Social Studies

Social Studies Department

We prepare students to live in our global world by developing their understanding of the past and its relationship to the issues we face today, and the demands of a rapidly evolving future. Boys explore how and why cultures flourish, especially when confronted with great adversity. In each grade, they embark on immersive experiential learning trips to practice the concepts, problem-solving opportunities, and interpersonal dispositions for them to be informed citizens and effective agents of change.

Mr. McCarter, Middle School Teacher

Global Citizenship creates an opportunity for students to explore the different dynamics that influence the modern world and also share their developing understandings of how they see our society.

Fifth Grade

Fifth-grade social studies investigates the cultures of ancient Greece, ancient Mexico, and the events surrounding our American Revolution through the study of history and geography, as well as the use of historical novels, non-fiction books, mythology, research projects, and field trips. Our students seek to understand how these cultures are both different and similar, while discovering what can be learned from the past and understood in the context of the modern world.

Sixth Grade

Sixth graders develop the overall skills required to establish a framework for future verbal, reading, writing, and research challenges. The class travels through the history of the United States from the birth of a nation to contemporary times. Sixth grade provides students with a thematic-based approach to America’s past, understanding the rationales, histories, and perspectives of America, what makes it different, and what role it plays in the world at large. Students will understand their own personal relationships within the context of American history. Our spring trip to Dearborn, MI centers on the themes of ingenuity and invention which echoes the US Industrial Revolution. Boys participate in a culminating project in which they create a new product or improve an existing one, construct prototypes, and pitch them Shark Tank style.

Seventh Grade

In World Geography, seventh graders develop an understanding of the world in which we live by exploring the physical and human characteristics of peoples, places, and environments. The design of this course focuses on themes such as geographical regions, resources, political and economic systems, population, and religion. Each theme begins with addressing basic concepts and skills, progressively advances to more complex topics within the theme, and culminates with age-appropriate case studies. Students examine the themes through a geographic lens and how those themes impact daily lives and influence certain types of systems. Students are exposed to the geographer’s toolbox, including geographic information systems, maps, and data expressed through graphs and charts, and the identification of countries, capitals, and major physical features of six continents. In the spring, the boys apply concepts and main ideas from the year to complete a culminating project on place and identity.

Eighth Grade

In eighth grade, the global citizenship course challenges students to consider their own identity and their universe of obligation. Students learn to think critically about the complex forces that shape our world and discover what they can do to understand and resolve important global issues. Through case studies in contemporary issues of justice, media, and environment, students develop a more nuanced understanding of controversial topics and hone their skills in digital news literacy and media bias detection. Course units are built around a sequence of investigating the world around us, recognizing and appreciating the perspectives of others, communicating with diverse audiences, and taking action in a meaningful way. Most importantly, this course is about students listening generously, speaking truthfully, and choosing wisely.