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Social Studies
The middle school Social Studies offerings provide students with a range of content as they develop the critical writing and thinking skills necessary in the social sciences. Students are introduced to archeology and cartography in the beginning of sixth grade and then begin to explore how and why societies develop, as well as the elements that make for successful civilizations. In seventh grade, students take a deep dive into geography, evaluating how the physical geography of the world influences settlement patterns, while also exploring the history, cultures and beliefs of the regions they study. As eighth graders, students study the origins of the United States and its government and then spend the second half of the year exploring how the country’s government functions at the local, state and federal levels. Each grade level provides students with a variety of assessments, allowing students to engage in creative and personal interpretations of their studies.
The Social Studies Department has a commitment to providing a strong background in human history. As once so aptly stated in the Massachusetts History and Social Science Frameworks: “Historical time is the lens through which we see change and continuity in human affairs. History allows us to know our place in time, the first mark of educated citizens. To know ourselves and others, we compare our lives with those people in other eras and other circumstances. Ignorance of history isolates us from human realities, a mortal weakness in a democratic society, leaving us prey to mere nostalgia, or censored versions of the past spread by partisan interests.”
In addition to history, the social sciences are introduced through a wide range of electives. An Advanced Placement course in the History of the United States is provided for students in grade eleven who desire a rigorous college equivalent experience. Advanced Placement courses are also offered in Economics, Psychology and Human Geography. There are several elective courses that are open to juniors and seniors, although priority will be given to seniors who choose to take the electives, with juniors only being allowed to enroll in the electives if space is available.