History/Social Studies

ELEMENTARY SOCIAL STUDIES
   Our Elementary division is diving into some exciting social studies topics! Lower El students are busy figuring out how cities work! They're learning what makes a community special and even designing their own city. In Middle El, our rainforest explorers are getting crafty as they build amazing animal models and learn all about the incredible creatures that live in the rainforest. It's like bringing the jungle right into the classroom! Finally, our Upper El students are learning about the brave colonists who fought for freedom and are starting to explore the exciting stories of the first battles of the American Revolution.
-- Hat Dilly, Upper Elementary 2 Lead

MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES
   Middle School Social Studies classes have been diving deep into the Revolutionary War, learning about how our country went from a group of loosely connected British colonies to the early stages of the nation we know today. We discussed how the Seven Years War between England and France left Great Britain with a massive debt that needed to be paid, leading to a series of restrictive laws and taxes, eventually pushing many American colonists to call for independence. Students worked on a timeline project that included these 'interventions' such as the Stamp Act and The Townshend Acts, as well as some infamous events like the Boston Tea Party. Students recorded and illustrated their way through the build up of pressure that culminated with the Revolutionary War.
   Most recently, all four classes have begun to prepare for their first big project of the year, a large poster about freedom and what that means to them. This will give students the opportunity to explore their individual relationship with the idea of freedom and how it manifests in their own lives. We are currently brainstorming and drafting ideas to create a poster next week, which will then be shared with the class, giving everyone a chance to work on their public speaking and communication skills.
   Looking ahead, we will move on to the creation of a new nation and then continue on into the Civil War era -- discussing how a nation can become so deeply divided and polarized over issues like human rights, the economy, and State vs. Federal powers.
-- Drew Vinson, Middle School Humanities/Social Studies Teacher

HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY & GOVERNMENT/ECONOMICS
   Students in 1st Period US History have been learning about the depth of struggle that millions of Americans faced during the Great Depression of the 1930s. They learned about the different leadership styles of Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt, and how each man attempted to tackle the depression. Students also delved into the various causes of the depression and how it became a worldwide phenomena.
   4th Period US History students have been learning about the economic, political, and social changes that impacted America during the 1920s, the period known as the Roaring Twenties. Students learned about how rising wages enabled Americans to purchase automobiles, radios, and phonographs. Home appliances made household chores easier. Students also learned how greater disposable income allowed more Americans to be able to enjoy new forms of entertainment, like going to the movies, and with more Americans having automobiles, people could travel around the United States much more easily.
   Students in 5th Period Government/Econ have begun to learn about the fundamental building blocks of economics. The concept of scarcity was discussed making individuals, businesses, and governments have to make decisions about what they want to do while being constrained by limited resources. [A concept re-introduced to them and applied towards humanity rather than animals in their earlier Biology classes.] Students were quick to grasp the difference between wants and needs and also the difference between goods and services.
   6th Period Government/Econ students have learned about the role that trade-offs play in the economic decisions people make. Students learned about how opportunity costs influence the decisions people make when they decide what benefit they will forego by choosing a different option. Finally, students learned how individuals have to weigh the opportunity costs and benefits of making economic decisions, known as cost/benefit analysis.
-- Kenny Katz, High School History Teacher