Social Studies

Course Description

Social 9 is the combination of two topics: Introduction to Government (Civics) and Career Readiness (previously named Freshman Academy in recent years at JHS).

Introduction to Government is designed to provide students with a comprehensive analysis of the authority, structure, and procedure of American Government. Major topics include constitutional foundation, politics of democracy, and the role of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. Emphasis will be placed on the rights and responsibilities of United States citizenship. Students should develop the critical skills needed to interpret and make judgments about government decisions in a complex society and world. Current events as they relate to course topics are discussed throughout the year.

Career Readiness will provide students with opportunities for interest and career exploration, while also focusing on the development of soft skills. This course will stress skills in academic success, employability skills, goal setting, and career/college readiness.

Proficiency Learning Targets for 9th Grade Civics

Skills Based Learning Targets (year long)

• Analyze a variety of textual sources, including primary and secondary written sources, tables and graphs, and maps to demonstrate understanding and use information from these sources to understand historical questions (Reading Analysis)
• Synthesize information from a variety of sources and places and use it to come to a broader understanding or form an argument (Synthesis)
• Write a clearly described and detailed argument and defend it using historical evidence (Argumentation)
• Write and speak coherently and clearly in a variety of formats and settings and clearly present information both visually & verbally (Communication)
• Analyze and understand the relationship between causes and effects in history and use it to further their understanding of historical processes and events (Cause & Effect)
• Use compare and contrast methods to analyze historical processes and events (Compare & Contrast)

Content Based Learning Targets (by unit)

• Understand the requirements and process to gain or lose citizenship (9.1.3.5.1)
• Identify the functions of government
• Understand the overarching principles of democratic governments
• Compare the philosophies, structures and operations of different types of governments (9.1.5.12.1)
• Understand ideas that influenced American democracy, including: Magna Carta, natural rights, social contract, separation of powers, and precedent (9.1.2.3.3)
• Understand the historical background of the Constitutional Convention, including the role of the American Revolution, First and Second Continental Congress, and the Articles of Confederation
• Identify the major compromises of the Constitutional Convention and understand their impact on the shape of the U.S. government
• Identify and define the five major principles of the U.S. Constitution, including: popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and rule of law (9.1.2.3.3)
• Analyze and describe the features of the Constitution that have made it successful and flexible over the entire history of the U.S.
• Identify the provisions of the Constitution which delegate federal government powers and distinguish between the powers delegated to the federal government and the powers retained by the people and the state (9.1.4.6.1)
• Identify the purpose of each article of the Constitution, including the overall role of each branch of government (9.1.4.6.2 – 9.1.4.6.4)
• Understand the meaning and importance of rights in the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments (9.1.3.4.1)
• Explain the scope and limits of rights protected by the Bill of Rights and changes created by legislative action and court interpretation (9.1.3.4.2, 9.1.3.4.3)
• Explain the current and historical interpretations of the principles of due process and equal protection of the law (9.1.3.4.4)
• Analyze the government’s dual role of protecting individual rights and promoting the general welfare (9.1.2.3.5)
• Explain the duties and responsibilities for citizens in a republic (9.1.3.4.5)
• Explain the purposes, organization, and roles of the legislative branch as mentioned in Article I of the Constitution, including qualifications of Congress members and the lawmaking process (9.1.4.6.2)
• Explain why governments interact in world affairs and describe how the United States government develops and carries out foreign policy
• Explain the functions and processes of the judicial branch as described in Article III of the Constitution (9.1.4.6.4)
• Evaluate the impact of political parties and interest groups on elections and public policy (9.1.4.8.1)
• Demonstrate skills for participating in elections and civic engagement (9.1.1.1.2, 9.1.2.3.4)
• Explain state and local government powers in Minnesota and their relationship to the federal system (9.1.4.6.7, 9.1.4.6.8)
• Compare rights in the Minnesota Constitution and U.S. Constitution (9.1.3.4.1)
• Identify revenue sources for the state government and their impact on citizens (9.1.4.6.9)

Materials Used

Textbook: Civics Today: Citizenship, Economics, & You (Glencoe)

Course Description

U.S. History is a year-long survey of the study of the “American story” from the early explorers through the present day. This is a chronological survey course. This class will help students to understand our national heritage, as well as develop an appreciation for other cultures and the sacrifices made by our veterans in the name of freedom. Students will learn events from the past that will help provide context for the present. Learning the story of the United States teaches us tolerance, respect, and appreciation for all people within our country, as well as a better understanding of how our country works today. The class will begin with the age of North American exploration and end with a look at recent historical events. The course will examine key events and groups of people that students should be able to identify, but much of the focus will be on developing important skills and an understanding of how history works through common themes and processes. Those important skills include reading analysis, writing and communication, synthesis of information from multiple sources to form conclusions, constructing arguments using historical evidence, and analyzing history using both compare and contrast and cause and effect methods. The goal of U.S. History is to build better informed American citizens who have the knowledge and skills necessary to continue their education and be productive members of our national community.

