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History and Social
Science
(from the Chesapeake
Public Schools Secondary Student Guide)
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The secondary
history and social science program in Chesapeake Public
Schools provides many opportunities for students to
experience all aspects of the study of mankind. The program
is designed to develop the knowledge and skills in history,
geography, civics, and economics and to allow students to
place in perspective the people, ideas, and events that have
shaped our state, our nation and our world.
Students study the basic values, principles, and operation
of American constitutional democracy in preparing to become
informed and responsible citizens. As well as concentrating
on the knowledge and content areas of each history and
social science offering, students development skill in
reading, writing, debate, discussion, research, and
technology.
The Virginia History and Social Science Standards of
Learning and Virginia Technology Standards of Learning are
the foundation of the secondary history and social science
program. The integration of these elements provides students
with a framework for continuing their education in history
and social science. |
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COURSE
DESCRIPTIONS |
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World History and Geography to 1500 A.D.
(302)
Grade Level: 9
Level
of Difficulty: Average
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: None
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: Yes
Course Description: This
course enables students to explore the historical development
of people, places, and patterns of life from ancient times
until 1500 A.D.
in terms of the impact on Western civilization. The study of
history rests on knowledge
of dates, names, places, events, and ideas. Historical
understanding, however,
requires students to engage in historical thinking: to raise
questions and marshal
evidence in support of their answers. Students engaged in
historical thinking
draw upon chronological thinking, historical comprehension,
historical analysis
and interpretation, historical research, and
decision-making. These skills are
developed through the study of significant historical
substance from the era or society
being studied.
Honors
Social Studies 9: World History and Geography I (770)
Grade Level: 9
Level
of Difficulty: Accelerated
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: Accelerated/Honors
Placement Requirements
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: Yes
Course Descriptions: This
course is an in-depth study of the backgrounds and
development of world civilizations. Selected knowledge areas
include the role of physical
geography as it has influenced and hindered the development
of cultures from
man’s prehistory through the Renaissance. Specific
attention concentrates on ideas,
political institutions, economics, religion, art, music, and
architecture as components
of man’s cultural development. This course can be taken
instead of World
History and Geography to 1500 A.D. (302). |
World History and Geography 1500 A.D. to
the Present (303)
Grade Level: 10
Level
of Difficulty: Average
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: World
History and Geography to 1500 A.D.
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: Yes
Course Description: This
course enables students to cover history and geography from
1500 A.D.
to the present, with emphasis on Western Europe. Geographic
influences on history continue to be explored, but
increasing attention is
given to political boundaries that developed with the
evolution of nations. Significant
attention will be given to the ways in which scientific and
technological revolutions
created new economic conditions that in turn produced social
and political
changes. Noteworthy people and events of the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries
will be emphasized for their strong connections to
contemporary issues.
Honors
Social Studies 10: World History and Geography II (771)
Grade Level: 10
Level
of Difficulty: Accelerated
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: Honors
Social Studies 9: World History and Geography II and Accelerated/Honors
Placement Requirements
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: Yes
Course Description: This
course is an in-depth study of the events of world history
from the Renaissance through modern times. Selected
knowledge areas include
the coverage of the role of physical geography as it has
influenced and hindered
the development of world cultures. Specific attention
concentrates on the emergence
of strong national states, the age of revolutions, and the
problems that exist
today in modern nations. Various components of culture are
addressed for comparison
of similarities and differences of modern nations. This
course may be taken
instead of World History and Geography 1500 A.D. to the
Present (303). |
Virginia and United States History (316)
Grade Level: 11
Level
of Difficulty: Average
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: None
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: Yes
Course Description: The
course covers the standards for Virginia and United States
History and includes the historical development of American
ideas and institutions
from the Age of Exploration to the present. While focusing
on political and
economic history, the course provides students with a basic
knowledge of American
culture through a chronological survey of major
issues, movements, people,
and events in United States and Virginia history. Students
should use historical
and geographical analysis skills to explore in depth the
events, people, and
ideas that fostered our national identity and led to our
country’s prominence in world
affairs.
Honors Social Studies 11: Virginia and
United States History (792)
Grade Level: 11
Level
of Difficulty: Accelerated
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: Accelerated/Honors
Placement Requirements
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: Yes
Course Description: The
course is an in-depth study of the period in United States
history beginning with the Age of Exploration. Major focus
is given to the growth
and development of the United States as a world leader.
