Social Studies
Today, the world is calling the youth of America to active citizenship. To become successful private citizens, it is increasingly vital that our students become effective public citizens. The Social Studies curriculum covers, in depth, a variety of world issues from diverse perspectives with the goal of developing the core knowledge and interpretive skills necessary to become active citizens, ready to make the world a better place.
Cultural Geography invites students to explore the natural and cultural landscapes around the world with the aim of developing a greater geographic awareness between humans, their environment, and their history. Students apply the geographer’s craft to the study of non-western cultures including the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, eastern Asia, India, and the Pacific world before completing their course of study with North and South America. Students are encouraged to examine the unique cultural traits of these regions to gain a greater appreciation for the fundamental differences in political and economic systems, cultural traditions, and worldviews. Students are expected to write extensively, read comprehensively, and work collaboratively. A study skills program is integrated into the curriculum to help develop strategies for geographic thinking. Students author short research papers to help expose them to current world issues and to the use of the Internet as a research tool.
World Cultures invites students to examine the diversity of natural environments and cultural landscapes in the world today. Emphasis is given to the geographic themes of location and place. Students study history and relative location of physical and cultural areas as well as the physical and human characteristics that make these places unique. Students will visit select regions in North and South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia to gain an appreciation for the governmental, economic, and social differences that contribute to the diversity of cultures and to develop a greater appreciation for differing worldviews. Students are expected to learn to write effective paragraphs, to read comprehensively, to use maps, and to work collaboratively.
• World Geography Honors or College Preparatory World Geography (grade 9)
• American Civics Honors or College Preparatory American Civics (grade 9)
• American Studies Honors or College Preparatory American Studies (grade 11)
• Modern World History Honors or College Preparatory Modern World History (grade 12)
• Vermont History (one-semester course, grade 12)
