Social Studies

FACULTY - Office Hours 7:30 to 8:00am - 2:40 to 3:30pm Julie Curtis- Instructional Coach and Department Leader Alyssa Urban- Personalized Learning Teacher John Kipp Lee Barnett Jason Barney Eric Gildemeister- Grade 9 Dante Napolitano- Grade 9 David Szabo- Grade 8 Voyagers Benjamin McPherson- Grade 8 Dream Team Benjamin Green- Grade 7 Firebirds Brooks Sturtevant- Grade 7 Extreme
Essential Learning Behaviors for the social sciences: Students will access, organize, and analyze information Students will communicate information Students will apply an understanding of democratic principles Students will respect human diversity Students will be able to solve problems effectively

The Social Studies program at MVU is based on the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards. These national standards require students to demonstrate the skills needed for independent, lifelong learning through inquiry and problem solving skills, and personalized, real world understandings of civics, economics, geography, and history.

To create the best educational pathway within these requirements, each student, with the advice of their parents, counselors, and teachers, should consider the following:

9th & 10th Grade:

Students are encouraged to challenge themselves within their regular social studies course by opting to complete the honors credential. They are also encouraged to fulfill social studies graduation requirements early by taking a second social studies course their 9th and/or 10th grade year, such as Local History, or History of War, or enrolling in extracurriculars, such as Debate, Model UN or MVUnity Leadership.

GLOBAL STUDIES

Gr. 9 - 1 period - 2 semesters - 1 credit

U.S./VERMONT HISTORY I and II

Gr. 10 - 1 period - 2 semesters - 1 credit

11th & 12th Grade:

Students have a choice of courses to fulfill flexible requirements in:

History: Students demonstrate a complex understanding of the world and events in one or more of our six courses.

Career and College Prep: Students demonstrate graduation level inquiry and problem solving skills in one of the seven course options.

Students may fulfill graduation requirements by taking 2 separate semester courses to fulfill the flexible history and college and career prep requirements, OR take a year long course that fulfills both. Students who are ready for college level work are encouraged to do this through taking AP courses. Students who are interested in college level work, but need more support building time management, organization, test and note taking skills should take College Civics, which offers that support paired with the opportunity to earn 3 CCV credits in U.S. Government and Politics.

Courses such as Debate and Model UN, MVUnity Leadership, Humanities in Action, and Abenaki and Local History can be taken multiple times for credit with the expectation that students will advance in their skills and choose different content, and take on school leadership positions for credit.

History Courses:

ABENAKI AND LOCAL HISTORY

Gr. 11-12 1 period 1 semester ½ credit

HISTORY OF WAR, MILITARY & COMBAT

Gr. 11-12 1 period 1 semester ½ credit

HUMANITIES IN ACTION

Gr. 11-12 1 period 1 semester ½ credit

Career and College Prep Courses:

HUMANITIES IN ACTION

Gr. 11-12 1 period 1 semester ½ credit

DEBATE, CURRENT EVENTS, AND MODEL UN

Gr. 9-12 Once a week after school, 3-4:30 October-April ½ credit

MVUNITY LEADERSHIP

Gr. 9-12 Once a week after school ½ credit

Courses that fulfill both HISTORY & CAREER AND COLLEGE PREP requirements:

COLLEGE CIVICS

Gr. 11/12 1 period credit 2 semesters 1 credit

AP PSYCHOLOGY

Gr. 11/12 1 period 2 semesters 1 credit

AP UNITED STATES HISTORY

*Rotating every other year*

Gr.10-12 1 period 2 semesters 1 credit

AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

*Rotating every other year*

Gr.11/12 1 period 2 semesters 1 credit

REQUIRED SENIOR CAPSTONE:

ECONOMIC CITIZENSHIP

Gr.12 1 period 1 semester ½ credit