Social Studies

History and geography are the lenses through which students develop an understanding of how our physical and cultural worlds have evolved. Beginning with “here and now” and expanding to “long ago and far away,” the program touches upon economics, sociology, religion, philosophy, political science, and the arts to provide a broad context for students. Students acquire the appropriate tools to explore and investigate their heritage and learn how they fit into their global community.

Theme progression through the lower school years includes Me and My World, My School and My Family, My Community, Our Community and Beyond, and Regions of Our Country. In Upper School, fifth graders explore early human civilizations and non-western history. Sixth graders study ancient cultures of Greece and Rome, and seventh and eighth graders take a deep dive into American history over the two years and cover the time from colonization through WWII.

Students learn about the great ideas, issues, and controversies of the past and present to help them become perceptive and concerned citizens of the world. Connections between the students’ ideas about the local community, the state, the country, and the world are particularly emphasized.