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Social Studies

SOCIAL STUDIES

PHILOSOPHY

The foundations of learning in the social sciences are built around an understanding of self and an understanding of the relationship of self to others and to the environment. Our program will endeavour to provide students with the background knowledge and the skills necessary to empower them to effect change as responsible and active members of their communities and the world at large.

ESSENTIAL AGREEMENTS

Course content, methodology and instructional materials will be designed to instil in our students:
  • A strong sense of self that respects their Cultural Identity as well as that of others
  • Compassion towards people and issues in the world around them
  • An understanding of their role as Citizens, the belief in their ability and their responsibility to promote change
  • Confidence in their Ability to research, listen, organize, write critically, speak publicly, actively participate and express educated opinions
  • Knowledge of our cultural, historical, geographical, economical, philosophical, sociological and psychological heritage to be able to interpret events, explain how our world has evolved, reach informed opinions and conclusions

STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES

  1. Students will understand culture and cultural identity
  2. Students will understand the ways humans view themselves in and over time
  3. Students will identify and explore people, places and environments
  4. Students will understand individual development and identity.
  5. Students will examine individuals, groups and institutions.
  6. Students will explore how people create and change structures of power, authority and governance.
  7. Students will understand how people organize for production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
  8. Students will recognize relationships among science, technology and society.
  9. Students will explore global connections and interdependence.
  10. Students will identify the ideals, principles, and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic.

202 HUMANITIES SOCIAL STUDIES 9

Humanities 9 is an interdisciplinary course which combines instruction in World Literature and World History. Students will be scheduled in two blocks, one in which the primary instructor is an English teacher and one in which the primary instructor is a History teacher. Throughout the course of the year, students will be given an opportunity to study these two academic disciplines in an integrated setting. Students' appreciation of selected literary texts will be enhanced as they learn about the social and historical contexts for those works. Similarly, their grasp of historical events and broader social trends will be improved when their readings are augmented with works of prose, drama, and/or poetry that address related themes. While students can expect to spend part of the time during the week with one teacher in their designated block, there will be ample opportunity for instructors to combine classes for particular units and to generate assignments which combine both history and English.

204 HUMANITIES SOCIAL STUDIES 10

Humanities 10 is an interdisciplinary course that combines instruction in World Literature and World History. Students will be scheduled in two blocks, one in which the primary instructor is an English teacher and one in which the primary instructor is a history teacher. Throughout the course of the year, students will be given an opportunity to study these two academic disciplines in an integrated setting. Students' appreciation of selected literary texts will be enhanced as they learn about the social and historical contexts for those works. Similarly, their grasp of historical events and broader social trends will be improved when their readings are augmented with works of prose, drama, and/or poetry that address related themes. Both classes will focus on strengthening skills in the following areas: reading, writing, speaking, listening, research, presentation and critical thinking. While students can expect to spend part of the time during the week with one teacher in their designated block, there will be ample opportunity for instructors to combine classes for particular units and to generate assignments which combine both history and English. The course is chronological exploring history and literature from the Renaissance to the 20th century.
Prerequisite: Humanities Social Studies 9

206 HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS

This course will present a survey of the Americas with an emphasis on the U.S. The first semester includes topics such as Pre- Colombian civilizations, the colonial period, and independence. The second semester will cover 20th century topics such as immigration, economic development of nations, and US and Latin American relations. A comparative approach will be used. Research, writing and analytical reasoning skills are emphasized. This course fulfills the requirement for U.S. History.
Prerequisite: Humanities 10

211 INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY

Second Semester
This course allows students the opportunity to analyze human behavior and cognitive processes at the individual level. The course will consider the foundations of psychology in Ancient Greece, the classical thought of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, J.B.Watson, Pavlov, B.F. Skinner, and the thought of modern scholars such as Cattell, Carl Rogers, Jean Piaget, Kohlberg, and others. Topics may include Intelligence, Personality Development, Psychological Disorders, Methods of Research, Biology and Behavior, Consciousness, and Dreams. The Developmental Psychology unit will include a practicum in the Pre-Kindergarten to study development in young children.

217 INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS

First semester course only
As an introduction to Economic thinking, this course covers the basics of Micro-and Macroeconomics. An effort is made to apply the concepts learned in the classroom - supply and demand, elasticity, competition and mergers, fiscal and monetary policy, trade and development- to current political events and economic situations. A unit on the stock market and investing is also included.
Prerequisite: Humanities 10 or faculty recommendation.

221 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES: HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS

Second semester
The course will focus on those issues that are of paramount importance and interest in our own times. The course will place these issues, events and personalities in their historical context, thus furthering our understanding of the complexities of the issues and their relation to the present. Sources will include newspapers, magazines, journals, and articles from scholarly texts. Assessment will be based on periodic examinations, research papers, and class participation.

251 IB HISTORY HIGHER LEVEL YEAR 1: 20th CENTURY WORLD HISTORY

Required for IB History HL
This course concentrates on the following major themes of 20th century world history: the causes, practices, and effects of wars; the rise and rule of single party states; nationalist and independence movements and the cold war. The treatment of these topics is factual as well as thematic. An IB diploma requirement for this course is an in-depth individual study and oral defense of a limited subject approved by the teacher, known as “guided coursework”. Students will be prepared to sit the IB Standard Level exam at the end of this course.
Prerequisites: World History 10 and teacher recommendation

253 IB HISTORY HIGHER LEVEL YEAR 2: THE AMERICAS

IB Higher Level History is the 2nd year of the IB diploma History program and it also fulfills the U.S. History graduation requirement. This course is a detailed study of the history of the Americas from 1750 to the present. The class will also focus on three of the topics listed in the course description of IB History HL year 1. This course will prepare students for the IB History HL exam administered at the end of the 2nd year.
Prerequisite: IB History Higher Level year 1.

259 IB ECONOMICS STANDARD LEVEL

This one-year course is intended to give students a strong background in both Micro and Macroeconomic principles. Topics covered will include such concepts as the allocation of scarce resources, how business competes, national income analysis, and the role of government in the economy. Additional emphasis will be placed on the laws of supply and demand, international trade and the economic growth and the development of developing countries.
This course is open to 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Students will also be responsible for a portfolio of written commentaries applying economic concepts learned in class to current events.
Pre-requisite: Teacher recommendation

220 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

First Semester
A major focus of the course will be to study the make-up of the United Nations and prepare for the Model UN Conference in The Hague (THIMUN) in January. Emphasis will be placed on understanding current political issues by researching and role-playing different countries' points of view about these issues. Students will research the economic and political background of a country they are asked to represent at THIMUN while preparing solutions to specific problems and following their country's point of view. Students who adequately prepare for the trip will be invited to represent EARJ.
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