History and Social Science Department

In this leveled 9th grade course, students read, think, and write about a variety of literary classics, including a range of poetry and prose, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie. Using these texts and others, students develop their abilities to read, react, and respond to literature.Students also are introduced to the personal narrative and learn how to use their own writing to understand themselves and their ideas. 

The 10th-grade history curriculum offers students ample opportunities to delve into a wide array of subjects spanning the histories of Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. Throughout the academic year, students engage with overarching concepts such as governance, cultural and social advancements, interactions, economic structures, technological advancements, and innovation. These themes are seamlessly integrated into the curriculum modules, aiming to foster connections between students' personal experiences and the broader global context. Special attention is given to honing critical reading and research abilities, adept analysis of primary and secondary sources, constructing persuasive arguments, and backing them up with textual evidence. The pinnacle of the course is a research project tailored to individual student interests, intricately linked to the thematic explorations undertaken throughout the year.

This course focuses on the time periods from American Origins through Reconstruction & the Gilded Age. It thoroughly examines such topics as the origins of American people and ideas, the early immigrant & indigenous peoples experience, the birth of the nation, western expansion, causes and effects of the Civil War, and the successes, failures, & legacy of Reconstruction. In addition to exploring the history of the country, students engage in study of civics, the early formation and development of the United States’ government, and rights and responsibilities of its people. The content material is used to help students continue developing critical reading, writing, and oral communication skills. Small group and whole-class discussions, performance-based assessments, annotated bibliographies, document-based questions, and a research paper provide ample opportunities to practice and improve their historical thinking skills and to become competent and effective researchers, writers, and speakers.

This course is an introductory college-level modern world history course. Students cultivate their understanding of world history from c. 1200 CE to the present through analyzing historical sources and learning to make connections and craft historical arguments as they explore concepts like humans and the environment, cultural developments and interactions, governance, economic systems, social interactions, and organization, and technology and innovation. In May, students take the AP World History exam.

The Advanced Placement U.S. History course is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to analyze and evaluate advanced historical topics, themes, and interpretations of U.S. History in the form of argumentation in writing and debate, dialogue, and personal reflection. The course is divided into nine units that span the pre-Columbian era to the present day. Thematic learning objectives include American and National Identity (NAT), Politics and Power (POL), Work, Exchange, and Technology (WXT), Culture and Society (CUL), Migration and Settlement (MIG), Geography and the Environment (GEO), and America and the World (WOR). The course incorporates the learning objectives of a college 100-level survey course with the skills development of a 200-level seminar in order to offer an authentic college-level course and college-preparatory experience to qualified students. In May, students take the AP exam in U.S. History.

AP Macroeconomics grapples with a 30,000-foot view of global commerce and financial systems. Students will examine economic performance measures, economic growth, and the global economy in addition to practicing how to integrate high-end analytical thinking skills with advanced writing and research skills. Students enrolled in this course take the AP exam for Macroeconomics in May.

 AP Research * (only for students who have completed AP Seminar)

AP Research, the second course in the AP Capstone experience, allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. Students reflect on their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process and reflection portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000–5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense. [From AP College Board].

*Can be taken for English or History/Social Science credit.

AP Human Geography is a yearlong seminar that serves as an introduction to human geography or cultural geography. The content is presented thematically rather than regionally and is organized around the discipline’s main subfields: economic geography, cultural geography, political geography, and urban geography. The approach of the course is spatial and problem oriented. Case studies are drawn from all world regions, with an emphasis on understanding the world in which we live today. Historical information serves to enrich analysis of the impacts of phenomena such as globalization, colonialism, and human–environment relationships on places, regions, cultural landscapes, and patterns of interaction. Students will see geography as a discipline relevant to the world in which they live; as a source of ideas for identifying, clarifying, and solving problems at various scales; and as a key component of building global citizenship and environmental stewardship. Students enrolled in this course take the AP exam for Human Geography in May.

Current Issues in a Global Context: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East examines the United States’ need for oil and how its political and military alliances make the Middle East an important region for U.S. policy. Students will learn about the region’s history, the role the United States has played in the region, and how U.S. policy affects the lives of people in the Middle East. In addition, the class will study how the United States responds to terrorism, both international and domestic, and how terrorism challenges democracies. Through analysis of primary sources, readings and political cartoons, the students will learn about the history and evolution of terrorism & its past and present threats to the U.S. and countries abroad. Students will write an Op-ed, create & defend their own U.S. Foreign Policy options, and participate in class debates and discussions.