Proficiency Learning Targets for 10th Grade U.S. History

Skills Based Learning Targets (year long)

• Analyze a variety of textual sources, including primary and secondary written sources, tables and graphs, and maps to demonstrate understanding and use information from these sources to understand historical questions (Reading Analysis)
• Synthesize information from a variety of sources and places and use it to come to a broader understanding or form an argument (Synthesis)
• Write a clearly described and detailed argument and defend it using historical evidence (Argumentation)
• Write and speak coherently and clearly in a variety of formats and settings and clearly present information both visually & verbally (Communication)
• Analyze and understand the relationship between causes and effects in history and use it to further their understanding of historical processes and events (Cause & Effect)
• Use compare and contrast methods to analyze historical processes and events (Compare & Contrast)

Content Based Learning Targets (by unit)

• Create an argument analyzing Christopher Columbus as a historical figure (1.1)
• Identify the positive and negative effects of the Columbian Exchange on both Native Americans and European colonists (1.2)
• List the major motivations behind the development of European colonies in the Americas and why colonists were motivated to settle colonies (1.3)
• Identify and differentiate the various forms of representative governments created in the colonies (1.4)
• Understand the regional differences between the colonies economically, socially, and politically (1.5)
• Understand the political and economic relationship between Great Britain and their American colonies (2.1)
• Analyze and describe the various factors that helped cause the American Revolution (2.2)
• Understand the factors that led to the American victory, including the role of the French, the leadership of George Washington, and the rebel tactics (2.3)
• Identify and understand the effects of the American Revolutionary War (2.4)
• Identify the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need to revise them (3.1)
• Describe the compromises that led to the U.S. Constitution, including the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, the 3⁄5 compromise, and the Bill of Rights (3.2)
• Understand the historical precedents for the executive branch established by George Washington (3.3)
• Understand the causes and effects of the War of 1812 (3.4)
• Analyze the role that Westward expansion and the issue of slavery had in creating sectional divisions within the United States (4.1)
• Identify the events that led to the territorial expansion of the United States, including the Louisiana Purchase, the Mexican-American War, and the Gadsen Purchase (4.2)
• Identify the causes and effects of the U.S.-Mexico War (4.3)
• Identify and understand the economic, social, and cultural differences between the North and the South (4.4)
• Identify and understand the various causes of the U.S. Civil War, including the political impact of debates over slavery and growing sectional polarization in key events including the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Law, the rise of the Republican Party, the Southern secession movement and the formation of the Confederacy (4.5)
• Explain the events and leaders of the U.S. Civil War and analyze how the differences in resources of the Union and Confederacy (economy, technology, demography, geography, political and military leadership) affected the course of the war and Union victory (5.1)
• Understand the social experience of the war on battlefield and home front, in the Union and the Confederacy (5.2)
• Understand the effects of the Civil War (5.3)
• Identify the content of and reasons for the different phases of Reconstruction, and understand their successes and failures in transforming the country, including the formation of black codes, Jim Crow, and violence against African-Americans (5.4)
• Identify and understand the causes and effects of the policy of Native American removal and relocation, including the “Trail of Tears” and Indian Removal Act (6.1)
• Understand the relationship between the U.S. government and Native American tribes, including the formation of treaties and military conflicts (6.2)
• Understand the policies of the U.S. government towards Native American assimilation and their impact on Native American culture and society (6.3)
• Create an argument related to the use of Native American mascots using historical evidence to support their claim (6.4)
• Compare and contrast the characteristics of “robber barons” and “Captains of Industry” during the Industrial Revolution, while creating an argument about a specific historical figure and using evidence to support their argument (7.1)
• Identify and understand the pros and cons of early industrial capitalism and the Gilded Age, including the reforms of the Progressive era (7.2)
• Identify and understand the causes of immigration between 1865–1914 (7.3)
• Understand the causes of rapid urbanization, life in early industrialized cities, and the effects of urbanization on American society (7.4)
• Analyze the arguments related to the role of the United States in the world in the era of Western Imperialism, including the motivation of specific events (8.1)
• Identify and understand the factors that led to the American involvement in World War I (8.2)
• Understand the effects of World War I, including the treaties that ended the war, on American foreign policy (8.3)
• Understand the impact of the Roaring 20s and Prohibition (9.1)
• Identify the various causes of the Great Depression (9.2)
• Identify and define the major programs of the New Deal and their impact on the nation (9.3)
• Understand the economic, social, and political effects of the Great Depression on American society (9.4)
• Understand the factors that led to the U.S. involvement in World War II (10.1)
• Compare the progression of the war in Europe to that in the Pacific (10.2)
• Analyze the U.S. decision to drop the atomic bomb and form a historical argument on the topic (10.3)
• Analyze the internment of Japanese-American citizens during World War II and create a historical argument on the topic (10.4)
• Understand the role and importance of the U.S. “home front” during World War II, including the sacrifices made by citizens and the role of women in the work force (10.5)
• Understand the origins of the Cold War and the relationship between the United States and Soviet Union (11.1)
• Understand the impact of McCarthyism and other domestic events and policies during the early Cold War in the United States (11.2)
• Understand the causes and the effects of the Korean War (11.3)
• Identify and understand specific Cold War “hot spots” including the Berlin Airlift, Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, the “space race,” and the nuclear arms race (11.4)
• Understand why the United States got involved in Vietnam and escalated their presence in the nation (11.5)
• Understand the nature of the fighting of Vietnam, how it differed from previous wars, and how the nature of the war affected domestic politics and American opinions, including the anti-war movement (11.6)
• Understand the background, causes, and the need for a Civil Rights Movement (11.2)
• Identify the major groups and individuals who led the Civil Rights Movement, especially Martin Luther King Jr., and understand their impact on the movement (11.3)
• Understand and compare the various strategies of the Civil Rights Movement, including specific historical examples where those strategies were used (11.4)
• Understand the role of the U.S. Supreme Court and Congressional legislation in the advancement of the Civil Rights Movement (11.5)
• Analyze the “I Have a Dream” speech and create a historical argument related to whether or not we have reached Dr. King’s goals, using historical evidence to support that claim (11.5)

