Social Studies Courses

Social Studies

Middle School Social Studies exploratory classes extend the learning of history and the humanities beyond the content of our theme classes. These courses allow students to choose topics in history, culture, philosophy, economics, and government.

Culture and Identity Within

This class takes a closer look at how we are personally impacted by culture and culture conflict in society. With a heavy focus on students’ personal experiences and perspectives, we will look at and beyond culture as it relates to ethnicity, heritage, and race and begin to look at cultures developed out of other identity groups like gender, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, and citizenship status. After examining our own personal attitudes, beliefs, and biases, we will learn and develop skills and strategies that allow us as individuals to work towards positive change within the TCS community, as well as the greater communities to which we belong. Storytelling and Culture This course explores storytelling as a means of passing on essential cultural values from generation to generation. Students will explore folktales from a variety of cultural and historic contexts, analyze them, and share their results. We will also focus on the craft of storytelling, and share stories, both old and new, with little ones, in the spirit of valuing oral tradition. Philsophy and Ethics

This class will foster a mindset of awareness and intention in students. Students will explore the purpose of philosophy and its importance in their daily lives. Common philosophical theories will be introduced and explored such as ethics, critical thinking and logic, and knowledge/ epistemology. These theories will be applied to the lives of the students as often as possible in order to allow the students to experience the relevance of these ancient questions and skills that are still hotly debated today! With plenty of discussion opportunities, the students will be able to add their own voices to the conversation. Mapping and Geoliteracy This course explores mapping, from modern GIS technology to the handmade charts of yesteryear. This course is not about wayfinding, as much as it is about maps as windows into the cultural values of the map makers. Students will be challenged to read, analyze, make their own maps as well. Gender Studies

Have you ever wondered why baby boys’ clothes are blue and baby girls’ clothes are pink? Or why girls wear make-up and boys don’t? This interdisciplinary class will examine definitions of gender and concepts of femininity and masculinity, as well as the ways in which gender and power impact the lives of women both today and in history. Topics will cover a broad array of issues, from body image and eating disorders to domestic violence, feminism, and relationship dynamics. Several experts will make guest presentations. Students will be encouraged to think creatively about how gender roles affect their own

lives and futures.

World Cultures Today

From the 10,000 foot view of global statistics to the personal stories of individual families, our world has never been more diverse, but also surprisingly connected. This course will explore broadly how people live all over the world today. Students will reflect on their own culture and circumstance and compare it to those in far off lands, exploring what material conditions, values, political and geographic conditions, and other factors affect the quality of life around the globe.

History Through You

Turn history inside out and personalize it. We will begin by documenting major events and memories in the lives of participants in the class. We will then move on to our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., taking note of where and when they lived and under what conditions. Along the way, we will capture stories, pictures, and family trees in a variety of media. Students will select a generation, tale, or individual to study in depth through independent projects. Strong family cooperation in this course will be helpful. Rise of Civilizations

Over the past 12,000 years, there have been a handful of moments when major shifts in technology dramatically changed human civilizations – from the invention of writing to the invention of gunpowder to the invention of the Internet. In this course, students will learn about these “great shifts” – about the rise of great civilizations and the collapse of others. Through simulations and games (both in cooperation and in competition with other students), we will model the great shifts. In addition to the simulations with their classmates, students will have the opportunity to manage their own imaginary civilizations through centuries of change. Immigration

Few changes have done more to transform the social fabric of America than immigration. This course will explore immigration both broadly and by using St. Louis as a case study. To better understand the experiences of immigrants, our class will investigate some of the most famous immigrant neighborhoods in St. Louis. We will also investigate links with current issues such as legal status, military service and citizenship, and refugees who have escaped war, persecution, and political upheaval.