CURRICULA
History and Social Sciences
“The Hampden Charter School of Science Humanities Department strives to provide students with a well-versed curriculum of History, Social Sciences and Arts that allows for each student to grow and develop as a well-rounded individual and an informed global citizen.”
AP US History
The AP U.S. History course focuses on the development of historical thinking skills (chronological reasoning, comparing and contextualizing, crafting historical arguments using historical evidence, and interpreting and synthesizing historical narrative) and the development of students abilities to think conceptually about U.S. history from approximately 1491 to the present. Seven themes of equal importance — American and National Identity; Migration and Settlement; Politics and Power; Work, Exchange, and Technology; America in the World; Geography and the Environment; and Culture and Society — provide areas of historical inquiry for investigation throughout the course. These require students to reason historically about continuity and change over time and make comparisons among various historical developments in different times and places.
AP World History
The AP World History course focuses on developing students’ understanding of world history from approximately 8000 B.C.E. to the present. The course has students investigate the content of world history for significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in six historical periods, and develop and use the same thinking skills and methods (analyzing primary and secondary sources, making historical comparisons, chronological reasoning, and argumentation) employed by historians when they study the past. The course also provides five themes (interaction between humans and the environment; development and interaction of cultures; state building, expansion, and conflict; creation, expansion, and interaction of economic systems; and development and transformation of social structures) that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places encompassing the five major geographical regions of the globe: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
AP Human Geography
The purpose of the AP Human Geography course is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Human geography incorporates the concepts and methods associated with several of the disciplines within the social sciences, including economics, geography, history, and sociology. The course topics include the following:
Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives, Population, Cultural Patterns and Processes, Political Organization of Space, Agriculture and Rural Land Use, Industrialization and Economic, Development, Cities and Urban Land Use”
AP Psyhology
AP Psychology course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. While considering the psychologists and studies that have shaped the field, students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts, and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatment of abnormal behavior, and social psychology. Throughout the course, students employ psychological research methods, including ethical considerations, as they use the scientific method, analyze bias, evaluate claims and evidence, and effectively communicate ideas.
US History II
Students will analyze the causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution and America’s growing role in diplomatic relations. Students will study the goals and accomplishments of the Progressive movement and the New Deal. Students will also learn about the various factors that led to America’s entry into World War II as well as the consequences of World War II on American life. Finally, students will study the causes and course of the Cold War, important economic and political changes during the Cold War, including the Civil Rights movement, and recent events and trends that have shaped modern-day America.
US History I
Students examine the historical and intellectual origins of the United States during the Revolutionary and Constitutional eras. They learn about the important political and economic factors that contributed to the outbreak of the Revolution as well as the consequences of the Revolution, including the writing and key ideas of the U.S. Constitution. Students also study the basic framework of American democracy and the basic concepts of America government such as popular sovereignty, federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights. Students study America’s westward expansion, the establishment of political parties, and economic and social change. Finally, students will learn about the growth of sectional conflict, how sectional conflict led to the Civil War, and the consequences of the Civil War, including Reconstruction
US Government
This course provides a framework for understanding the purposes, principles, and practices of American government as established by the United States Constitution. Students are expected to understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens and how to exercise these rights and responsibilities in local, state, and national government.
World History I
World History I is part one of a two-year course in world history. Students will examine the political, economic, religious, social and judicial systems of geographically and historically diverse societies that developed between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Age of Enlightenment, including: Emergence and expansion of Islam, Historical encounters between Islamic and Christian societies, Challenges and accomplishments of medieval Europe, Origins of European western expansion, Civilizations of Central and South America, Renaissance and the Reformation, Scientific Revolution, Age of Enlightenment, and Growth and decline of Islamic Empires. Within these societies, students will analyze and celebrate those cultures and individuals that advanced the beliefs of personal freedom, individual responsibility, and respect for human dignity, and explore the development of democratic, scientific, and secular thought. To the extent practical, students will also study the origins and development of major civilizations in Africa, India and East Asia.
World History II
The second year of the two-year World History program builds on the skills and knowledge of World History I while placing an increased emphasis on the factors shaping the modern world. World History II is primarily a study of the 19th and 20th Centuries through the history of Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia. Students study the rise of the nation state in Europe, the French Revolution, and the economic and political roots of the modern world. They study the origins and consequences of the Industrial Revolution, 19th century political reform in Western Europe, and imperialism in Africa, Asia, and South America. They will explain the causes and consequences of the great military and economic events of the past century, including World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, and the Russian and Chinese revolutions. Finally, students will study the rise of nationalism and the continuing persistence of political, ethnic, and religious conflict in many parts of the world.
