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Curriculum: History

Department Address 
1299 E. 32nd St.
Signal Hill, CA 90755

Department Phone 
(562) 997-8000 x.2900

Course Descriptions

 

Elementary Course Descriptions

Kindergarten

In kindergarten children first begin to understand that school is a place for leaning and working. They learn to share, to take turns, to respect the rights of others and to take care of themselves and their own possessions.  These are learnings that are necessary for good civic behavior in the classroom and the larger society.  孩子们还可以通过选择的文学作品了解过去的时代，从而发现其他人是如何学习和合作的.

First Grade

一年级的孩子已经准备好更多地了解他们生活的世界以及他们对他人的责任.  他们开始了解个人和团体合作的必要性，以及如何解决阻碍合作的问题.  孩子们对文化多样性有了更深的理解，并学会欣赏存在于更大世界中的许多不同的人和生活方式.

Second Grade

二年级的孩子们已经准备好了解那些对自己的生活产生影响的人，以及那些在过去产生影响的人.  People who make a difference in the child1s world are those who care for him or her, those who supply the goods and services necessary for daily life. and those extraordinary men and women who made a difference in our nation and in the world community.

Third Grade

Third graders can begin to think about continuity and change in their own locality and nation.  By exploring their locality and locating some of the features that were built by people who lived long ago, children can make contact with times past and with the people whose activities have left their mark on the land.  孩子们开始思考时间顺序的关系，并分析一些事情是如何变化的，而另一些事情是如何保持不变的. Teachers introduce children to the legacy of local, regional and national traditions that provide common memories and a shared sense of "for all of us."

Fourth Grade

The story of California begins in pre-Columbian times, in the culture of the Native American Indians who lived here before the first Europeans arrived.  加州的历史成为一部从16世纪到现代的连续移民浪潮的故事，以及他们在该州的性格上留下的持久印记.  The children study the Spanish explorers and the Spanish-Mexican settlers of the mission and rancho period. 他们还了解到是美国人建立了加州这个州，以及加州是如何发展成农业和工业经济的.  他们研究亚洲移民，以及他们如何在横贯大陆的铁路建设期间提供新的劳动力供应, agriculture and industry.  Fourth grade students learn about the daily lives, adventures, and accomplishments of all its different cultures and how this energy formed the state and shaped its history.

Fifth Grade

The course for grade five presents the story of the development of the nation, with emphasis on the period up to 1850.  它关注的是一个新国家的建立，以及来自世界各地的移民浪潮如何将他们的传统带到这个国家.  Students examine the major pre-Columbian settlements, the European Explorers and the early settling of the Colonies.  Next, they study the causes of the Revolutionary War and the major battles, including the surrender at Yorktown. They also learn about the daily lives of those who built the young republic under the new Constitution.  The year ends with students examining the beginning of the pioneer settlements.

Middle School Course Descriptions

6th Grade - Ancient World History

The 6th grade year is a study of ancient world history and geography. Students study the development of world civilizations in the Eastern Hemisphere, beginning with Early Humankind and the Neolithic Revolution through the development of the first major civilizations. All units include an examination of the impact of economics, politics, and social history on the developing world. The five themes of geography (location, movement, region, place, and human-environmental interaction) are woven into all the units, with emphasis on how geography affected the development of these civilizations. Students will learn about related careers in history/social science.

 

7th Grade - Medieval World History

The 7th grade year is a study of world history and geography during the medieval and early modern eras. Students study the development and changes of complex civilizations. They identify and explore the similarities and patterns of these civilizations. Emphasis is placed on the fact that many of the civilizations developed concurrently and impacted each other. All units include an examination of the impact of religion, economics, politics, and social history on the medieval and early modern eras. The Five Themes of Geography (location, movement, region, place, and human-environmental interaction) are woven into all the units, with emphasis on how geography affected the development of these civilizations. Students will learn about related careers in history/social science.

 

8th Grade - U.S. History: Growth and Conflict

The 8th grade year is a study of the critical events, issues, and individuals in United States History to 1880. It begins with a selective review of the Age of Exploration, the colonial period and the American Revolution. The major focus of the year is the development of the Constitution, the impact of the Westward Movement, and the struggles of the Civil War and Reconstruction. All units include an examination of the impact of economics, politics, and social history on the development of the United States. The five themes of geography (location, movement, region, place, and human-environmental interaction) are woven into all the units, with emphasis on how geography affected the development of the growing nation. Students will learn about related careers in history/social science. They will also complete their high school program and class selections as part of this course.

