Social Studies

The Social Studies curriculum is designed to locate the student in the cultural community of “world and nation.”

Department Overview

Afoundation is built through an emphasis on history in both the Middle School and Upper School. As the student progresses through the forms, we build on this with cross-disciplinary connections to theology, language, science, literature, art, music, and philosophy.

Students in Forms V and VI are offered a wide range of courses including a required year of American History and several single semester electives. Students graduate with a fundamental understanding of the historical forces that have helped shape the 21st century.

Throughout the curriculum, we stress the development of skills in analytical thinking, note taking/outlining, basic research and more importantly, writing.

Curriculum Sequence

Form A	Geography
Form I	Introduction to Classical Civilizations
Form II	U.S. History
Form III	AP World History I
Form IV	AP World History II
Forms V & VI	Electives including: AP U.S. History; AP U.S. Government & Politics; AP Comparative Politics; AP Macroeconomics; AP Microeconomics; Native American Studies; International Relations; Physical Anthropology; U.S. Constitutional Law & Politics; History of the Modern Middle East; DC History; Latin American Studies

Geography

Form A Geography approaches global studies through several disciplines—physical geography, politics, history, culture, and some basic economics. The course intentionally focuses on the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and the Caribbean. One goal is for the students to develop map literacy, and usually one day a week is devoted to a “cartography lab” utilizing various map materials. Much attention is also paid to learning to effectively study a very sophisticated yet very organized content-area textbook, and the boys take regular quizzes and tests on material in the text. Most of the homework assignments involve “note making” assignments in which the boys “study and make notes” in reference to a few pages in the textbook on almost a daily basis. The boys also read and study several young adult novels throughout the year, and their plots revolve around young people in crisis situations in various regions of the world. At the end of the year, each boy chooses a nation and creates a “travel paper” in which a person simulates a trip to this nation. The student must demonstrate accurate knowledge of varied aspects of the nation in his travel paper. The order of each unit studied in class may sometimes depend on particular events in the world at the time, and current issues and events around the world become part of class discussion on a regular basis.

Course Length: All Year
Registration Policy: Required for Form A

Introduction to Classical Civilizations

The goal of this course is to introduce the Classical civilizations of the Mediterranean. We will focus mainly on the cultures and history of both Greece and Rome; however, any attempt to narrowly learn about these two to the exclusion of the other cultures, civilizations, and empires who interacted with them would not only be impossible, but foolish. Therefore, we will also spend time learning about the Egyptians, Persians, Carthaginians, Indians, and the peoples of Mesopotamia. We will learn what history is, how the ancients viewed history, and how their views on history evolved into what we know today.

Course Length: All Year
Registration Policy: Required for Form I

U.S. History

The course concentrates on the characteristics of American History: a combination of histories including military, social, technological, artistic, religious, and mythological. The students will be studying a variety of themes separately in addition to a mélange of events and personalities. The students will recognize seemingly disparate historic trends and concepts as being the colorful American experience. There will be a number of 3 -5-page papers throughout the year. The students will be able to use their imaginations with various posed scenarios as well as acquire the skills to write research papers.

Course Length: All Year
Registration Policy: Required for Form II

AP World History I

This course is designed to help students develop a fundamental understanding of the evolution and interactions of human societies. In studying the development of human civilization from prehistory to the year 1500, we will focus on environmental, economic, and sociopolitical themes which help us to recognize patterns of historical change and causation.

Traditional history courses tend to focus only on peoples relevant to the progression of “western civilization,” such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. In this course—which is, after all, a history of the world, and not merely western Eurasia—we will adopt a much more global perspective. We must always be conscious of how events do not occur only in their own isolated periods and places, but rather in the context of patterns and processes that recur across time and space. This global perspective will allow us to address “essential questions” that remain applicable in modern life: how should we think about and evaluate our relationship with the environment? What makes a civilization “legitimate?” Who gets to decide on this definition? How do we know what we know? How do we evaluate evidence and arguments? Where have we been as humans and how does this tell us where are we going?

Course Length: All Year
Registration Policy: Required for Form III

AP World History II

AP U.S. History

This course is the Advanced Placement survey course in American History. The course is also divided into 2 one semester courses which are non-AP. The first semester covers US History in pre-history through 1876; the second semester covers from 1876 through present day. The major topics of American political, constitutional, and economic development are covered in class sessions. Outside reading concentrates on social and cultural developments. Each semester, first or second, may be taken as a semester credit in American Studies. To gain credit as an AP course, two semesters of US History must be completed.

Course Length: All Year
Registration Policy: Open to Forms V & VI

AP U.S. Government & Politics

This course is a college-level course designed to allow students to think critically about government and politics in the United States. This class is current-events oriented, meaning we will always be relating the material to present political issues. Students can expect to learn important facts, concepts and theories relating to U.S. government such as the three branches of government, federalism, and separation of powers. Students explore the two-party system, the beliefs and principles of each party, and how interest groups and the media play key roles in the election of candidates. Students also analyze patterns and trends in political behavior to predict future election results. This course is a one semester credit in American Studies