Students attending RUSD schools "learn about the world and their place in it think critically, read, write, and communicate clearly. History, civics and government, geography, and economics are integral to the mission of preparing California’s children for college, careers, and civic life. These disciplines develop students’ understanding of the physical world, encourage their participation in our democratic system of government, teach them about our past, inform their financial choices, and improve their ability to make reasoned decisions based upon evidence. Moreover, these disciplines play a vital role in the development of student literacy because of a shared emphasis on text, argumentation, and use of evidence" CA History-Social Science Framework (2016). They learn the content through inquiry-based instruction, which leads with important historical, geographic, civic, or economic questions. They build literacy skills by reading primary and secondary sources and writing arguments using their critical analysis of the documents. Citizenship is woven throughout the grades when teachers incorporate democratic classroom practices, hold class discussions around current and controversial topics. 

Students can access their materials online through Clever. Visit https://clever.com/in/riversideusd and find the icons below to access the material.

For information about 9th grade Ethnic Diversity in America or any other Ethnic Studies course, please visit the Ethnic Studies webpage.

RUSD offers the following AP and elective courses. Teachers of these courses adopted the followed textbooks in the 2021-22 HSS materials adoption cycle.

• AP European History: Western Civilization, Spielvogel (Cengage)

• AP U.S. History: Give Me Liberty, Foner (Norton)

• AP Government: American Government: Stories of a Nation, Waples (Bedford, Freeman & Worth)

• AP Economics (Micro & Macro): Krugman’s Economics for AP, Anderson (Bedford, Freeman & Worth)

• AP Psychology: Myers’ Psychology for AP, Myers (Bedford, Freeman & Worth)

• Psychology: Prentice Hall Psychology (Savvas)*

• Sociology: Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach (Savvas)*

*Note: Psychology and Sociology textbooks are not available through Clever. Students are provided with the login information from their teacher.

For more detailed information about History-Social Science instruction, you are invited to view the California History-Social Science Content Standards and 2016 History-Social Science Framework. The California Department of Education also provides "parents/guardians insights into what their children are learning as they progress through the grade levels" through these Elementary Grades, Middle Grades, and High School brochures.

Please contact Norma Barles by phone: (951) 788-7135 x80720 or email: nbarles@riversideunified.org if you would like to set up an appointment to go over any of the materials.