The study of contemporary issues, and an understanding of their historical roots, is an integral part of this course as we help students make meaning of the world around them. Students are encouraged to think critically as they come to understand the forces that have shaped the modern world. Some of the questions students will consider are: What role should governments have in the lives of their citizens? How has nationalism been able to both unify and divide people? Why are people willing to support dictators? How has nonviolence been employed as a force for positive change in the world? Through primary and secondary sources, multimedia, discussions, debates and role plays, students will become more fluent in the issues of the world today.
Modern European History
Modern European History is a course open to 10th through 12th graders who have completed World History I and World History II. The study of Modern European history gives students a more in-depth look at the rise of nations and nationalism throughout Europe. Through reading, writing, discussion, and most importantly the analysis of primary source documents students will gain a thorough understanding of the social, political, and economic developments that have impacted Europe from 1600 to today. Topics covered will include but are not limited to:
Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment, the Old Regime, French Revolution, Napoleon, Industrial Revolution, Imperialism, World War I, Dictators, Depression, World War II, Cold War, 21st Century
Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment, the Old Regime, French Revolution, Napoleon, Industrial Revolution, Imperialism, World War I, Dictators, Depression, World War II, Cold War, 21st Century
Ancient Civilizations
Grade seven students will begin by studying the origins of modern man on the African continent as well as their eventual migration to the European & Asian continents due to each hominids technological advancement. They will also explore the changes in social behaviors as well as the development of the community. Finally drawn and written records that gave us an account of the lives of the early man during the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages. We will then discuss the changes in society as the early man moves from the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age, to the Neolithic, or New Stone Age. This includes a move from nomadic hunting-gathering societies and finally an establishment of permanent farming communities.
Students will then move on to the ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia, or “the land between two rivers”. We will discuss the advancements in farming techniques, as well as their solving problems created by moving to the river valley. We will also be discussing the advancements in Mesopotamian society with the first creation of laws by Hammurabi, the military advancements of the Assyrians and Akkadians, as well as the architectural advancements of the Neo-Babylonians.Students will also study ancient and classical civilizations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The civilizations will include Egypt, Canaan, Phoenicia, Greece, and Rome. We will discuss the religious, political and economic progression of these eras and analyze their effects on the course of world history. We will also discuss the dispersion of cultures throughout this area and how it eventually resulted in our modern, multicultural globalized community.
Students will then move on to the ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia, or “the land between two rivers”. We will discuss the advancements in farming techniques, as well as their solving problems created by moving to the river valley. We will also be discussing the advancements in Mesopotamian society with the first creation of laws by Hammurabi, the military advancements of the Assyrians and Akkadians, as well as the architectural advancements of the Neo-Babylonians.Students will also study ancient and classical civilizations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The civilizations will include Egypt, Canaan, Phoenicia, Greece, and Rome. We will discuss the religious, political and economic progression of these eras and analyze their effects on the course of world history. We will also discuss the dispersion of cultures throughout this area and how it eventually resulted in our modern, multicultural globalized community.
World Geography
Sixth graders systematically study the world outside of the United States and North America by addressing standards that emphasize political and physical geography and embed five major concepts: location, place, human interaction with the environment, movement, and regions. Students systematically learn geography around the world continent by continent, similar to the way in which atlases are organized. They also learn about each continent in an order that reflects, first, the early development of the river valley civilizations and then the later development of maritime civilizations in the Mediterranean area and in Northern and Western Europe. In so doing, students are better prepared for the study of early civilizations around the Mediterranean area in grade 7.
Character Education
This course is designed to teach college-readiness skills to assist 6th and 7th graders in becoming master students and responsible and contributing community members. This course promotes knowledge, attitudes, and skills through instruction in the areas of academic achievement, career development, and personal/social growth. The themes and topics presented in this course create a foundation to support students as they develop to their highest intellectual, emotional, social and physical potentials. Character Education not only instills in our student values such as accountability, compassion, integrity, tolerance, and leadership, but reaffirms our strength as a drug-free, gang-free, peer pressure-free, bully-free, truancy-free, fight-free, and crime-free campus.
College and Career Readiness
College Readiness courses prepare students for success in high school and/or postsecondary education. Course topics may vary according to the students involved, but typically include reading improvement skills, such as scanning, note-taking, and outlining; library and research skills; listening and note-taking; vocabulary skills; and test-taking skills. The courses may also include exercises designed to generate organized, logical thinking and writing.
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