Social Studies

Truth, Choices, Systems, and Change are the linchpins of Rivendell Academy’s social studies courses. Developing the skills of historical thinking including sourcing, context, corroboration, and close reading leads to the understanding of what constitutes historical truth.  The study of the social sciences is full of social, political, economic, geographic, cultural, philosophical, and economic choices for students to analyze given the context of time and place.  Choices lead to the development of a variety of systems including economic, political, and social systems.  All systems change over time due to a variety of factors.  

• The way individuals understand history shapes their beliefs about the present and affects their political, economic, and social choices. 

• Individuals and societies struggle with the concept and value of human life and human rights. 

• The actions of an individual impact a community. 

• In order for a community to sustain itself, it must organize into political, economic, and social systems. 

• Conflict changes communities over time politically, economically, socially, and ideologically,  

• When cultures meet there is an exchange and/or clash which can have intentional & unintentional consequences. 

• People explore, migrate, or emigrate for varying social, political, and economic reasons. 

• Across time and place, people have held differing assumptions regarding power, authority, governance, economics,  law, civic values, principles, and views of the roles and rights of citizens. 

• Where people live influences how they live and key geographic & environmental characteristics of a region impact the history, political development, economy & culture of the community of the region. 

• Individuals can impact societies and even bring about change by reacting to the existing structure in accordance with their beliefs and ideals. 

• Individual rights and responsibilities vary depending on the type of governance and the social and economic conditions of a society. 

• Individuals and groups within a society use their agency to impact the political, economic, and social systems of their community, nation, and region of the world.