History & Social Sciences

Department Chair: Jacco Dieleman

The History and Social Sciences faculty believes that an understanding of the past is essential in cultivating responsible global and democratic citizenship. Together with our students, we strive to make sense of a complex world by exploring the history of individual countries in a global context, utilizing themes to connect historical events, and deepening our understanding of world cultures. By sharing our passion for studying the forces that shape our world, we inspire life-long learning and motivate students to lead lives of “positive influence.”

LOWER SCHOOL

History & Stories, Grade level: 3

HAS or History and Stories is a class that combines Language Arts and Social Studies. Students in third grade learn about themselves and their identities, their immediate communities, important people in history, and about the global community through geography. Students read about, write about, and discuss characters in books and real historical and contemporary figures. In History and Stories, third graders hone their communication skills while building empathy and perspective taking. They learn about characters and traits, citing evidence, and grow their comprehension skills to help them become readers who learn. Third graders also write about their reading and about what they’ve learned in social studies. Students write personal narratives, information pieces, creative pieces, and poetry.

History & Stories, Grade level: 4

This interdisciplinary course combines the 4th-grade reading, writing, and social studies curriculum through the lens of being a positive change-maker in an ever-changing global world. The course has 3 pillars; identity, perspective, and action as a reader, writer, and citizen. The students begin with a deep dive into their identity and what makes them unique. Next, they practice perspective-taking as it relates to the world and to literary characters. Using programs such as Lucy Calkins’ Reading and Writing Units of Study and Level Up Village, students shape their perspectives and come together to understand others’ perspectives. In the end, they ponder the essential question: How can I make the world a better place? This is the start of their journey of growing into leaders that make the world a better place.

History, Herstory, Ourstory: Moving Beyond A Single Story in American History, Grade level: 5

Fifth-grade Social Studies explores the themes of Identity, Community, Leadership, Diverse Perspectives, and Justice. Students make connections across subject areas to enhance understanding of the social studies themes and topics, which include Civics and Government, Current Events, Early America, Colonial America, and the American Revolution. An interdisciplinary approach is the cornerstone of fifth-grade social studies. Active projects, field studies, discussion, and analysis of primary sources to develop a connection to time, place, and perspective are all methods used to create a meaningful learning experience for every child.

Ancient Civilizations: Cultural Heritage Through the Lens of Archeology, Grade level: 6

Students embark on an exciting journey backward in time as they investigate the human evolutionary trail and examine the beginnings of civilization and human cultures. The content serves as the vehicle for teaching a variety of skills, which help the student access, assimilate, use, and evaluate information. Throughout this journey, students develop their skills in discussion, problem-solving, collaboration, and reflection. They will learn and hone research and expository writing skills, and increase their comprehension of critical reading. Several note-taking methods are introduced and perfected, and essential study strategies are explored. All through the year, students are encouraged to develop a global perspective, respect for themselves and others, and think critically. Hands-on activities, special days, projects, maps and globes, field trips, and use of technology enhance the students’ understanding of and appreciation for the area of study and provide valuable means for making connections. The goal is to make history exciting and fun!

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Exploring Africa: History, Geography, and Culture, Grade level: 7

This course teaches students how geography, economy, politics, history, and culture are interrelated aspects of human activity by studying the continent of Africa in all its richness and variety. Themes include political and cultural history, economic development, the effects of colonization and resulting independence movements, and current events. Students develop reading, writing, and research skills necessary for the study of history and social studies, as well as skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.

United States Political History, Grade level: 8

In this course, students study United States history through the lens of American government. Thematic in nature, the course is divided into three trimesters based on the Preamble to the Constitution. Trimester one, “To Form a More Perfect Union,” focuses on the creation of the American government, how government works today, and how government impacts the lives of students. The second trimester, “To Promote the General Welfare,” showcases times in American history where the government has promoted the interests of certain groups of citizens as well as the times government has failed to protect or actively oppressed certain groups. We will also explore the ways groups respond to the actions or inaction of government. Trimester three, “To Provide for the Common Defense,” allows students to dig into topics related to American foreign policy throughout history. Throughout the year, students hone their skills in discussion, oral presentation, critical thinking, research, and writing through a variety of projects and activities focused on developing the skills of a historian. The goal of this class is for students to leave with a better sense of the purpose of government and the role it has played in American history. Furthermore, students will be able to evaluate how government affects their lives and, knowing this, how they can have a positive impact on their communities.

