Welcome to the 6–12 Social Studies Department of the Darien Public Schools. This site offers an overview of our programs at Middlesex Middle School and Darien High School. Here you will find information about our courses, our values, and the skills we emphasize to support student learning.
Our work is grounded in the Inquiry Arc. Inquiry is a process of investigation and discovery in which students actively engage, guided by their teachers. The Inquiry Arc includes four stages:
Developing compelling and essential questions
Building discipline-specific skills and concepts
Evaluating and investigating sources
Drawing conclusions and communicating ideas
This approach equips students with the tools, knowledge, and habits of mind needed for success in their academic, career, and civic lives. Throughout their secondary school experience, students engage in inquiry through a range of learning experiences — some completed within a single lesson and others extending over weeks or months.
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact:
Dennis Cabrera
Social Studies Department Chairperson
dcabrera@darienps.org
203-655-3981 ext. 2338