Materials Used

Textbook: The Americans (2007). McDougal Littell

Course Description

This course is a Concurrent Enrollment course through Minnesota State–Mankato and students who are accepted into MSU and get at least a 70% in the course will receive 4 college credits EACH semester through MSU (History 190 and History 191). The CE American History course is a two-semester class that offers a survey of American history from the origins of European colonial development in the 1600s to the present day United States using a college-level textbook and college-level pace. Extensive reading, writing, and study skills useful in college will be emphasized. As a college-level course, students should expect a rigorous content level and pace. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, including writing, creating and defending arguments, and interpretation of various primary and secondary sources.

Proficiency Learning Targets for 10th Grade CE American History

Skills Based Learning Targets (year long)

• Analyze a variety of primary and secondary sources and use the message, context, intended audience, and other factors to reach a full understanding of the source (Reading Analysis)
• Write and speak coherently and clearly in a variety of formats and settings and clearly present information both visually & verbally (Communication)
• Take information and ideas from a wide variety of sources to reach a broader understanding and develop arguments (Synthesis)
• Develop an argument and support and defend arguments using historical evidence (Argumentation)
• Analyze historical events through the lenses of cause & effect, compare and contrast, and contextualization (Historical Analysis)

Content Based Learning Targets (by Unit)

• Understand the historical context for American history by describing the societies of the Americas, Europe, and Africa prior to European exploration (1.1)
• Understand the motivations, causes, and effects of European exploration, the Columbian Exchange, & the European conquest of the Americas (1.2)
• Compare and contrast the economic, political, and social features of the various European colonial models in the Americas during the colonial era (2.1)
• Compare and contrast the economic, social, cultural, & political patterns of the three major regions of British North America from 1600–1750 (2.2)
• Understand the historical factors that led to the Atlantic Slave Trade, how the trade system worked, and the lives of slaves and the creation of African-American culture, including its connection to modern racism (2.3)
• Understand the ideas and impact of Enlightenment and Great Awakening on colonial American society and culture (2.4)
• Understand the main political events and forces that shaped the founding and evolution of British colonies in North America from 1600–1750 (2.5)
• Describe the political, social, economic, and ecological impact of European arrival on Native American societies (2.6)
• Analyze the causes of the American Revolution using a combination of primary and secondary sources and compare arguments on the causes made by various historians (3.1)
• Understand the factors that led to the American victory in the Revolutionary War and the effects of the war (3.2)
• Develop an argument about the degree to which the American Revolution transformed American society (3.3)
• Understand the main features of the Articles of Confederation and other early trials in American government and the factors that led to their failure (4.1)
• Understand the background and compromises of the Constitutional Convention and ratification process, along with the major features and principles of the Constitution and Bill of Rights (4.2)
• Describe the major political events & trends in America during the 1790s, including Hamilton's financial program, the formation of political parties, and the westward expansion of the nation (4.3)
• Understand the key events and policies of American politics from 1800–1825, including the Louisiana Purchase, the legal principles established by the Marshall Court, the War of 1812, Monroe Doctrine, and the Missouri Compromise (5.1)
• Understand the legacies and impact of the rise in popular democracy and the Jackson presidency, including the Indian Removal Act (5.2)
• Understand the causes and effects of the creation of the Second Party System in the 1830s and 1840s (5.3)
• Understand the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution on American society, including the impact of transportation systems and urbanization (6.1)
• Understand the patterns of immigration from 1800–1860 and their impact on American society (6.2)
• Understand the major forces that shaped the formation of a distinct American culture and the impact of the Second Great Awakening and the subsequent reform movements (6.3)
• Understand the main forces shaping the antebellum South, including the expansion of slavery and the domestic slave trade and the social and cultural lives of whites and blacks in the South (6.4)
• Compare and contrast northern and southern societies on the eve of the Civil War (6.5)
• Understand the causes and effects of American westward expansion and the ideology of Manifest Destiny (7.1)
• Understand the causes and effects of the Mexican-American War (7.2)
• Analyze the causes of the American Civil War through primary and secondary sources and create an argument on the central causes of the war (7.3)
• Analyze the factors that led to the Union’s victory and the key turning points in the Civil War (8.1)
• Use primary sources to analyze the evolution of the goals of the Civil War and the role of abolition in the war’s goals (8.2)
• Understand the effects and legacy of the Civil War (8.3)
• Understand the Reconstruction Amendments and the other policies of Reconstruction (9.1)
• Understand the Southern violent backlash to Reconstruction and the resulting policies (9.2)