 

Middle School History Electives - Course Descriptions

The Global Classroom

全球课堂的目的是为学生提供在高中严格的高中和大学课程中取得成功所必需的情感和认知技能. Students learn about current issues in order to understand the need for international diplomacy. Students realize developments tied to globalization and thus, the importance of international organizations and the law. In this vein, students consider the purposes of intergovernmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and multinational corporations.? In addition, students describe the global economy and their relationship to world trade and global resource management. Students identify, explore, and evaluate the major causes of international conflict post, as well as human rights issues. 学生研究国际安全和使用军事力量作为建立和维护全球安全的工具. Furthermore, students synthesize their learnings to write a research papers, engage in a Local Forum and create a community action project.

 

Ethnic Studies Middle School

Ethnic studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that encompasses many subject areas including history, literature, economics, sociology, anthropology, and political science. In particular, students understand the politics of privilege and the historical reasons for structural racism, classism and discrimination. 民族研究旨在赋予所有学生参与社会和政治的能力，并对他们周围的世界进行批判性思考. 这门课程强调了传统上被边缘化的人们的经历，以便学生批判主流叙事, construct counter-narratives and develop a more complex understanding of the human experience. Through these studies, students should develop respect for cultural diversity and see the advantages of inclusion. (Description adapted from H/SS Framework 2016)

 

High School Course Descriptions

10th Grade - Modern World History

这门历史/社会科学课程考察了大约1750年至今现代世界的主要转折点. Components of this class include: Historical Linkage, the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the Rise of Imperialism and Colonialism, World War I, Totalitarianism, World War II and Nationalism. Students should develop an understanding of the historic as well as the contemporary geographic, social, political and economic consequences of the various areas and problems they review.

 

11th Grade - U.S. History

The year begins with a review of the settlement of the colonies and the American Revolution, to westward expansion, the Civil War and Reconstruction. This should provide the students with a connection to their past learnings. 然后，学生将研究美国历史上从工业革命到二十世纪的主要转折点. Emphasis should be placed on the expanding role of the federal government and the federal courts; the balance of power between the right of the individual and states rights; and the continuing struggle between minority rights and majority power. Importance should also be placed on the emergence of a modern corporate economy, the impact of technology on American society and culture, the movements toward equal rights for racial minorities and women, and the role of the United States as a major world power.

 

12th Grade - U.S. Government

In this course, 学生运用前几年所学到的知识，对美国政府机构有更深入的了解. In addition, 他们通过对世界和美国历史、地理以及其他社会的研究来比较当今世界政府体系的异同. This course is the culmination of history/social sciences classes to prepare students to solve society's problems, to understand and to participate in the governmental process, and to be a responsible citizen of the United States and the world.

 

12th Grade - Economics

The general objective of a high school economics course is for students to master fundamental economic concepts, 理解经济学的主要概念是如何相互关联的，并理解经济系统的结构. Students will use economic concepts in a reasoned, careful manner in dealing with personal, community, national and global economic issues. They will use measurement concepts and methods such as tables, charts, graphs, ratios, percentages and index numbers to understand and interpret relevant data. They should learn to make reasoned decisions on economics issues as citizens, workers, consumers, business owners, managers and members of civic groups.

 

Year-Long Electives

Ethnic and Identity Studies

In this course, students grapple with concepts of identity, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and class. In particular, students understand the politics of privilege and the historical reasons for structural racism, classism and discrimination. Specifically, students discuss how various demographic identifiers including race, ethnicity, and gender, religion, class and sexuality influence human experiences. Students learn about the historical treatment of people from differing identity groups, as well as the ways that differing racial and ethnic identities originate by studying significant events and people. 学生讨论当前的问题，告知与不同社区有关的人的机会和限制.

 

Law Courses

Introduction to Law

Introduction to Law introduces students to the U.S. legal system, including constitutional, criminal, and civil law. Students learn about legal concepts, historical foundations, and principles and procedures of law, experiencing law and justice as dynamic forces, shaped by people and events over time. Students understand the role of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, learning why and how laws are created, enforced, interpreted, and changed. They look at the relationship between law, public policy, and advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels of government. 他们学习刑法的基础，重点是对人身犯罪和民法的基础，重点是严格的产品责任和疏忽. Finally, students explore civil and human rights issues and the role of advocacy and civics in reforming our legal system.

