Social Studies

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically... Intelligence plus character-- that is the goal of true education."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

The knowledge and skills acquired by Delano students in an inclusive social studies education should enable the student to gain insight and understanding into the various social systems that will affect them. As society transitions from an industrial to a technological world, learners need to acquire life-skills that accept changing roles in a global community.

The acquisition of this knowledge is essential to the development of a fully productive citizen with the capacity to respect diversity and to acknowledge different perspectives. The foundations to make informed decisions, independently and/or cooperatively, will be based on democratic choice, personal freedom, and social responsibility.

Social Studies Courses, listed alphabetically
(see Registration and Requirements for more information)

Advanced Placement American History (Grades 10-12)
The comprehensive course of study will begin with pre Colonial America and continue to present. There will be extensive work required within and outside of the classroom. This course will challenge students who wish to further their knowledge of history and obtain college credit.


Advanced Placement Human Geography (grade 11, 12)
AP Human Geography is a college level course. The comprehensive course will begin with and include an introduction to human geography, population and migration, agriculture and society, land use management and natural resource allocation, industry and economic development, political geography, cultural geography, and urban geography. Free response writing is a major part of the class. Extensive work is required within and outside of the classroom. This course will challenge students who wish to further their knowledge of human geography.

American History (Grade 10)
The course starts with a review of American history through reconstruction. During the first quarter, topics will include the gilded age, progressivism, imperialism, World War I, and the 1920s. In the second quarter students will focus on the Great Depression, World War II, The Cold War, Vietnam, protest movements, and a review of the 1980s through present day. 

C.I.S. Economics (Grades 11-12)
CIS Economics is a college level course for which students may receive college credit. It will focus on the study of key micro- and macro-economic concepts and the economic way of thinking. Emphasis will be placed on applying economic theory and reasoning to real world issues and to the evaluation of possible solutions.

C.I.S. Psychology (Grade 12)
In this class, students will study the mind and behavior, personality and assessment, heredity and individual differences, consciousness, memory, language and thought process, learning, and history of psychology. Performance on the AP exam in the spring may give you the equivalent of university psychology credit.

Government & Citizenship (Grade 9)
U.S. Goverment is a one semester Social Studies course requisite for high school graduation. This course is divided into two quarters focusing on the need for and purposes of government, the Constitution, the Legislative, Executive and Judicial brances of government, as well as foreign and domestic policies. The aim of this course is to give students a thorough understanding of the workings and functions of the U.S. Government so that they may be informed citizens with an appreciation of the rights and responsibilities essential to becoming active participants in society.

Current Events (Grades 11-12)
Teenagers want relevance in the curriculum they study. Experts today feel that most Americans examine the issues that affect their lives on a superficial level only. Current Events is the class that can address both concerns. Events that affect us all, at the global, national, state, and local levels, will be examined and discussed. Subject matter includes political, economic, and social issues. Education, religion, science and technology, sports, and music are all open for discussion. The course will use various means of presentation and assessment including readings, news broadcasts, writing, and internet sites. This is a class for students who want their educational experience to relate to their future.

Human Geography (Grades 11-12)
Ge
ographic knowledge satisfies a deep human need to know about other people and places, the natural environment, the capacity of the earth to support human life, and to inform our own individual perception of places. This clas will revolve around a pattern of inquiry that begins with three essential questions: Where are things located, why they are in those particular places, and how do those particular places influence our lives. Besides the basic core of world and regional location studies, other areas for exploration include Physical, Urban, Political, Cultural, Historical, Economic Geography, Cartography, and problems in Local Geography. This course is open to all students who wish to investigate the world in which they live, in an inquisitive and scholarly manner.

Human Behavior (Grades 11-12)
Why do people behave the way they do? What do your dreams mean? What does it really mean if someone is "insane"? All the answers to these questions and a lot more can be found in Human Behavior. This course will examine the human processes that drive people to think and act in various ways. The primary focus will be the disciplines of Psychology and Sociology.

Senior Economics/Sociology (Grade 12)
What is economics all about? How do supply and demand affect my life? The first quarter of this class, Economics, covers the basic economic principles of our market economy, our ever growing relation to the global economy, and current issues found in the news. Basic investing, investments, and financial applications are also applied to students' lives. The second quarter of this class, Sociology, investigates social interaction and examines human social behavior in the context of basic sociological theory.

World History  (Grades 11-12)
Was there really a secret passageway to the treasure room in the Sphinx? Were the Romans really as scandalous as modern-day Hollywood? Was Attilla the Hun as nasty as his reputation? These and many other intriguing questions are investigated in the History of Western Civilization I. The course covers the journey of the social, architectural, and some esoteric history of Western Civilization.

 

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“The greater our knowledge increases, the more our ignorance unfolds.” - JFK  

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” - Maya Angelou

"A waffle is like a pancake with a syrup trap."
-Mitch Hedberg