UPPER SCHOOL

Nine (9) credits in history are required for graduation: Globalization in the Modern World, US/European History I, and US/European History II.

The Historian's Craft, Grade level: 9, Credit: 3

This course serves as an introduction to the discipline of history. It is designed to teach students the skills they will need to be effective historians, including the ability to analyze historical documents, weigh evidence, expose bias and authorial intent, and conduct independent research. Students will explore ancient and medieval cultures through various lenses, including politics, social structures, religion, technology, and the arts. Societies we will examine include the Middle East, China, India, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. The goal of the course is to guide students toward achieving mastery of historical thinking skills such as causation, continuity and change, and comparison, as well as honing the intellectual skills of reading complex historical texts, writing persuasively, making effective oral presentations, and writing persuasively.

US History: Perspectives and Experiences, Grade level: 10, Credit: 3

US History: Perspectives and Experiences Honors, Grade level: 10, Credit: 3

This course introduces students to the history of the United States, starting with the era of first contact between the indigenous peoples of North America and European colonists, and extending to the modern era. Students will examine competing conceptions of the American nation, of what it means to be an American, and of who gets to decide. They will study how systems of power and privilege developed in U.S. history, and how those systems were perpetuated and challenged. Students will also explore how global forces and trends shaped the history of the United States, and how the United States’ role in the world has unfolded over the course of its history. Students will develop the reading, writing, and research skills necessary for the study of history, as well as skills in critical thinking, discussion, oral presentation, and collaboration.

The Honors section of this course is reading and writing-intensive. In addition to summer reading, students should expect more challenging nightly assignments that emphasize the reading of complex philosophical, religious, and political texts. Assessments will include blind essays that require strong skills in analysis and synthesis.

US/European History II: 1871 to the Present, Grade level: 11, Credit: 3

Advanced US/European History II: 1871 to the Present, Grade level: 11, Credit: 3

This course is the second year of investigation of European and American history in a global context (following US/European History I: 1492 to 1870). The central role of Black Americans in shaping the history of the United States is a focus of the course. Other major themes include mass movements of the political right and left, the growth of political consciousness among women and immigrant groups in America, as well as colonialism throughout the world, the growing acceptance on the part of government of responsibility for the welfare of their people, and the increasing influence on the West of events and ideas of the non-Western world.

The Advanced section moves through the curriculum at a faster pace than the non-Honors section. Voluminous readings include selections from scholarly books and articles in addition to traditional textbook and primary source reading. Assessment in the Advanced section is based primarily on essays, document-based questions, and challenging multiple choice tests. Significant participation in class every day is expected of all students. As a college-equivalent course, students will engage in original research and paper writing and will present their research to their classmates.

Electives

Amplifying Black Women's Voices, Grade Level: 11, 12, Credit: 3

This course focuses on Black women who exerted agency in United States history and foregrounds their pioneering accomplishments. Through their activism, writings, and artistic creations, these women resisted racism, sexism and homophobia. From the nineteenth-century sculptor Edmonia Lewis to the late-twentieth-century activist, essayist, and poet Audre Lorde, they forged new identities for Black women and deserve a prominent place in the story we tell of American history. Class sessions will consist of discussions of the recently published A Black Women’s History of the United States and primary sources. Students will practice their skills at research, writing, and speaking by undertaking a project on a specific historical figure of their choosing.

Comparative World Religions, Grade Level: 11, 12, Credit: 3

In Comparative World Religions, students examine the tenets, practices, institutions, and histories of the world’s major religions; develop appropriate vocabulary and research skills for the academic study of religion; and acquire a greater awareness of, and appreciation for, the great diversity of cultural traditions. The course is organized as a comparative survey of the world’s major religions and thus investigates the nature and functions of religion in contemporary and historical societies. The focus is on Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, but New Religious Movements and Humanism are also addressed. The course is primarily discussion-based with an emphasis on class participation, student presentations, and writing assignments. Documentaries and field trips to local museums and places of worship will serve as supplements to course reading materials.

