colonies, Reconstruction, Industrial Revolution, Immigration, Progressive Era, and the Civil Rights Movement.

History — Grade 8

The Grade 8 civics course inspires students to generate solutions to social problems of personal interest to them, through which they construct their understanding of the dynamic relationships between governments and the governed. Much of the coursework is driven by students’ capstone studies; after selecting a theme for the year, students develop portfolios of research projects that illustrate this relationship. Throughout the year, students develop robust understandings of political elections, the three branches of government, and citizen participation. The course curriculum is responsive to current events, giving students ample opportunity to apply foundational knowledge to real-world circumstances. They craft their skills as writers of evidence-based arguments and regularly receive coaching on their abilities to engage in civil discourse.