• Analyze the legacy of Reconstruction, including the creation of “Lost Cause” mythology, and evaluate Lincoln as a historical figure (9.3)
• Explain the causes and effects of the settlement of the West from 1877 to 1898 (10.1)
• Analyze historians’ arguments on the issue of whether or not Americans committed a genocide against Native Americans and construct an argument based on those claims (10.2)
• Understand the changes and continuities in industrialization, immigration, and labor that continued to shape American society from 1877–1914 (11.1)
• Understand the causes and effects of the deterioration of race relations known as the Nadir (11.2)
• Understand the causes of cultural change in American society and the new forms of cultural expression and entertainment that arose from 1877–1914 (11.3)
• Understand the processes of urbanization and efforts to reform industrial cities from 1877–1914 (11.4)
• Understand the forces that led to the calls for political reforms and the effects of the Progressive era (11.5)
• Understand the arguments and motivations of American imperialism (12.1)
• Understand the effects of the Spanish-American War and other American territorial acquisitions in the late 1800s (12.2)
• Explain the causes and consequences of U.S. involvement in World War I and the U.S. role in World War I (13.1)
• Understand the social, economic, and cultural effects of World War I on American society from 1919–1932 (14.1)
• Understand the causes of the Great Depression, the extent of the crisis, and the early responses by the government (14.2)
• Understand the major programs, reforms, and initiatives of the New Deal and their impact on American political, social, and economic life over time (15.1)
• Understand the factors that led to World War II and led to American involvement in the war (16.1)
• Understand America’s role in WWII and the efforts undertaken to mobilize the nation for the war effort (16.2)
• Examine and analyze the impact of WWII on American society and evaluate America’s actions taken during WWII (16.3)
• Understand the major foreign policies of the early Cold War and the decisions and impact of those policies (17.1)
• Understand the impact of the Cold War on domestic politics and American society from 1945–1963 (17.2)
• Understand the causes and effects of postwar economic growth, including the development of the middle class and the growth of suburbs and consumerism (18.1)
• Understand the values that shaped American culture and society in the postwar years (18.2)
• Understand the variety of factors that helped lead to the Civil Rights Movement (19.1)
• Understand the tactics and successes of the Civil Rights Movement and resulting legislation (19.2)
• Use a variety of research information to evaluate the extent to which the Civil Rights Movement achieved its goals (19.3)
• Understand the Great Society programs and their impact (20.1)
• Understand the factors that led to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and the nature of the war (20.2)
• Understand the public reaction to the Vietnam War and the conservative backlash to anti-war protests and other social change movements of the 1960s (20.3)
• Understand the causes and effects of the environmental movement, deindustrialization, and economic stagnation beginning in the 1970s (21.1)
• Understand the origins and evolution of the New Right and the groups that made up the Republican coalition by the 1980s (22.1)
• Understand the domestic and foreign policies of the Reagan administration, including supply-side economics, and their impact and legacy (22.2)
• Understand the causes and effects of the end of the Cold War and its legacy (22.3)
• Analyze U.S. decision making throughout the entire Cold War and construct an argument that either defends or criticizes those decisions (22.4)
• Understand the impact of both globalization and the Digital Revolution on American society since the 1990s (23.1)
• Understand the dynamics of politics from 1990–2012, including the rise of political partisanship, 9/11 and the War on Terror, and responses to the Great Recession (23.2)
• Understand the impact of immigration and the creation of an increasingly pluralistic society since the 1990s (23.3)
• Evaluate major trends in modern American society, including increasing political polarization, mass incarceration and the War on Drugs, continued racial unrest, mass shootings, and other issues (23.4)

Materials Used

Textbook: America’s History, 8th Edition (Henrietta)

Course Description

World History is the story of humanity and how the world we live in today was formed. Learning the human history of the world teaches us tolerance, respect, and appreciation for past peoples, for different cultures, and other areas of the world, as well as a better understanding of how the world works today. The class will begin with the beginnings of human history and end with an in-depth look at our modern, globalized world. The course will examine key civilizations, events, and people that students should be able to identify, but much of the focus will be on developing important skills and an understanding of how history works through common themes and processes. Those important skills include reading analysis, writing and communication, synthesis of information from multiple sources to form conclusions, constructing arguments using historical evidence, and analyzing history using both compare and contrast and cause and effect methods. Major themes include the interaction of humans and their environment, the development of cultures, political systems, social organization, the development and impact of technology, and the interaction between human societies. The goal of World History is to build better informed world citizens who have the knowledge and skills necessary to continue their education and be productive members of a growing global community.

