Social Studies/History
GRADE FIVE | GRADE SIX | GRADE SEVEN | GRADE EIGHT
The social studies/history curriculum covers diverse topics and time periods and is designed to give students an appreciation for both world cultures and their own history and traditions. Through the study of historic events, cultures, ideas, and human interaction, students become more knowledgeable about the foundations of the modern world and can better appreciate how events of the past influence the present and the future. Each grade, at its own level, completes research projects, group work, debates, and oral presentations. There is also a strong emphasis placed on skill development, technology integration, and the study of current events.
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A. |
Grade Five
The fifth grade curriculum begins with an introduction to the rise of civilizations in various parts of the world. Within this context, students are introduced to time-lines, map skills, and Internet research skills. Since this is the students' first in-depth study of civilization and its development, a strong emphasis is placed on understanding the elements of culture. Students are asked to reflect on their own culture so that they can understand the similarities and differences between ancient and modern cultures. The objective of the curriculum is to enable students to appreciate the role that early civilizations contributed to the modern world. Throughout the curriculum students learn new study habits, including note taking and the art of organizing an essay. The specific subject areas that are studied include the following: the rise of civilization, the Stone Age, Skara Brae (story of a prehistoric village), Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Nubia, the Middle East, Ancient China, Ancient India and Ancient Greece. |
B. |
Grade Six
Sixth grade history is an introduction to American history and Civics. Students begin their course of study with an in-depth unit on U.S. Geography. They continue with units on: European Exploration of the Americas, Colonial America, The Revolutionary War, the Constitution, the Early Republic and Westward Expansion. Skill development is an integral part of the curriculum. Lessons and assignments focus not only on the study of history, but also on building vocabulary, analyzing documents, outlining, note-taking, identifying main ideas, researching, and writing. Students complete a mid-year comprehensive project, which culminates in an annual History Festival—a multi-faceted research project involving formal writing, creative writing, artistic design, and music. Sixth grade field trips include visits to historic sites in Manhattan and a day trip to Philadelphia. |
C. |
Grade Seven
The seventh grade history course builds upon the sixth grade curriculum and provides an opportunity for students to delve into their national past and understand pivotal events, dominant philosophies, and key figures in American history. Units include The Civil War and Reconstruction, Industrialization and the Progressive Response, World War I, the Roaring Twenties, The Great Depression and the New Deal, World War II, The Cold War, and The 1960s. Lessons focus both on the study of history and the continued development of skills, including: primary source analysis, critical thinking, research and writing, outlining, and note-taking. The seventh grade course of study culminates in a two-day trip to Washington at the end of the spring semester. Current events are incorporated into the curriculum throughout the year.
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D. |
Grade Eight
In eighth grade, students have a unique opportunity to learn about their Jewish heritage and identity through the in-depth study of four different historical periods. The first major unit is on Zionism and focuses on different Zionist philosophies, as well as the history that shaped the modern State of Israel. Students then learn about the history of the Holocaust, including what led up to this tragedy, different types of anti-Semitism, and how Jews did not go “like sheep to the slaughter.” Finally, students learn about American Jewish history, focusing on the three waves of immigration to the United States.
In studying this material, students use history textbooks, as well as numerous primary sources. Students learn how to study independently, how to conduct research using primary and secondary sources, and how to prepare a thesis-based term paper using the vast resources of the Ramaz libraries.
Before graduation, eighth graders are required to pass a Civics Exit Exam to ensure that they have an understanding of our unique system of government and the U.S. Constitution. |