In this introductory-level course, students explore the field of psychology, its different perspectives, and what it means to think like a psychologist. They then dive into an exploration of different research methods (quantitative, qualitative, mixed) and consider how these are applied to observe, measure, and understand human behavior. Learning how to design and conduct studies involving animals and humans in an ethical manner helps students is a critical component of the research methods unit as it helps students understand the ethical responsibilities of psychologists. The course then shifts into the study of the brain, its different functions, and considers the biological perspective in human behavior. The trimester concludes with a study and application of elements of cognitive psychology (e.g., thinking, learning). Throughout the trimester, students work on a number of small projects which help them understand and apply different concepts and theories.

This course is designed to help students investigate and better understand how economics is present in everyday life. Specifically, students immerse themselves in project-based learning opportunities that relate to life after high school. After an in-depth study of economic concepts such as scarcity, supply, demand, and opportunity cost, students will focus their attention on their personal college list and answer the essential question, “to what extent college is worth it?” The class will then shift to the housing market, with a focus on lending and the need for good credit. Students will look at the economic analysis of housing market fundamentals (supply and demand), policy analysis on housing affordability, and the nature of housing cycles.

Trimester One in African American Studies will focus on the exploration of the foundation of race and racism in the United States. Using the book Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi as the course’s primary text, students will delve into the concept of racist ideas and how they have shaped African American lives even before the idea of America came to full fruition. Students will wrestle with America’s founding fathers’ intentions, grapple with slavery, and find a greater perspective in a historical context while constantly seeking a fuller truth.

Current Issues in a Global Context: U.S. Criminal Justice examines the structure of the U.S. justice system, policing, and the prison system. Students begin the trimester developing their understanding of justice and the key factors that create a functioning rule of law. Students will be reading and discussing excerpts from The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander in addition to researching and discussing entrapment, government surveillance, juvenile mass incarceration, police deception during the interrogation of suspects, the death penalty, and the opioid and methamphetamine epidemics. Students will also analyze whether Congress should pass new legislation or that the Supreme Court should review past decisions and consider revisiting those that are currently being questioned and challenged across the country.

The Winter Trimester begins with a study of the concept of the self and moves into an exploration of an individual’s social identities and the impact of others on the self. Throughout the rest of the trimester, students focus on understanding and applying concepts related to the interactions between the self and others, and how groups and society shape individuals (e.g., attitudes, cognitive dissonance, assimilation, conformity, prejudice). The trimester study culminates in a Journey of the Self Project, in which students explore and apply the studied material in relation to their social identities and individuals/groups and experiences that shape them.

This course is designed to expose students to a variety of economic issues related to business from finance to business organization. Students will analyze the true value of money by analyzing inflation levels and their impact on the local and greater economy. Students evaluate real-world situations with industry professionals looking at how markets function and how we 12 assess the value of stocks. Students will examine different types of businesses from nonprofits to sports franchises to major corporations.

Using Ta-Nehisi Coates’s book We Were Eight Years in Power as the roadmap for learning, this course will focus on how the current struggle for equal rights in the United States is a continued extension of earlier struggles. Students will be engaging deeply with the films 13th and I Am Not Your Negro, as well as the dramatic miniseries When They See Us, to tackle topics like police brutality, affirmative action, civil rights, and reparations.

Current Issues: Climate Change and Questions of Justice explores the causes and effects of global warming and engages in inquiry of who is most responsible for and vulnerable to the changing climate. Students grapple with how to respond to climate change at local, national, and international levels in ways that are both effective and fair. This trimester students examine local, national, and international responses to climate change and students consider questions of responsibility for and vulnerability to climate change. In addition, each student will read their own book of choice related to climate change, nature, or environmental justice and update their progress on Goodreads.

During the Spring Trimester, students explore topics related to happiness and living a meaningful life. Specifically, by reviewing studies, theories, and concepts associated with psychologists including Angela Duckworth, Martin Seligman, and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, students consider what it means to be happy and to lead a fulfilling life. Through discussions, class activities, and collaborations, students examine the role of positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement (PERMA) in the development and sustaining of well-being. The culminating experience of the trimester asks students to develop their own understanding of happiness using the medium of their choice.

In this course, students will explore the interconnectedness of global economies through trade and investment flows. The curriculum includes the rationale for international trade, various models of trade relationships, and government policies that impact trade. The course also analyzes the effects of currency exchange rates on trade, including the factors that influence exchange rates. Special attention is given to development economics, questions concerning economic inequality, and public sector issues such as health care and the economics of the environment. Classes consist of discussions, simulations, debates, and research.

The course will use Dr. Martin Luther King’s book Where Do We Go From Here? Chaos or Community?, which will help students set and focus on a scaffolded, trimester-long project centered on intentional change to make a difference toward racial equity at Brewster, at home, or in the United States.