History/social studies department

PHILOSOPHY OF THE HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

An effective history and social science education integrates knowledge from many fields of study, it improves reading comprehension and writing by increasing students’ content knowledge, it builds students’ capacities for reasoning, making logical arguments, and critical thinking. It incorporates the study of current events and media literacy and teaches students about using data analysis and digital tools as research and presentation techniques. History and social science prepares students to understand their rights and responsibilities as informed citizens and to appreciate the shared values of this country, it incorporates diverse perspectives and acknowledges that perceptions of events are affected by race, ethnicity, culture, religion, education, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and personal experience.

Students will be able to:  

1. Demonstrate civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions. 

2. Develop focused questions or problem statements and conduct inquiries. 

3. Organize information and data from multiple primary and secondary sources. 

4. Analyze the purpose and point of view of each source; distinguish opinion from fact. 

5. Evaluate the credibility, accuracy, and relevance of each source. 

6. Argue or explain conclusions, using valid reasoning and evidence.