Social Studies in Middle School

Social Studies: a part of a school or college curriculum concerned with the study of social relationships and the functioning of society and usually made up of courses in history, government, economics, civics, sociology, geography, and anthropology

Merriam-Webster

In Middle School, the Social Studies curriculum is covered over a three year rotation.  We cover history, cyber ethics, geography, world religion, Christian studies, ethics, health, civics, and economics.

History is taught four days a week (Monday - Thursday) in teams (a mixture of 6th, 7th and 8th graders) throughout the year.  The other social studies classes are taught twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday) for 7th and 8th graders and once a week (Thursdays) for 6th graders and changes each term.

The first year of History covers the beginning of the universe to the emergence of complex societies (13 billion years ago to 1000 BC).   The second year covers the expansion of societies to the great global convergence (1200 BC to 1800 AD).  The third year covers industrialization to the present time (1750 AD to Present).

In the fall, cyber ethics is taught.  The sixth grade are taught digital safety, the seventh grade are taught digital citizenship and the eighth grade are taught digital literacy.

In the mini-term (the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas break), students learn geography.  The sixth grade learn about the world in spatial terms as well as places and regions.  The seventh grade learn about the physical and human systems.  The eighth grade learn about the environment and society as well as the uses of geography.

In the winter, the middle school students learn about world religions in the first year.  In the second year the middle school students learn Christian studies and the third year the students learn ethics.

In the spring, the middle school students learn health in the first year.  In the second year the middle school students learn civics and the third year the students learn economics.