Proficiency Learning Targets for 11th Grade World History

Skills Based Learning Targets (year long)

• Analyze a variety of textual sources, including primary and secondary written sources, tables and graphs, and maps to demonstrate understanding and use information from these sources to understand historical questions (Reading Analysis)
• Synthesize information from a variety of sources and places and use it to come to a broader understanding or form an argument (Synthesis)
• Write a clearly described and detailed argument and defend it using historical evidence (Argumentation)
• Write and speak coherently and clearly in a variety of formats and settings and clearly present information both visually & verbally (Communication)
• Analyze and understand the relationship between causes and effects in history and use it to further their understanding of historical processes and events (Cause & Effect)
• Use compare and contrast methods to analyze historical processes and events (Compare & Contrast)

Thematic Learning Targets (year long)

• Understand the common features of the organization of human societies, including social classes, gender roles, labor systems, and the constructs of race, and how they have changed over time (Social Organization)
• Identify and understand the world’s major religions, philosophies, and belief systems and understand how cultures are formed and spread through the processes of cultural diffusion and cultural syncretism (Culture)
• Understand the organization of political and legal systems while explaining important political ideologies and revolutions (Political Developments)
• Understand the impact of the development of technology while explaining historical examples of how specific technologies have altered human societies (Impact of Technology)
• Understand the ways in which environmental factors have shaped human history and humans evolving relationship with our environments (Humans & the Environment)
• Understand the causes and effects of the interaction of human societies through trade, migration, and warfare and identify specific examples of how those processes have shaped human history (Interaction of Human Societies)
• Organize the history of the world into distinct time periods based on important historical turning points and be able to give a broad description of the processes and events of each historical era (Historical Periodization)

Content Based Learning Targets (by unit)

• Identify the causes and effects of human evolution and migration around the world and can describe the lifestyle and social organization of human societies in our earliest stages (1.1)
• Identify the earliest locations of agriculture around the world and understand the process of domestication that led to farming (1.2)
• Create and defend a historical argument that examines the impact of the Agricultural Revolution by analyzing its positive and negative effects (1.3)
• Compare and contrast the major patterns of early civilizations culturally, socially, politically, and economically and be able to identify early centers of civilization (2.1)
• Identify the usual causes and effects of human migration and specifically the effects of the Indo-European and Bantu migrations in this era (2.2)
• Understand the origin and evolution of writing systems and their impact on human societies (2.3)
• Understand the lifestyle of pastoral nomads and identify the main ways they have interacted with civilizations and impacted history (2.4)
• Outline and understand the broad history of the classical era, including being able to identify the major empires and their overall impact on history (3.1)
• Identify and understand the political challenges of classical era empires and the political organizational strategies they developed to govern their vast empires (3.2)
• Identify common features of daily life in the classical era and compare and contrast regional differences (3.3)
• Understand the causes and effects of long-distance trade and interaction in the classical era and can identify the main trade routes (3.4)
• Write an analysis of the causes and effects of the fall of classical empires in Rome and China, while also comparing and contrasting those same factors and identifying patterns in both (3.5)

Resources

Note: For all secondary sources, excerpts are used and not entire book or article

Note: This list does not include the exhaustive list of short primary source excerpts used in the class

• Traditions & Encounters, Bentely & Ziegler
• The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race, Jared Diamond
• Ghengis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, Jack Weatherford
• Atrocities in History, Matthew White
• Guns, Germs, & Steel, Jared Diamond
• The West & the Rest, Niall Ferguson
• The Great Divergence, Kenneth Pomeranz
• "The Case for Colonialism," Bruce Gilley
• "Why Great Britain Ruled the World," Niall Ferguson
• "Colonialism Was a Disaster and the Facts Prove It," Joseph McQuade
• "A Quick Reminder Why Colonialism Was Bad," Nathan Robinson

Course Description

This course is a Concurrent Enrollment course through Minnesota State–Mankato and students who are accepted into MSU and get at least a 70% in the course will receive 4 college credits EACH semester through MSU (History 170 and History 171). The CE World History course is a two-semester class that offers a survey of World History from the beginnings of humanity to the present using a college-level textbook and college-level pace. Extensive reading, writing, and study skills useful in college will be emphasized. As a college-level course, students should expect a rigorous content level and pace. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, including writing, creating and defending arguments, and interpretation of various primary and secondary sources.

