Social Studies Course Description

James Baldwin said, “History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history.”

To become active citizens now and in the future it is imperative to understand our past. In this course students will resume the study of U.S. History with focus on marginalized groups at the conclusion of the Civil War and the Reconstruction Era. This year students will approach the study of U.S. history as historians and activists as they explore the Identity curriculum question of “What can I do?”. Students will use Project Based Learning to explore the following topics and questions:

American Identity and Reconstruction - How is American Identity shaped by the end of the Civil War?
The Progressive Era and Harlem Renaissance- How did marginalized people work together to make America better?
World War One, The Great Depression and World War Two - How did global events impact Americans' drive for change at home?
The Civil Rights Movements of the 1950s & 60s and the Black Power Movements of the 1960s & 70s. - What is the best way to resist oppression?

Students will learn to examine historical sources, participate in discourse, and craft argumentative and persuasive projects to inform, persuade and address issues of inequality historically and today. Students will receive feedback on their understanding of content or skills through daily independent or exit ticket tasks. Unit quizzes and quarterly projects will assess students' understanding of historical content, vocabulary, and the 21st century skills of creative innovation, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration. Through the use of rubrics students track their progress in mastering these skills and content.

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