History

An exploration of early American history, this course provides the opportunity for students to engage with such themes as geography, religion, political systems, culture, and women’s roles in society throughout the year. The course begins with a unit on the indigenous peoples of eastern North America. Building on this foundation, students learn about English colonial settlements and the development of distinct regional variations in the treatment of religion, agriculture, politics, and slavery. Later in the year, students examine the causes of the American Revolution. To facilitate the development of students’ skills, including techniques of critical reading, the process of historical inquiry, and the fundamentals of historical writing, classes are devoted to small group and class discussions, individual and group projects, role-playing activities, analytical paragraphs, and narrative writing. Because of its significant role in the early history of the United States, as well as our close proximity to its rich collection of historical and cultural resources, the curriculum highlights events, ideas, and people associated with New England. Students, therefore, have the opportunity to put their knowledge and skills to work by engaging in hands-on learning experiences on location at sites such as the Jackson Homestead, the Concord Museum, and the Paul Revere House.

Overview of Topics

• The first Americans
• Explorers
• Settlers
• The colonies
• The American Revolution

Signature Activities
Experiential learning trips to relevant sites such as: 

• The Jackson Homestead
• The Concord Museum
• The Paul Revere House

Texts and Other Resource Materials

• myWorld Interactive: Building Our Country
• The Nystrom Atlas of Our Country's History
• Kathryn Lasky, Dear America: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple
• Relevant handouts & supplemental materials 

Students explore the competing political philosophies and cultural movements that defined the modern world and shaped major events from the French Revolution to the present. Topics of study include: political revolutions and wars for independence on both sides of the Atlantic; the Industrial Revolution; global imperialism and colonial resistance; World Wars I and II; the Cold War, post-colonialism, and conflicts in the Middle East. This course emphasizes skills such as the study of cause and effect, making logical inferences, analyzing and synthesizing historical data, interpreting and evaluating primary and secondary documents, and writing effectively in support of logical arguments. Students research a historical topic of their choice and produce an analytical essay with an emphasis on in-depth research, a nuanced understanding of the topic, and the articulation of a clear argument supported by relevant and detailed evidence. The course also introduces students to historiography and historical memory. Prerequisite: World History I or equivalent

By simultaneously contextualizing literary works with relevant historical background and enriching students’ experience of historical events through a literary lens, Honors Global Studies provides a rich understanding of global cultures from the late eighteenth century to the present. To this end, students study major topics in world history, including revolutions on both sides of the Atlantic; imperialism and resistance in Africa, South Asia, China, and Japan; World Wars I and II; post-colonialism and the Cold War; and the contemporary world. In parallel, Honors Global Studies exposes students to the scope of literary development, including significant texts from the late Enlightenment, Romantic, Modern, Postmodern, and contemporary periods. With particular emphasis on non-European voices, the course hones students’ critical reading and analytical skills through a variety of literary genres, such as short novels, poems, short stories, plays, and nonfiction pieces, along with supplemental sources in art, music, and material culture. Departmental approval required. Students who sign up for Honors Global Studies to fulfill their History 10 requirement must also sign up for Honors Global Studies to fulfill their English 10 requirement. They are companion courses.

Covering the period from 1491 to the present, this accelerated survey course deepens students’ understanding of the American past and historiography, and hones their analytical skills as readers, writers, and thinkers. Among the topics covered are: the peopling of North America; the effects of English settlement and expansion on Native American civilization; the impact of Native American societies on the development of the U.S.; the establishment of political institutions; the varieties and significance of American religious experience; the impact of the Industrial Revolution on U.S. politics and society; westward expansion; the experience and legacies of slavery and segregation; the evolving roles of women; social movements and reform traditions; the changing role of government in the lives of citizens; the impact of immigration over the centuries; and the growth of American power globally. Given its vast scope, this course moves at a fast pace, and students often cover material independently. Departmental approval required

Rooted in visual, contextual, and comparative analysis, this course deepens students' understanding of works of art within their historical contexts by examining issues of politics, class, religion, patronage, audience, gender, function, and ethnicity. Through investigation of diverse artistic traditions from 30,000 BCE to the present, students end the year with a holistic, cross-cultural understanding of the history of art from a global perspective. Students analyze over 250 works of art and architecture from 10 content areas: Global Prehistory; Ancient Mediterranean; Early Europe and Colonial Americas; Late Europe and Americas; Indigenous Americas; Africa; West and Central Asia; South, East, and Southeast Asia; The Pacific; and Global Contemporary. Given its vast scope, the course moves at a fast pace, and students often cover material independently. Well-suited to visual learners, this course challenges students to hone their visual and contextual analysis skills and their ability to support claims with evidence. Open to students in grade 12

In preparation for the AP Comparative Government and Politics exam, this course introduces students to the discipline of comparative politics through the examination of the governments in six case-study countries: Mexico, Great Britain, Russia, China, Iran, and Nigeria. The course exposes students to the contemporary political situations in key news-making countries around the world. By examining significant turning points and persistent challenges, students learn about the evolution of each country's political system, political culture, and economy. Because the course includes significant emphasis on coverage of these countries in both domestic and international newspapers, students become more savvy consumers of media. Regular video and multimedia components bring political themes and characters to life as students navigate their way through the often turbulent and always exciting subject of contemporary politics. Open to students in grade 12

Covering the period from 1450 to the present, this accelerated course emphasizes political ideas and institutions while also devoting considerable attention to the social, economic, cultural, and intellectual aspects of European history. Among the topics studied are: challenges to conventional notions of truth and authority during the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment; the rise and decline of empire, focusing on the experiences of Spain, Austria-Hungary, France, Russia, Germany, and Britain; the growth of the nation-state in Europe; the Industrial Revolution and the emergence of new forms of economic and political organization; and the ideological conflicts of the twentieth century, focusing in particular on fascism, communism, and democracy. Open to students in grade 12

An elective open to seniors, this course offers an introduction to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Students leave this course with an overview of the basic concepts, theories, and methods used in the fields of developmental, social, and abnormal psychology. Grounded in empathy and curiosity, the course asks students to analyze some commonly held beliefs about behavior and emotions and to apply their learning to their lived experience with renewed awareness and sensitivity. By the end of the year, students have a better understanding of individual differences and the physiological/behavioral processes behind these differences. Learning in this course is assessed primarily through projects and shorter reflection assignments that ask students to consider the real-world applications of course material. Open to students in grade 12