History
The history curriculum presents a challenging, developmentally appropriate course of study for students in grades five through twelve. The program provides a solid foundation in history as well as the rest of the humanities. Students study geography, investigate the complexity of human society through an analysis of culture, and come to an understanding of diverse political and economic systems. The program develops an appreciation of the interrelatedness of peoples and nations and challenges them to prepare for involvement as active and compassionate members of a democratic society.
Middle School
Sequential skill building is a prime focus throughout the Middle School years. At each grade level, History and English faculty collaborate to reinforce and coordinate approaches to reading, writing, research, and analysis.
Skills Emphasized
- Questioning and posing problems
- Supporting claims with evidence
- Applying past knowledge to new situations
- Thinking and communicating with clarity and precision
- Engaging actively and thoughtfully with the course content
- Collaboration
- History 5: Early America
- History 6: The Eastern Hemisphere
- History 7: The Western Hemisphere
- History 8: The United States
History 5: Early America
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
History 6: The Eastern Hemisphere
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In this course students study the history, geography, and culture of various regions in the Eastern Hemisphere, with a particular emphasis on Africa, South Asia, and Central Asia. Students master the geography of each region and become attuned to the impact of geography and resources on culture. Class time is devoted to map work and geography skills, discussion, small-group activities, mini-lectures, visual literacy, research, and individual and group projects. The course invites students to examine connections between the past and the present, and to discuss global issues and current events at an age-appropriate level. Overview of Topics
Signature Activities
Texts and Other Resource Materials
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History 7: The Western Hemisphere
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This course is an introduction to the geography and history of the Western Hemisphere. Students learn about the natural environments of North America, South America, and the Caribbean islands, as well as about the history of human interactions with these environments. As students study the geography of each region of the Western Hemisphere, they look at indigenous peoples before and after European contact. They also examine how the modern Americas emerged from the interactions between people from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia in the centuries following European arrival. Looking towards the future, they also consider how both history and interactions between people and the environment continue to shape the Americas today. Throughout the year, students continue to develop important skills such as analytical writing, note-taking, evaluation of both textual and visual primary sources, geographic fluency, media literacy, and historical research. Overview of Topics
Signature Activity
Texts and Other Resource Materials
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History 8: The United States
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Beginning with the Colonial Era and moving chronologically through Reconstruction, this course highlights major events, individuals, social and political movements, and legislation in the history of the United States. A unit on the writing and ratification of the Constitution provides students with essential knowledge of American civics and, as the course progresses, enables them to analyze the extent to which America has lived up to the ideals upon which it was founded. This course provides students with the knowledge and analytical skills necessary to understand and examine current events within the relevant historical context. To this end, the course emphasizes primary document analysis, research strategies, expository writing, geographical knowledge, recognition of cause-effect relationships, and oral presentation skills. Overview of Topics
Signature Activities
Texts and Other Resource Materials
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Upper School
The Upper School History curriculum is designed to cultivate students' critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills through the study of global, national, and local histories. By exploring a wide range of time periods, cultures, and political systems, students are equipped to understand the forces that have shaped the modern world. From the study of the late medieval period, through the early modern era, and to the present, the program emphasizes thematic connections between and among different regions, cultures, and historical moments. Students learn to recognize both continuity and change in human societies as well as the relationships among political, social, and economic forces.
The curriculum encourages students to engage deeply with primary and secondary sources, to build well-supported historical arguments, and to clearly communicate their findings both on paper and orally. Whether studying the expansion of the Qing Empire, the long-term impact of the French Revolution, or the development of the American political system, students learn to appreciate and evaluate multiple perspectives and the complexities of historical narratives. By pursuing independent research projects, students strengthen their research skills and develop a nuanced understanding of historical events and their relevance to the present.
In courses ranging from Introduction to World History to AP European History, students not only examine key historical events, such as revolutions, wars, and social movements, they investigate the broader cultural and intellectual currents that led to and influenced these events. Advanced courses like Honors Global Studies, AP United States History, and AP Art History challenge students to explore issues in greater depth, while also honing their ability to critically analyze sources, to engage with historiography, and to produce sophisticated analytical essays. Across all grades and levels, history students are equipped to become active, informed, and thoughtful citizens, with a keen understanding of the forces that shaped the past and influence the present. In short, the Upper School History program challenges students to think critically, to write persuasively, and to engage with historical ideas in ways that are relevant to contemporary society. Through this comprehensive and dynamic curriculum, students leave with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate and contribute thoughtfully to the world around them.
Skills Emphasized
- Critical thinking and analysis
- Research and inquiry
- Communication
- Contextual understanding
- Empathy and perspective
- Collaboration and discussion
- Technological literacy
- Global citizenship
- Early Modern World History
- Global Studies
- Honors Global Studies
- United States History
- Honors United States History
- Advanced Placement United States History
- Advanced Placement Art History
- Advanced Placement Comparative Government and Politics
- Advanced Placement European History
- Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics
- Psychology
Early Modern World History
Global Studies
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
Honors Global Studies
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 English to fulfill their English 10 requirement. They are companion courses.
United States History
Honors United States History
Departmental approval required
Advanced Placement United States History
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
Advanced Placement Art History
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
Advanced Placement Comparative Government and Politics
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
Advanced Placement European History
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
Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics
Open to students in grade 12
Psychology
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