Proficiency Learning Targets for 11th Grade CE World History

Skills Based Learning Targets (year long)

• Analyze a variety of primary and secondary sources and use the message, context, intended audience, and other factors to reach a full understanding of the source (Reading Analysis)
• Write and speak coherently and clearly in a variety of formats and settings and clearly present information both visually & verbally (Communication)
• Take information and ideas from a wide variety of sources to reach a broader understanding and develop arguments (Synthesis)
• Develop an argument and support and defend arguments using historical evidence (Argumentation)
• Analyze historical events through the lenses of cause & effect, compare and contrast, and contextualization (Historical Analysis)

Content Based Learning Targets (by unit)

• Identify the causes and effects of human evolution and migration around the world and can describe the lifestyle and social organization of human societies in our earliest stages (1.1)
• Identify the earliest locations of agriculture around the world and understand the process of domestication that led to farming (1.2)
• Compare and contrast the major patterns of early civilizations culturally, socially, politically, and economically while also identify key unique characteristics among early civilizations (2.1)
• Understand the forces that shape and mold culture, including the impact of the environment and the concepts of cultural diffusion and syncretism and the usual causes and effects of each (2.2)
• Identify the usual causes and effects of human migration and specifically the effects of the Indo-European and Bantu migrations in this era (2.3)
• Understand the origin and evolution of writing systems and their impact on human societies (2.4)
• Outline and understand the broad history of the classical era, including being able to identify the major empires and their overall impact on history (3.1)
• Identify and understand the political challenges of classical era empires and the political organizational strategies they developed to govern their vast empires (3.2)
• Identify common features of daily life in the classical era and compare and contrast regional differences (3.3)
• Understand the causes and effects of long-distance trade and interaction in the classical era and can identify the main trade routes (3.4)
• Understand the origins and beliefs of Hinduism and the Caste System and how they are connected to one another (4.1)
• Understand the origins and beliefs of Buddhism (4.2)
• Understand the doctrines and beliefs of the major Chinese philosophies, including Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism (4.3)
• Understand the concept of Western Civilization and can identify the ways in which Ancient Greece and Rome contributed to its formation (4.4)
• Understand the historical origins and the basic beliefs of Christianity, including the evolution of the faith in its early history (4.5)
• Describe the historical origins and basic beliefs of Islam and how it shapes the lives of its followers (4.6)
• Understand the causes and nature of the expansion of Islam and the creation of the Islamic Empire and the history of the various political states of the Islamic world (5.1)
• Understand the economic and cultural effects of the creation of the Islamic Empire, including the syncretic process that led to the creation of Islamic culture and the creation of the Islamic slave trade (5.2)
• Understand the key features of early African kingdoms and the impact of the Trans-Saharan, Indian Ocean, and Islamic Slave Trade on their development (5.3)
• Understand the historical context of Medieval Europe and the formation of Medieval European society and the Byzantine Empire after the fall of the Roman Empire, including the process that led to the consolidation of Christianity in Europe (6.1)
• Understand how the combination of Feudalism and the Roman Catholic Church shaped the cultural, social, economic, and political structure of Medieval European society (6.2)
• Understand the causes and effects of the economic, political, and social changes in Europe between 1200–1450 (6.3)
• Understand the causes and effects of the political, economic, social, and cultural changes in India and the impact India had on the development of Southeast Asia from 1200–1450 (7.1)
• Identify the foundations of the Chinese government model and give a timeline of the major events and political changes in China from 800–1450 CE (8.1)
• Understand the causes and effects of Chinese economic, cultural, and demographic growth between 1200–1450 (8.2)
• Identify the causes and effects of the arrival of Buddhism into China and the evolution of Buddhism in China (8.3)
• Identify ways in which cultural diffusion from China led to the development of Japanese civilization and understand major features of Medieval Japanese society (8.4)
• Understand the lifestyle of pastoral nomads and identify the main ways they have interacted with civilizations and impacted history (9.1)
• Identify the major nomadic groups and the nomadic empires formed between 1200–1450 and the causes & effects of the creation of those empires (9.2)
• Create and defend an argument about the historical impact of the Mongol conquests in either an opinion paper or as part of classroom debate (9.3)
• Compare and contrast the political, economic, and social systems of the major American civilizations (Maya, Mexica, Inca) to one another and to civilizations in Eurasia (11.1)
• Understand the common features of life in pre-Columbian North America and Oceania, including the Austronesian expansion (11.2)
• Outline the physical processes of trade and travel in the post-classical era and the areas involved in the major trade systems of the era (10.1)
• Understand the causes and effects of increased long-distance trade and travel in the post-classical era (10.2)
• Compare and contrast the methods that major religions used to become widespread, the main areas of influence for each religion, and the process of religious syncretism (10.3)
• Understand the motivations, causes, and effects of European exploration and expansion, including their conquest of the Americas (12.1)
