Rebecca Smith

Class Overview

Welcome to Social Studies with Smith!

11th grade U.S. History offers a colorful and exciting section of Social Studies.  This required course introduces the themes of balance between unity and diversity, the shaping of democracy, the search for opportunity, and the influence of geographical factors.  This is a yearlong survey of American history from Reconstruction to the present.  Emphasis is placed on vocabulary, critical thinking skills, historical writing, graphing/mapping skills, and interpretation of original documents.  Besides listening to traditional lectures on important themes in U.S. History, students are expected to participate in class through discussions, debates of key issues, simulations, and mock trials.  Futhermore, students are expected to continually develop their writing skills, and maintain an interactive notebook.

12th grade Economics is a semester course aimed to help students understand what economics is, how it plays a part in their daily lives, and how it affects the world around us.  Students will gain insight into how to manage their money wisely by learning about financial planning, budgeting, and investing.