>Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Social Studies? Why are they important?

Social Studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence. It embodies the skills and knowledge that are essential for global citizens of tomorrow including inquiry, appreciation for diversity, problem solving, collaboration, and communication. Democracy is not a machine that can run on its own. It is an ongoing project sustained by democratic citizens. There can be no democracy without these citizens who create it day by day.

Social Studies is the part of the school curriculum which glues together all other subjects into a cohesive whole and allows students to study and understand people and their behavior in a variety of past and present situations. It is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities designed to promote civic competence that draws on content and skills from a multitude of disciplines (e.g., history, geography, political science, economics and other social sciences), as well as other related disciplines (e.g., humanities, sciences, world languages, language arts, health, etc.).

The study of social studies develops from kindergarten through high school to help students understand their place in the world. The central theme of social studies is the study of people, their behavior in a variety of past and present situations, and how they relate to and interact with others in their environments. Social studies instruction should develop in students a rich understanding of the past, present, and future through exploration of materials that represent multiple points of view. Good teaching must help students understand the reliability and validity of sources and how facts and events can be reinterpreted.

Strands of social studies include: Civics and Social Responsibility, Current Events, Geography, Culture and Diversity, Historical Connections, and Economics.

Through the study of Social Studies, students develop skills in:

• Critical and creative thinking through inquiry: decision-making, problem solving, interpreting data, and differentiating between fact and opinion;

• Collaborating;

• Advocating a particular point of view;

• Gathering, organizing, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating information;

• Communicating: reading, listening, viewing, writing, speaking and creating;

• Recognizing values-- their own and others;

• Reflecting on competing viewpoints and resolving conflicts.

How many credits do you need in Social Studies to graduate?

To graduate, students need 3 credits in Social Studies, which must include a United States History course and a Modern World Studies course. While this is a graduation requirement, many colleges and universities are looking for students who have taken 4 credits in Social Studies because the expectations of post-secondary institutions require a strong background in these subjects.

Who has to attend Homework Lab?

Homework lab applies to ALL students enrolled in Freshman and Sophomore courses. Students who fail to turn in an assignment or homework are assigned to attend Homework Lab after school (2:45-4pm).

What classes should my student take in Social Studies at BFUHS?

There are low-level courses up to honors and Advanced Placement courses available to all students. There are certain courses that are recommended to be taken during a specific year in school, while elective courses should not be taken until the junior year.

Freshman Year offerings:    

• World History I

• Global Citizenship

• Seeking Sustainability

• A.P. Human Geography

Sophomore Year offerings:  

• A.P. World History

• World History II

• World Cultures

Junior Year offerings:       

• A.P. U.S. History

• Honors American Studies

• American Studies

• Overview of U.S. History

Senior Year offerings:

• A.P. Comparative Government

Electives:

• Senior Seminar

• 20th Century History through Film

• Psychology and Sociology

• Economics

• World Geography

Why are there summer assignments for Advanced Placement courses?

A.P. courses are demanding courses that require a serious and focused student who has an interest in the specific content area of the course. To show that students are serious about the course and are willing to work for the length of the course, summer assignments are part of each of our A.P. courses. These also serve the purpose of being able to delve deeper into certain subjects that the school year and the course do not allow time for. It also gives the teacher an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each student before the school year begins.

What is the difference between Honors and Advanced Placement courses?

Courses with both of these distinctions offer in-depth, detailed coverage of designated content. The difference is that Advanced Placement courses coordinate their courses to the national Advanced Placement syllabi. Students who take A.P. courses are required to take the national A.P. exam in May, where students are eligible to earn college credits for certain scores.

What is the difference between World Cultures, World History I, World History II, and World Geography?

The difference is the content that is covered in each:

• World History I covers pre-history up to the Renaissance.

• World History II covers the Renaissance up to the present day.

• World Geography covers the physical, cultural, and historical geography of various locations around the world using the five major themes of geography.

• World Cultures covers the late 20th century world and today by focusing on music, film, language, ethnicity, religion, and history around the world.