Prerequisite:

Grade: 7

Length: 1 year

Meets Requirement For: Social Studies

Description: For this course, students will explore the critical events and transformations that shaped the United States from the post-Revolutionary period through the end of the 19th century. Starting with the Articles of Confederation and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, students will examine the development of the American republic, the challenges of westward expansion, and the causes and consequences of the Civil War. The course will also cover Reconstruction, the rise of industrialization, and the social and political changes that set the stage for the 20th century. Through interactive lessons, document analysis, and hands-on projects, students will build a strong understanding of how the nation evolved during this dynamic period.

Prerequisite:

Grade: 8

Length: 1 Year

Meets Requirement For: Social Studies

Description: In this 8th grade Global Studies course, students will explore world geography alongside key events in modern history. They’ll learn about regions around the globe by using maps, digital tools, and other sources. Along the way, students will examine important trends like population changes, global trade, and the effects of increased cultural exchange due to globalization. They will also discuss contemporary issues, investigate historical events from the last 50 years, and connect revolutions and independence movements to the formation of modern countries. By studying different government systems and economic principles, students will understand why countries have different standards of living and how trade shapes global economies.

Prerequisite: N/A

Grade: 9th Grade

Length: 1 Year (Two Semesters)

Meets Requirement For: Social Studies (Required)

Description: In this class, students will explore how the United States came to be. rom the American Revolution and the writing of the Constitution, to the Civil War, westward expansion, and the rise of industry. We’ll learn about key people, events, and ideas that shaped the nation, including major conflicts, social changes, and the struggles for freedom and equality. The course ends with the Great Depression and how it challenged the country in new ways. Along the way, we’ll look at primary sources, make connections to today’s world, and think like historians. 

Prerequisite: N/A

Grade: 10th Grade

Length: 1 Semester

Offered: Fall

Meets Requirement For: Social Studies (Required)

Description: A detailed study of American history from the Industrial era through the 2008 financial crisis and present day. Students will explore key topics, including the creation of the Constitution, the American Civil War and reconstruction, the global impact of the World Wars, the economic turmoil of the Great Depression, and the political and cultural shifts of the Cold War period. Students will also examine the civil rights movements, the Vietnam War, and the sweeping changes brought by technology and globalization in the late 20th century. Finally, we analyze major 21st-century events, from the September 11 attacks and the War on Terror to the financial crisis of 2008. Through critical analysis and primary sources, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the forces that have shaped modern America.

Prerequisite: N/A

Grade: 10th Grade

Length: 1 Semester

Offered: Spring

Meets Requirement For: Social Studies (Required)

Description: In this class, students will explore how people shape and are shaped by the world. Students will cover cultural geography (how cultures impact the world), historical geography (how past events affect today), development geography (why some regions grow faster than others), and political geography (how borders and governments shape our world). Students will learn to analyze how humans interact with their environments and gain a deeper understanding of global issues. 

Prerequisite: N/A

Grade: 11th Grade 

Length: Two Semesters 

Offered: Fall and Spring

Meets Requirement For: Required

Description: World History spans the entirety of recorded history and deeper into the dawn of humanity. Starting with the migration of humans, World History then branches out in scope and in depth by covering topics like the rise of the first civilizations, the prominence of major religions, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the World Wars, Modern day major events, and so much more as the task of covering all of World History in one school year is a substantial task. What will change after this class are student perspectives. With so many stories and lessons, World History provides students myriad perspectives on how to live life and what life may be all about. 

Prerequisite: 9th & 10th Grade History

Grade: 11-12th Grade

Length: Semester

Offered: Fall

Meets Requirement For: World History 11

Description: This course provides a discussion of the political, economic, cultural and social factors which have shaped the history of Western Civilization. Topics include ancient civilizations, the development of the major religions of the Western world, the Medieval period, the Renaissance and Reformation, the rise of capitalism, the development of the nation state and the Age of Absolutism.

Prerequisite: 9th & 10th Grade History

Grade: 11-12th Grade

Length: Semester

Offered: Spring

Meets Requirement For: World History 11

Description: This course provides a discussion of the political, economic, cultural and social factors which have shaped the history of Western Civilization. Topics include the Glorious, French and Industrial Revolutions, Napoleon and the Napoleon Wars, the two world wars, and the rise and collapse of communism.

Prerequisite: N/A

Grade: 12th Grade

Length: One Semester 

Offered: Fall Semester

Meets Requirement For: Required 

Description: 12th Grade government is a culmination of what students have covered in their previous classes on our constitutional republic. Leaving High School, seniors should be informed on just how their government functions and what part they play in it as a citizen. This is especially relevant as many students turn 18 and will have the ability to vote for the very first time. In this class then, students will cover the independence of our nation, our nation's first attempts at government, the transformation of our federal government over time, the creation of state Constitutions and charters, and how all of these things come together in modern day politics. There are biases and struggles within our government today then that students will be prepared to grapple with after taking this class. 

Prerequisite: N/A

Grade: 12th Grade

Length: Semester

Meets Requirement For: Required

Description: In this class students will explore the Economic system of the United States and how it interacts with the global marketplace. Students will learn about the larger scale functioning of markets in Macroeconomics, explore their own financial literacy and skills in relation to investments and financial planning, and encounter policy that they will formulate an opinion on. To connect their knowledge together, students will complete a economics portfolio that they will be able to reference later on in life when they have basic questions about their own finances. 

Prerequisite: N/A

Grade: 9 Grade

Length: Semester 

Offered: Fall

Meets Requirement For: Social Studies Elective

Description: Civics is the study of what it means to be an American citizen.  Many types of governments are studied but the emphasis is on the American model of a constitutional republic.  Your rights, responsibilities, and duties as a responsible citizen are examined.  Founding documents such as the Constitution are studied.  The goal of this class would include the appreciation and implementation of active citizenship.

Prerequisite: N/A

Grade: 10-12th Grade

Length: Semester

Offered Spring

Meets Requirement For: Social Studies Elective

Description: In this class students will explore the U.S. court and justice system. Students will learn the inner workings of the courtroom, its procedures, and the parties involved. Students will also explore the Supreme Court and some of the landmark cases that have shaped our country into what it is today. 

Prerequisite: N/A

Grade: 9-12th Grade

Length: Semester

Offered: Spring

Meets Requirement For: Social Studies Elective

Description: This class will aim to critically analyze various forms of mass media with the intention of checking for accuracy and validity. Students will engage with film, television, music, digital and print media, and broadcast media to create an awareness of the different types of media, their historical backgrounds, various purposes, and understanding of fact checking. 

Prerequisite: N/A

Grade: 9-12th Grade

Length: Semester

Offered: Fall

Meets Requirement For: Social Studies Elective

Description: MN History explores the rich history of Minnesota from its Indigenous origins to the present day. Students will examine key events, including early Native American cultures, European exploration, the fur trade, statehood, immigration, industrialization, and Minnesota’s role in national and global affairs.

Prerequisite: Civics (9)

Grade: 10-12th Grade

Length: Semester

Offered: Fall

Meets Requirement For: Social Studies Elective

Description: This course aims to examine the role of politics in our government and how we as citizens interact with politics and government. Throughout this course you will examine your own ideology and beliefs, the effects of law and policy on people, and monitor current events.