Selected knowledge areas
address the various ideas, thoughts, and philosophies that
were the backbone of
the political, economic, and social contributions of various
groups of people throughout
the important stages of development. This course may be
taken instead of
Virginia and United States History (316). |
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Virginia and United States Government
(327)
Grade Level: 12
Level
of Difficulty: Average
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: None
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: No
Course Description: The
course for Virginia and United States Government defines
the knowledge that enables citizens to participate
effectively in civic life. Students
examine fundamental constitutional principles, the rights
and responsibilities
of citizenship, the political culture, the policy-making
process at each
level of government, and the operation of the United States
market economy. The
course identifies the personal character traits that
facilitate thoughtful and effective
participation in the civic life of an increasingly diverse
democratic society. |
Honors Social Studies 12: Virginia and
United States
Government (794)
Grade Level: 12
Level
of Difficulty: Accelerated
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: Accelerated
and /Honors Placement Requirements
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: No
Course Description: This
course is an in-depth study that provides a comprehensive
analysis of the American political and economic system with
a comparison
to that of other political and economic systems; and, a
comprehensive analysis
of the national court system with emphasis on court
structure and landmark
court cases. Major focus is given to the examination of
civil rights and civil
liberties. Local government is emphasized both through the
relationship with the
state and federal government and with current issues. This
course may be taken instead
of Virginia and United States Government (327) |
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| ADVANCED
AND ELECTIVE COURSES
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Advanced Placement: European History
(795)
Grade Level: 10-11
Level
of Difficulty: College
Level
Credit:
2
Units
Prerequisite: Approval
of the school’s screening committee
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: Yes
Course Description: This
course is a freshman college level study of European
history from the period of the Renaissance to the present.
This period of emphasis
recognizes the major topics covered by recent Advanced
Placement European History examinations. The course is
designed to cover two semesters, with the
triumph of the bourgeoisie as a dividing point. In-depth
study will focus on the interpretation
of social, intellectual, and political themes that have
changed the course
of direction for the world. This course can be taken instead
of World History and
Geography: 1500 A.D. to the Present (303). |
Advanced Placement: United States History
(796)
Grade Level: 11
Level
of Difficulty: College
Level
Credit:
2
Units
Prerequisite: Approval
of the school’s screening committee
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: Yes
Course Description: This
course is a freshman college level study of American history
from colonization to the present with special emphasis
during the period 1790
to 1965. This period of emphasis recognizes the major topics
covered by recent Advanced
Placement American History examinations. The course is
designed to cover
two semesters with the period of Reconstruction (l877) as
the dividing point This
course can be taken instead of Virginia and United States
History (316). |
Advanced
Placement: Government and Politics (797)
Grade Level: 12
Level
of Difficulty: College
Level
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: Approval
of the school’s screening committee
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: No
Course Description: This
course is a freshman college level study of a critical
perspective
on government and politics in the United States. This course
involves both
the study of general concepts used to interpret American
politics (local, state, and
national levels) and the analysis of specific case studies
familiarizing the student
with various institutions, groups, beliefs and ideas that
make up the American
political reality. The course presents a thematic approach
and recognizes the
major topics covered by recent Advanced Placement Government
and Politics examinations.
This course can be taken instead of Virginia and United
States Government
(327). Note:
Student requiring entry into the Advanced Placement program
must meet the criteria
for advanced placement and receive the approval of the
school’s screening committee. |
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Introductory High School Sociology (392)
Grade Level: 11-12
Level
of Difficulty: Average/Accelerated
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: None
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: No
Course Description: This
course is an elective course that is a study of sociology,
its characteristics, and its development. In looking at the
ways people interact
with one another, the course explores people’s efforts to
better understand themselves
and their relationships with others. Emphasis is on the
individual’s role in
society and culture (including marriage and family),
institutions, social organizations,
and organizations of groups of different societies. |
Introductory High School Psychology (393)
Grade Level: 11-12
Level
of Difficulty: Average/Accelerated
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: None
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: No
Course Description: This
course is an elective course that is the study of psychology,
its characteristics, and its development as a behavioral
science. The foundation
of this course is the individual in his quest for
understanding what constitutes
healthy and unhealthy relationships. Major topics include
learning, memory
and thought, mental and physical being, human development,
adjustment and
breakdown of personality, and human relations. |
Current
United States and International Issues (397)
Grade Level: 11
- 12
Level
of Difficulty: Average
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: None
Standard
of Learning End-of-Course Test: No
Course Description: This
course is an elective course that introduces
students to the framework that will be used to examine the
complex issues of current
United States domestic and foreign policy. Through a variety
of techniques, students
will analyze the federal government, its powers, and
functions as they relate
to the investigations of ten major aspects of American
domestic policy and ten
major aspects of American foreign policy. |
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History
Links
Here are some sites that offer help or educational sites related
to history. Some of the sites are commercial sites. A listing of the
site is NOT an endorsement of the site or products
that may be offered for sale at that site. The listing is offered
solely as possible resources for the student and their parents.
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