Embedded Files
MODERN WORLD HISTORY (101/102)
Grade 9: Level 2 and Honors
(Year) 1.50 credits
Honors Prerequisite: Grade 9 Honors World History contract, signed by student and parent/guardian
The goal of this course is for the students to understand themselves and others in time and place. The last two centuries are examined with a critical eye to understanding how we got here and why our world looks the way it does today. By learning how people have discovered, identified and tried to contend with essential questions of human affairs through time and across borders, students will have the opportunity to understand and appreciate different points of view.
Students study the rise of the nation state in Europe and the Americas, and efforts to create new forms of government. Specific events include the American and French Revolutions, the impact of industrialization, the rise of capitalism, the conflicts and wars that resulted from the competition for global resources and the rise of independence movements.
Students analyze global relations in the context of imperialism and efforts to reconcile differences through international relations and through institutions like the United Nations. Throughout the course, students explore historical events with the purpose of making connections with contemporary events, connections that will lead to a discovery of a wealth of history lessons that can be learned from and carried forward.
A variety of social science skills are developed. Students engage in reading for comprehension, analysis and writing skills. They prepare short essays, presentations, and practice 21st century skills.
Honors Option:
Honors level students should be leaders in class discussions, willing to take academic risks, display solid writing skills and be expected to work independently. In addition to the expectations outlined in level 2, honors students’ written work will be more rigorous and will be corrected to a higher standard.
AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY(137)
Grade 9: Advanced Placement
(Year) 1.50 credits
AP Human Geography introduces high school students to college-level introductory human or cultural geography. The content is presented thematically rather than regionally and is organized around the discipline’s main subfields: economic, cultural, political and urban. The approach is spatial and problem oriented. Case studies are drawn from all world regions with an emphasis on understanding the world in which we live today. Historical information serves to enrich analysis of the impacts of phenomena such as globalization, colonialism and human-environment relationships on places, regions, cultural landscapes and patterns of interaction.
Some topics with which students will engage include: problems of economic development and cultural change; consequences of population growth and international migration; struggles over political power and control of territory; conflicts over the demands of ethnic minorities and the role of women in society; explanations of why location matters to agricultural land use, industrial development and urban problems; and role of climate change and environmental abuses in shaping the human landscapes on Earth.
The goal for the course is for the student to become more geoliterate, more engaged in contemporary global issues and more informed about multicultural viewpoints. They will develop skills in approaching problems geographically, using maps and geospatial technologies, thinking critically about texts and graphic images, interpreting cultural landscapes and applying geographic concepts such as scale, region, diffusion, interdependence and spatial interaction. Students will see geography as a discipline relevant to the world in which they live; as a source of ideas for identifying, clarifying and solving problems at various scales; and as a key component of building global citizenship and environmental stewardship.
ANCIENT WORLDS (177)
2022-2023:
Semester 1: Egypt, Semester 2: Mesopotamia
Grades 9-12: Level 2
(Semester) .75 credit
The ancient world was a time of excitement and of danger. The world was newer and full of unexplored wonders. It was also a time of danger and mystery, when cruel God-Kings decided the fate of millions and savage rites were performed for even crueler Gods. Every semester the students and the teacher will explore one or two different societies that existed in this time period (3000 BC-1000 AD). We will examine not only their wars and adventures, but also their entertainment, art and when possible their lost languages and mysterious writing systems. The realms of the Gods and demons will also be explored, with an emphasis on the rites and magic used to satisfy and control these dangerous beings.
The idea behind Ancient Worlds is to introduce students to the events, peoples and ideas that existed between 3000 BC and 1000 AD. This time period is crucial for the development of modern society both in cultural terms and in technological terms. As part of the course, the students will make connections between the philosophies (both secular and religious), events, arts, and architecture of the society under study and their counterparts in the modern world. Join us as we explore Ancient Worlds!
The class will read original texts, observe and recreate the art of the period, discuss important events, learn how to pass notes in dead languages, and use technology to explore the ruins and objects left behind by these societies. The class will be assessed through a series of short papers, a small number of standard tests, a creative project and a final exam.
PHILOSOPHY AND RHETORIC (153/154)
Grades 9-12: Level 2/H
(Semester) .75 credit
Did you ever stop to wonder why you have to go to school? Perhaps you have always wanted to know why the things that you do are judged to be either right or wrong or good or evil? Perhaps you have noticed great conflict in our society of late and have been curious to know its source? If any of the answers to these questions are yes, then you are a potential student of Philosophy! Congratulations, this is the class for you!
