Social Studies Department

The Social Studies Department offers courses at all grade levels that allow students to meet the requirement from graduation.  Those courses include  United States and World History, Government and Civics, Geography, and Humanities.  Elective courses in Psychology, Sociology, Humanities, Holocaust Studies, and Women’s Studies are also offered.

Social Studies Department Philosophy

The Social Studies believes that the Social Studies classroom should be student-centered and should provide instruction in the analysis of content of the course.  Social Studies courses should also train students to analyze and interpret primary sources and to learn to utilize a wide spectrum of technology to research material and present research conclusions.  The department believes that the classroom should promote interactive collaboration between teachers and students by engaging students in a variety of learning experiences. The teachers encourage creativity and application of skills.

Social Studies Department Goals and Objectives

Goal #1:   To provide learning opportunities that help students gain knowledge and skills to demonstrate global citizenship.

Objective #1:  Provide required courses in Geography, World History, and Government and link the content of these courses to current political views and events.

Objective #2:  Provide students the opportunity to participate under the direction of the department in Kentucky United Nations Assembly (KUNA), Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA), the Global Issues Club, and the voter registration program.

Objective #3:  Integrate the study  and discussion of world religions, comparative economic systems, world cultures, and global issues in all Social Studies courses.

Goal #2:  To guide students to proficiency in the acquisition, utilization, and application of information technology and resources.

                Objective #1:  Instruct students on how to coordinate information from different databases.

Objective #2:  Analyze information from  maps, charts, graphs, political cartoons, and primary sources.

Objective #3:  Analyze the integrity of online sources.

Goal #3:  To provide active learning and outcome-based assessments that allow students to demonstrate the application of course content.

Objective #1: Create cooperative learning activities, projects, and common exams that allow students to apply content and that are based on national and state standards.

Objective #2:  Require that students present information on important historical figures and events through role-playing, debates, posters, movies, songs, and mock trials.

Objective #3:  Engage students in problem-solving related to climate change, allocation of resources, national and global political conflicts, immigration issues, changing demographics, Supreme Court decisions, and economic surges and downturns.