The goal of the social studies curriculum is to promote a more thorough understanding of the world and to broaden students’ ability to think critically about the past in order to understand the present. Through inquiry and hands-on learning, students learn the skills to become active citizens in order to address the problems of the future. Social studies courses provide students with the opportunity to develop critical thinking, reading, writing, public speaking, and listening skills.
Course Sequence:
SLCSE offers a series of required courses to fulfill the Utah graduation requirements, as well as a variety of electives. The content and skills addressed in each of the required courses build upon one another, challenging the students to grow both in their knowledge and their ability to engage as active learners and citizens. The Social Studies department collaborates with the English and Science departments to create interdisciplinary units with a global perspective.
Course Description: This class integrates two required semester courses (World Geography and US Government and Citizen) and will work closely together with the Grade 10 Language Arts course. The purpose of the course is to nurture geographically and politically informed students who become active participants in public life. The course is an opportunity for every student to develop skills including critical thinking, reading, writing, public speaking, and listening
This course will focus on the time in history from the year 1200-today. We will approach our study of history by asking big questions about the past, applying the skills of historians to analyze sources, and communicating our own conclusions through structured writing and revision that will help you in the post-high school world. In order to build and maintain an understanding of historical chronology, we will use 3 different “lenses” or “frames”; communities, networks, and distribution. These frames are helpful to gain a “big picture” of the past- but through the use of individual stories, we will “zoom in” to enrich and challenge the traditional narrative told.
Texts and Resources used in AP Psychology: various news articles from credible sources (NPR, PBS, BBC, NYTimes, The Atlantic, etc.) and a variety of other resources as the content leads us.
Texts and Resources used in AP Comp Gov: various news articles from credible sources (NPR, PBS, BBC, NYTimes, The Atlantic, etc.) and a variety of other resources as the content leads us.
Current Issues is a year-long social studies elective course designed for students who have a strong interest in better understanding the wild world around them. Students will begin the year by building media literacy skills necessary for digesting news in our modern world, including identifying credible sources and misinformation. Students will then be taken to the center of debates on various contested international issues such as; immigration, climate change, terrorism, international trade, genocide, and human rights as well as the United States’ involvement with Afghanistan, China, Iraq, and Russia. These topics are explored in-depth by building an understanding of the historical context, use of diverse primary texts, and challenging students to participate in decision-making activities where they will be asked to help resolve such issues.
This class will be student driven and empower you with the tools needed to be prepared, confident, and able to make a difference in the world. Bring a positive attitude and a willingness to serve others to class each day. Various days of the week will be dedicated to different goals of the class such as; interactive lessons on skills development, circle discussions, and hands-on service both on and off campus The majority of work will be completed in class, however occasionally, there may be some hours required of you outside of the regular school day to complete projects.
Our Mock Trial team participates in a competition simulating a real court case, representing the prosecution/plaintiff or defense. It teaches critical thinking, public speaking, teamwork, adaptability, and time management. Mock trial also helps students understand the legal system and inspires an interest in law-related fields. Preparing a case is an intellectually enriching experience, and allows students to represent SLCSE in the larger community.
Utah History Day:
SLSCSE students can elect to participate in Utah’s National History Day, earning Honors Credit for completed projects in their 10th grade social studies course. Students conduct extensive research on a topic of their choice. They learn to use real historical sources and draw conclusions based upon historical evidence. Students create exhibits, websites, documentaries, performances, or papers to showcase their work. Projects are judged in local, regional, and then state contests. The best Utah students advance to the national competition.
