235407 US HIST 6: 1865 TO PRESENT

Grade 6

This course examines the history of the United States from Reconstruction to the present. Students continue to learn fundamental concepts in civics, economics, and geography within the context of United States history, with an emphasis on civil rights and social justice. Students will explore political, economic, and social challenges facing the nation between the Civil War and today, and develop an understanding of how the American experience has helped shape the world’s political and economic landscapes. The study of history emphasizes the intellectual skills required for responsible citizenship. Students will practice these skills as they extend their understanding of the essential knowledge defined by all of the Standards of Learning for history and social science.

235707 CIVICS & ECONOMICS 

Grade 7

This course examines the role citizens play in the United States government and economy by studying the constitutions of Virginia and the United States and the structure and operation of government at the national, state and local levels.  Economics is the fourth quarter curriculum with a focus on basic concepts and the developing understanding of how personal and governmental economic decisions are made in the United States.  Emphasis is placed on students being informed and active participants through project-based learning activities that have students apply the different concepts learned and provide a personal connection to the material.  At the end of the year, students take the Civics & Economics SOL test.

221507 WORLD HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY I 

Grade 8

This course surveys the historical development of people, places, and patterns of life (e.g. development of civilization, democracy, rule of law) from prehistory until 1500 C.E. Emphasis is placed on developing historical thinking skills, including sourcing, corroboration, and contextualization through the critical analysis of sources to create evidence-based arguments that incorporate in-text citations and a works cited page. While periodic data is collected to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the Virginia Standards of Learning for World History & Geography to 1500, the focus is on engaging students in the inquiry learning cycle via summative assessments that scaffold students’ ability to demonstrate the IB MYP Individual & Societies criteria (i.e. Knowledge & Understanding, Investigating; Communicating; and Thinking Critically) along a key concept. Sample inquiry-based learning assessments include the following:

Quarter 1:  Selecting artifacts from online archives which highlight two river valley civilizations along a common pattern of civilization;

Quarter 2: Manipulating key tenets of a religion to design-implement a game that in turn effectively teaches the religion’s beliefs, customs, and traditions;

Quarter 3: Profiling three buildings as a means to demonstrate understanding of the elements and the legacy of classical Greek architectural style;

At the end of the year, students take the World History and Geography I SOL test. This is a high school credit course, and will go on the student’s high school transcript upon successful completion of the course.

112039 HUMANITIES LANG & LIT 8

221539 HUMANITIES LANG & LIT HON 8

221539 HUMANITIES WORLD HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY I 

Grade 8

This course is a double blocked course, combining Lang & Lit 8 or Lang & Lit Hon 8 and World History and Geography I. The course will trace common threads in human governments, culture and arts, that unite human societies across disparate times and places. Students will explore how literature, music, and other art forms work to express unique cultural identities at the same time that these art forms tackle themes and concerns that are common to all people.

In addition, students will explore ancient philosophies of religion and government and explore how these philosophies answer fundamental questions about the human experience, and remain relevant to understanding the world today.

Students will build analytical thinking and writing skills as they apply their historical and geographic knowledge to their reflections on and analysis of literature. Through this study, they will better understand the past and how it connects to them as they explore what it means to be human. The course will blend formal writing assignments with oral presentation and project-based learning to give students a variety of opportunities to employ new ideas and show understanding.

Readings will range from ancient primary sources to modern fiction texts, allowing students to build connections between the past and their world.

Sample texts or excerpts might include:

Stephen Vincent Benét: "By the Waters of Babylon"

Ovid: Metamorphoses

Edith Hamilton: Mythology

Thucydides: History of the Peloponnesian Wars

Plutarch: Lives

Simon Wiesenthal: The Sunflower

Ibn Battuta: A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling

Marco Polo: Travels of Marco Polo

Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet

This course will prepare students for success on the VDOE SOL tests for World History and Geography I, Reading 8, and Writing 8.

The Humanities World History & Geography I is a high school credit course, and will go on the student’s high school transcript upon successful completion of the course.