• Compare and contrast the economic, political, and social features of the various European colonial systems in the Americas during the colonial era (12.2)
• Understand the historical factors that led to the Atlantic Slave Trade, how the trade system worked, and the effects of the slave trade on African and American societies, including its connection to modern racism (12.3)
• Understand the early system of global trade and be able to define the Columbian Exchange that resulted from it and the major positive and negative effects of both (12.4)
• Identify the major historical figures and ideas, as well as the causes and effects of the major cultural shifts of the Renaissance and Protestant Reformation (13.1)
• Understand the major economic and political changes in Europe during the early modern era and their impact on European society (13.2)
• Analyze primary & secondary sources to create a summary of the new ideas of the Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution and create a historical argument that analyzes their impact on society (13.3)
• Understand the political, economic, cultural, and social continuities and changes in China between 1450–1750 (14.1)
• Understand the similar origins, methods for military expansion, and the political organization of land-based empires of the Muslim world from 1450–1750 (14.2)
• Analyze the causes of decline in the Chinese and Muslim world (14.3)
• Compare and contrast the methods of political organization and expansion around the world from 1450 to 1750 (15.1)
• Compare and contrast the continuities and changes to systems of labor used around the world from 1450 to 1750 (15.2)
• Compare and contrast the continuities and changes to systems of class-based, racial, ethnic, and gender constructs around the world from 1450 to 1750 (15.3)
• Compare and contrast the religious and cultural conflicts that emerged between 1450 to 1750, with a focus on cultural syncretism in the Americas and religious conflicts in Europe and the Middle East (15.4)
• Define the concept of political revolution and outline the typical factors that lead to revolutions and what results from them and understand the main causes and effects of the Age of Revolutions (16.1)
• Understand the causes and effects of the French Revolution, North American, and Latin American Revolutions (16.2)
• Define the new political ideologies in Europe during the Age of Revolution and understand the historical factors that helped create and spread the idea of nationalism and the nation-state (16.3)
• Compare and contrast the post-revolutionary paths of Latin and North America politically, socially, and economically and understand the historical causes of those differences (16.4)
• Understand the origins and causes of the Industrial Revolution, including the key technological breakthroughs (17.1)
• Understand the social, economic, demographic, and environmental impact of the Industrial Revolution (17.2)
• Compare and contrast the economic ideologies of capitalism and socialism and the causes and effects of the calls for reforms to industrial societies (17.3)
• Compare and contrast the post-independence paths from 1800–1900 for North and Latin America politically, economically, and socially (18.1)
• Identify the motivations and causes of Western Imperialism and outline the areas of the world that were colonized (19.1)
• Understand the main political and economic organizational techniques of European colonial states (19.2)
• Compare and contrast the political, economic, and social challenges facing the Ottoman and Russian empires, Japan, and China between 1450–1750 and their success in implementing reforms and industrialization (20.1)
• Compare and contrast the causes, effects, and experiences of different groups of migrants for the period 1750–1900 (21.1)
• Summarize the main global developments for the era 1750–1900 (21.2)
• Identify the causes, effects, and nature of World War I, including the Russian Revolution (22.1)
• Identify the major global developments between the world wars, including the causes and effects of the global Great Depression and the rise of Totalitarian states (22.2)
• Identify the causes, effects, and nature of World War II, including the impact on civilians (22.3)
• Understand the overall causes and effects of the World Wars and their lasting impact on the world today (22.4)
• Describe the Cold War in terms of the competing nations and ideologies, the methods used by both sides to compete for global power and influence, and the factors that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union (23.1)
• Identify the general causes and effects of decolonization and the areas of the globe that achieved independence (23.2)
• Define the Green Revolution and understand the causes and effects of it (23.3)
• Outline the history of China since the Chinese Civil War and identify the positive changes and remaining challenges to modern China (24.1)
• Outline the historical factors leading to Middle Eastern conflict and identify and understand the major conflicts and revolutions in the region and America's role in them (24.2)
• Outline the major patterns of development, including major positive changes and remaining challenges in modern Europe, Latin America, and Africa (24.3)
• Define globalization and outline the historical causes and effects of globalization economically, socially, and politically (25.1)
• Identify the major technologies that have led to the Digital Revolution and outline the major effects of it (25.2)
• Understand and identify the major trends of the modern world in terms of demographics, human rights and conflicts, environmental issues, and economic issues and be able to connect those trends to broader historical events and processes (25.3)

Materials Used

Textbook — Traditions & Encounters, 4th Edition (Bentley, Ziegler)

Course Description

Economics is a semester-long course focused on studying the choices of individuals, organizations, and entire nations. This class will cover basic personal finance and dive into the theory of both micro and macro economic concepts. The students will be challenged to understand and analyze incentives involved in making decisions and the resulting trade offs that follow.