Every semester the students and the teacher will use the Socratic Method to explore different philosophical debates and topics. We will examine not only eternal debates such as what the nature of reality is and our relationship to that reality, we will also connect these classical arguments to our own lives and the society that we live in today. We will also examine the various philosophers themselves over time, such as Socrates, Aquinas and Nietzsche, in order to understand not only their world view, but to make our own world view clearer as a result.
The class will read original texts, debate philosophical questions, discuss important events, and learn how to grasp more clearly philosophical concepts by learning basic concepts of Rhetoric and Logic. The class will be assessed through a series of short papers, a small number of standard tests, a creative project and a final exam. Join us as we explore your mind!
CURRENT EVENTS (184/131)
Grades 8-9: Level 2
(Semester) .50 credit
This course examines social, political and economic issues and conflicts in the contemporary world. The issues chosen for consideration in this course vary from year to year and require students to explain the conditions and motivations which contribute to conflict and cooperation between and among societies and nations. Students describe and analyze the effects of technology on the global community and study the causes, consequences and possible solutions to persisting contemporary issues such as human rights, health, national security, resource allocation, economic development and environmental quality. They also explore the historical background of these issues to develop an understanding of the relationship and tensions between national sovereignty and regional/global interests. Integral to this process is an examination of the role and function of regional, international, and multinational organizations.
Current Events provides an understanding of the historical roots of today's complex and ambiguous world power system. Interdependence, political control, command and market economies, revolution and technological change are the fundamental concepts emphasized.
Course materials include various texts, cartoons and readings from selected journals and newspapers from many countries. Computer access to world information sources is available. Skill development emphasizes research, oral presentation and critical thinking. Students are required to demonstrate their comprehension of course information and concepts through participation in a variety of class activities such as a model peace conference.
Instructional methods include class discussion, inquiry, guest speakers, and issues interpretation using print and television sources. Analysis, synthesis and evaluation of world affairs are furthered through evidence from many international sources. Written work consists primarily of critical analyses of news articles and editorials.
The History of Home and Hearth in the United States (181)
Grades 9-10: Level 2
(Semester) .50 credit
This course is designed to introduce students to the history and concepts of the home in the United States. From the colonial era to the present, homes have been gathering places, and have served varying purposes across cultures. We will explore the many complex issues and challenges, cultural, societal, financial that have influenced the evolution of the American home. There will be an emphasis on hands-on projects, designed to immerse students in the experience of specific eras of American History.
CULTURE & SOCIETY through eSPORTS
Grades 8-9 (164): Level 2
Grades 10-12 (199): Level 2(Semester) .50 credit
Competitive gaming (eSports) has grown to become a billion dollar industry which has created the possibility of lucrative careers for players and scholarships to play eSports at the collegiate level. The class will explore the history of gaming and serve as an introduction to the world of eSports. Students will focus on self-management, goal setting and decision making skills, as well as encouraging strong group collaboration, communication and problem solving. Students will have the opportunity to explore career options in the emerging field of esports, in addition to exploring media coverage and financial aspects of the industry. Play will focus on the games approved by the Massachusetts School Administrators' Association ( MSAA) eSports program: League of Legends, SMITE and Rocket League. Students will have the opportunity to join the DYRHS eSports team and compete against other schools throughout Massachusetts.
TELEVISION, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY
Grades 8-9: Level 2 (Semester) .50 credit
This course introduces students to a wide range of news and media sources and provides them with the skills to evaluate each critically. Course content includes theories of communication, characteristics of media, uses of media in different societies and the rapidly changing nature of media. Students examine the ways in which media affects society and the individual. Movies, television shows, documentaries, advertisements, magazines, radio, and web and blog sites will all be analyzed for their cultural meaning. Specifically, students learn the complexities and subtleties of message preparation and reception. 57 Discussion and analysis of the media through newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the emerging multi-media networks constitute the essence of this course. Using the computer to explore Internet or other "communications highways," students learn new techniques of information gathering. Learning activities and class discussion are supplemented by selected readings. Students develop a variety of critical assessment skills and the ability to apply and demonstrate these skills in classroom activities. Course materials include selected supplementary readings, a broad spectrum of newspapers and magazines and a variety of non-print media. Instructional methods include class discussion, guest speakers, experiments and inquiry and analysis of the news through a variety of sources. Students are expected to maintain an active interest in world affairs through reading and viewing sophisticated news reporting.
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