Advanced Topics in Art History: Global Art History in Washington, D.C., Grade level: 12, Prerequisite: Departmental Permission, Credit: 3

Washington, D.C. is one of the world’s best places to study art history. Focusing on the abundance of works of art of exceptional quality in local museums, students investigate diverse artistic global traditions: Europe and the Americas (National Gallery of Art, The Hirshhorn Museum, The Phillips Collection), Asia (Freer Sackler Galleries), and Africa (National Museum of African Art). They develop deep understanding of representative works of art from each global tradition and look for connections between them.

The course is structured like an undergraduate art history seminar. In addition to class discussions, the emphasis is on research papers for which students use books and scholarly articles to investigate and create arguments about works of art that they view in person. These papers, approximately 4-5 over the course of the year, require immersion in the topic over a period of weeks and synthesis of scholarly literature that is more specialized and challenging than in previous Holton research projects. Students are expected to manage their time well in order to make steady progress on research and writing, submitting work that is polished and contains sophisticated depth of thought.

Advanced Topics in Psychology, Grade level: 12, Prerequisite: Departmental Permission, Credit: 3

Advanced Topics in Psychology will introduce students to scientific methodology and core concepts and theories in psychology. The course will promote psychological literacy through the study of established research findings and scholarly publications. The course will be divided into three major themes: scientific research, biopsychology, and the application of psychological science. Each theme will last one trimester and include research and topics that explore the contributions of psychologists from diverse backgrounds. Readings for the course will draw on challenging and foundational psychological texts drawn from The Norton Psychology Reader and landmark studies presented in Forty Studies That Changed Psychology. There will be one project each during the second and third trimesters.

Advanced Topics in U.S. Government, Grade level: 12, Prerequisite: Departmental Permission, Credit: 3

Advanced Topics in U.S. Government examines key concepts and functions of government through a project-based approach. Students analyze how government has worked to empower and to disadvantage different groups throughout history. Students will be able to explain local and national government processes, how those processes have perpetuated or addressed injustice, and how perspective can shape understanding in our present-day political landscape. The class focuses on the development of skills including research, analysis, and various forms of communication.

Advanced Principles of Economics, Grade level: 12, Prerequisite: Departmental Permission/Co-requisite: Pre-calculus or higher, Credit: 3

Advanced Principles of Economics develops the tools of economics to help explore a range of contemporary topics in the United States and internationally. Issues studied in recent years include the economics of voters’ decisions, the health care industry, the disparity of income and wealth in the United States, the economic effects of discrimination, and effects of tariffs on imported wine, for example. The class enjoys in-person and distance meetings with eminent women economists throughout the year. Recent visitors included the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Economics at Yale, a researcher at the IMF who introduced the class to programming, and two professors at the University of Maryland in College Park who spoke about research they conduct in African and other regions. Two post-baccalaureate interns at the Federal Reserve coordinated an annual visit to run some simulation games from the Fed.

The class also competes in an online macroeconomic forecasting competition run by the St. Louis Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank. Students work in small teams to research current levels of economic activity, weigh them against possible changes in national activity, and provide forecasts of key economic measures. Work in personal financial planning examines the challenges of trade-offs between current consumption and saving, using online simulations and game materials from Next Generation Personal Finance.

Advanced Principles of Economics covers the topics and tools taught in a typical introductory principles of economics course in universities across the United States. The class investigates how markets work, how the macroeconomy functions and how policies are formulated, and how and why individuals make decisions to enhance personal welfare. This course provides a framework for understanding personal choices about what products are manufactured and consumed, how and why the economy generates jobs and production, and how students can plan for the future to budget for current expenses while planning for major life events and retirement. The tools of economics presented in this course encompass simple graphical analysis, and some elementary mathematics along with a nod to algebra. No knowledge of calculus is assumed or is necessary.

Global Perspectives, Grade level: 11, Required for students participating in Junior Journeys. Credit 1

This one semester minor class is designed to give students the foundation necessary to link what they are learning in their courses to the role they will play in an increasingly global world. We hope the course promotes intellectual curiosity, encourages students to investigate their world, and helps them become active agents of change. In this discussion-based class, students interact with guest speakers, faculty, and media sources as they investigate challenges and opportunities in Latin America, China, and the Indian subcontinent. While this class culminates in the Global Education Journeys to China, Peru, and India during the summer after grade 11, it is open to, and valuable for, all juniors and approved seniors. The course does not have regular homework and it is graded high-pass, pass, fail. It is a requisite for taking a Junior Journey.