Proficiency Learning Targets for 12th Grade Economics

Skills Based Learning Targets (semester long)

• Using reasoned decision making techniques, make economic choices as individuals, head of households, and organizations/governments.
• Understand basic micro and macroeconomic principles and be able to apply them in real life situations.
• Understand the interactions between the government and the economy to help become a more active citizen.
• Compare and contrast the various economic systems, including traditional, command, market based and mixed economic systems.

Content Based Learning Targets

• I can create short-term and long-term financial goals that follow the S.M.A.R.T. goals model. (9.2.2.2.1)
• I can use financial planning to create a budget and analyze my own spending in relation to my financial goals. (9.2.2.2.1)
• I can identify the role of various investment options when building a diversified portfolio. (9.2.2.2.2)
• I can assess the risks and rewards involved with different investment options and employ analytical decision-making practices. (9.2.2.2.2)
• I can identify and explain the advantages and disadvantages of buying on credit. (9.2.2.2.3)
• I can describe the 3 C’s of credit and explain the relationship between credit and interest rates. (9.2.2.2.3)
• I can identify terms on comparison shopping and apply strategies I used or would like to use to make educated decisions as a consumer. (9.2.2.2.4)
• I can describe the fundamental economics questions that drive the economy. (9.2.3.3.1)
• I can identify trade-offs and determine the opportunity cost of decisions. (9.2.3.3.1)
• I can explain how incentives drive the decision-making process for producers, consumers and governmental systems (9.2.3.3.1)
• I can explain the four factors of production and their importance in the economy. (9.2.3.4.1)
• I can describe and apply the PPF in real-life situations. (9.2.3.4.1)
• I can describe the 4 types of economic systems and explain advantages and disadvantages of each. (9.2.3.4.2)
• I can examine the pros and cons of government involvement in an economy and discuss the ideal role for the government. (9.2.3.4.2)
• I can compare and contrast the different political systems, and analyze the change from socialism and communism to capitalism. (9.2.3.4.2)
• I can identify and analyze market failure and evaluate the effectiveness of government policies that attempt to remedy such failures. (9.2.4.8.1)
• I can compare/contrast the effectiveness of economic systems by analyzing their ability to achieve economic goals. (9.2.3.4.3)
• I can explain the circular flow model and the flow of money and production (9.2.4.5.1)
• I can design a circular flow model of a real-life product and explain the exchanges and interactions between each decision maker. (9.2.4.5.1)
• I can explain the difference between monopolies and oligopolies and list characteristics/examples of each. (9.2.4.6.1)
• I can explain how my role as a consumer is affected by various demand factors within the market economy (9.2.4.5.3)
• I can explain the relationship between price and quantity demanded. (9.2.4.5.3)
• I can list various determinants of demand and graph the demand curve and how it shifts. (9.2.4.5.3)
• I can describe goods that are considered elastic and inelastic and graph their price elasticity. (9.2.4.5.3)
• I can explain how supply is determined by the amount of supplies and sellers in the marketplace. (9.2.4.5.4)
• I can explain the relationship between price and quantity supplied. (9.2.4.5.4)
• I can list various determinants of supply and graph the supply curve and how it shifts. (9.2.4.5.4)
• I can locate equilibrium and explain its significance in the market. (9.2.4.5.5)
• I can identify how shortages and surpluses signal a change in price and explain the effects of price controls on the market. (9.2.4.5.5)
• I can graph changes in supply and/or demand and explain how these changes affect equilibrium price and quantity. (9.2.4.5.6)
• I can compare and contrast characteristics of various market structures. (9.2.4.6.1)
• I can explain how the decisions I make as a consumer (such as where I shop, and the products I purchase) affect the economy, including both small & large-scale market structures. (9.2.4.6.2)
• I can analyze the effectiveness of government programs in aiding distribution of wealth and poverty. (9.2.4.7.1)
• I can describe how governmental policies impact wage rates. (9.2.4.7.1)
• I can explain specific factors that determine wage rates and income in labor markets (9.2.4.7.1)
• I can describe how world events can affect the price of commodities and final products. (9.2.4.7.3)
• I can explain what the Gini Coefficient is and how it affects various peoples throughout the world. (9.2.4.8.3)
• I can describe GDP and its components. (9.2.5.9.1)
• I can explain the difference between Nominal GDP and Real GDP. (9.2.5.9.1)
• I can use Real GDP to measure the economic growth of an economy. (9.2.5.9.1)
• I can explain inflation and its effect on the purchasing power of individuals. (9.2.5.9.2)
• I can use the Consumer Price Index to measure inflation over time. (9.2.5.9.2)
• I can list and describe the 4 types of unemployment. (9.2.5.9.3)
• I can calculate unemployment and analyze factors that may lead to changes in unemployment. (9.2.5.9.3)
• I can compare and contrast the economic views of major political ideologies and explain how that drives fiscal policy. (9.2.5.11.3)
• I can use absolute and comparative advantage to explain the benefits of specialization and trade. (9.2.5.12.1)

Materials Used

Textbook: Economics Today & Tomorrow (2008). McGraw Hill