History
5th & 6th Grade History
CULTURE AND ARCHEOLOGY
This course is meant to be roughly chronological, the course focuses on five key themes (see below) of this extensive period. Students will learn that history is full of patterns, such as cause/effect and continuity/change, that can be learned with the right tools. For this reason, each unit is like a three-layered cake in which we first analyze the past, then make connections to the present, and lastly predict the future.
During the course, students should expect to learn academic methods for analyzing both primary and secondary sources. They will participate in first-person simulations and socratic-style seminars, learning the art of inquiry through personal and guided discussion. With each unit, students will create final products, from research papers to board games to puppet shows. Overall, Culture and Archeology is designed around the unique needs of growing minds and active bodies; traits that make for a fascinating class.
STUDENT SKILLS
- Notetaking
- Organization
- Close reading/Annotations
- Class Discussions
- Teamwork
- Research
- Expository Writing
ACADEMIC SKILLS
- Timeline Analysis
- Terminology
- S.P.I.C.E Analysis (Social, Political, Interactions, Cultural, Economic)
- Compare/Contrast
- Historical Significance
- Primary and Secondary Sources
UNITS OF STUDY
- Scales of Time (September - October)
Timelines and Compare/Contrast (Final: Interactive Timeline) - Evidence & Artifacts (November - December)
Early Agricultural Societies and Museum Studies (Final: Design a Museum)
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Global S.P.I.C.E Tour (January - February)
Different Foods, Different Societies (Final: Global Buffet) -
Culture Creation (February - March)
Group brainstorm of secret culture and artifact building (Final: Cultural Artifact) -
Archeology Dig & Museum Night (April - June)
Fieldwork and presentation of findings (Final: Museum Night)
ASSESSMENTS
As indicated in the above content, each unit has a culminating piece that allows students to showcase their “best selves”, highlighting their content mastery, skill development and creative instincts. These final projects are meant to be both celebrations of learning and performative assessments.
DEIB INTEGRATION
This course is grounded in the work of understanding how societies change and adapt over time. We look at how different cultures have built distinctive ways of living, which have blended with other societies throughout history to create a global society with diverse, yet overlapping traits. During the year, students will be asked to explore new ideas and peoples, with an openness that allows for understanding across differences.
7th & 8th Grade History
OUR PLACE IN HISTORY; FROM GLOBAL TO NATIONAL TO LOCAL
If the previous two courses can be characterized by comprehension and analysis, then the final year is a time of evaluation and argumentation. Building on previous themes and skills, United States History focuses primarily on the last 200 years, with a greater emphasis on how this country
developed in relation to global changes and regional/local growth. Students can expect to delve into many of the most contentious events of the 20th century, such as industrialization, war, governmental power and personal responsibility. Moving past simply describing the significance of an event and its place in time, the class will question the ethics of judging the past and considering how these views shape the future, from a personal to a societal level.
Students are expected to effectively research, compile and present their historical findings in a variety of formats, written and/or oral. Success in the class dictates a focused, considerate, open intellect, willing to grow, learn and make mistakes within the process of historical studies.
STUDENT SKILLS
- Notetaking
- Research
- Argumentative writing
- Presentation
- Debate
- Reflection
ACADEMIC SKILLS
- Cause/Effect
- Change/Continuity
- Historical Significance
- Primary and Secondary Sources
- Historical Perspective
- Ethical Dimensions
UNITS OF STUDY
- Industrial & Global Consequences (September - October)
Societal Impacts and Urbanization (Final: Changing Cities) - Government (November - December)
The Fight for Constitutional Amendments (Final: Co-lead Class Lesson)
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War & Morality (January - February)
Conflicts of 1900-1950, Globalization (Final: Research Paper) -
March Madness (March)
Most Influential Debate Series, Rotating Topic (Final: Debate) -
A Local Tale (April - May)
Re/telling History (Final: Oral Story)
ASSESSMENTS
As indicated in the above content, each unit has a culminating piece that allows students to showcase their “best selves”, highlighting their content mastery, skill development and creative instincts. These final projects are meant to be both celebrations of learning and performative assessments.
DEIB INTEGRATION
United States History is grounded in the work of contemporary global thinking. The course explores a range of topics that ask students to consider backgrounds far different than their own, often with a blend of academic and personal work. In asking students to engage in a diversity of culture and thought, we are focusing on helping students develop open hearts and minds.
Teacher: David Maron