At the center of each unit in the course is a Key Assignment that involves substantial reading, critical thinking, collaborating, writing, listening, and speaking. Students participate in simulations, mock trials, multimedia presentations, Socratic seminars, and debates. In addition, throughout the year, students explore legal, public service, and criminal justice career pathways through interaction with industry professionals.


Criminal Justice and Law

The Criminal Justice and Law curriculum provide students with an overview of the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Throughout the course, they will explore the meaning of crime and justice, and the relationship between criminal justice and social justice. Students will learn how and why the criminal justice system functions. Students will explore diverse areas of criminal law, constitutional and civil rights, and how the system functions for adults and juveniles. 学生将运用批判性思维和解决问题的技巧，通过研究法律问题的历史和政治原因，并提出对基本问题的调查结果, work in teams to analyze, reason, negotiate and develop questions for further study. Students will examine how the U.S. legal system compares with legal and political systems, philosophies, and practices of other countries. Students will learn about advocacy and policy by researching how individuals and groups, including young people, can take action to reform our legal system.

 

Justice in America

美国司法是一门旨在为学生提供在美国政府服务和法律部门从事职业所需的技能和内容知识的课程, as well as become informed, active citizens in their respective communities. Students will understand the principles on which the United States was founded, the structure of government at the federal, state and local levels, the individual and civil liberties needed to maintain a democratic society, and the way in which order is maintained through law enforcement and the judiciary.

 

Social Justice

In this course, students explore multiple definitions of social justice and methods used to promote social change. 学生们首先通过调查社会身份和社会化的代理人来评估自我和群体身份如何塑造个人认知和社区. Students evaluate power dynamics by analyzing the distribution of wealth and power. Students investigate how public policy is developed to identify how lawmakers, community organizations, lobbyists, and popular movements shape policy and create a platform to affect social change. 学生考察的历史重要性和斗争，以克服不平等和不公正的当代相关性. 学生通过识别自己学校和社区中存在的问题来运用他们对社会正义的理解. Students evaluate emerging social justice movements on a local, state, national, and global level by studying social justice issues, movements, pedagogy, and case studies. This course will consider the impact that the arts and social movements have on each other. Historical and theoretical materials will be contextualized by guest lectures, collaborations with local organizations, discussions, and performances by local artists, social justice advocates, lawyers, and community workers. Students will learn skills to proactively address issues of social justice, focusing on effective group and inter-group communication and organizing, development and implementation of action plans, linked learning projects, participation in discussion via community building circles, the critique of media, research, analysis of statistics with meaningful reflection.

 

One-Semester Electives

International Relations

Students learn about the origins of the International State system and the need for international diplomacy. Students realize developments tied to globalization and thus, the importance of international organizations and the law. In this vein, students consider the purposes of intergovernmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and multinational corporations. In addition, students describe the global economy, global finance, international monetary structure and their relationship to world trade and global resource management. Students evaluate free trade and economic aid in the context of actions of multinational corporations, international cartels, and international organizations. Furthermore, students identify, explore, and evaluate the major causes of international conflict post World War II. 最后，学生研究国际安全和使用军事力量作为建立和维护全球安全的工具.  


Geography

Geography is the study of the world, its physical features and its human inhabitants. In this course, teachers suggest questions to explore our planet and provide students with a framework to study the Earth. Students will study physical, cultural, political and economic Geography. Students apply an understanding of the five themes of Geography, which include location, place, region, movement and human-environmental interaction. The first unit in the course focuses on location, place and region, while units two through five emphasize movement and human-environmental interaction.


Psychology

In this course, 学生们在学习与这一研究领域相关的各种职业时，会被介绍到心理学这门学科. The focus of this course of study is on human development, personality, psychological disorders and treatment, biological reasons for human behavior as well as scientific research. Students study such topics as influences of heredity and environment on personality, abnormal behavior, biopsychology and experimental design. They examine case studies to evaluate psychological perspectives and choose possible treatments. In addition, 学生创造自己的科学问题进行研究，以综合研究方法和对心理学学者重要的问题.