Skip to main content

Salt Lake Center for Science Education

Popular Links

Social Studies

Social Studies

A group of hikers ascends a ladder built into a rocky cliff face.

    • 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.  

    • 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.  

Social studies 2

  • World Civilizations I & II (11th grade):

    • Teacher: Samantha Hobush
    • Email: samantha.hobush@slcschools.org

     

    COURSE DISCLOSURE ENGLISH       COURSE DISCLOSURE SPANISH

     

    • 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.

    • Teacher: Kelly Haakenson
    • Email: Kelly.Haakenson@slcschools.org
    • Course disclosure in English  and Spanish

  • Geopolitics (10th grade) 

  • US History II (9th grade)

    • English
    • Spanish
    • Texts and Resources used in History II:  various news articles from credible sources and a variety of other resources as the content leads us.
    • Utah Standards US History 

    • 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
    • Course Description (en español) - Geopolitics
    • Course disclosure in ENGLISH and Spanish.
    • Utah Standards
    • Utah Standards U.S. Gov. and Civics

    A group of people stand in front of a statue in an alcove.

Social Studies Electives

    • Teacher: Samantha Hobush
    • Email: samantha.hobush@slcschools.org
    • 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.

    • Teacher: Maryanne Hodge
    • Email: Maryanne.hodge@slcschools.org
    • Syllabus 
    • 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.

    • Teacher:Maryanne Hodge
    • Email: Maryanne.hodge@slcschools.org
    • Course Description - AP Comparative Government and Politics
    • Course Description (en español) AP Comparative Government and Politics
    • 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.

    • Teacher: Samantha Hobush
    • Email: samantha.hobush@slcschools.org
    • 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. 
    • COURSE DISCLOSURE ENGLISH  
    • COURSE DISCLOSURE SPANISH

    A group of students pose with Westside t-shirts in front of a colorful mural.

    • Teacher: Samantha Hobush
    • Email: samantha.hobush@slcschools.org
    • 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.

    • COURSE DISCLOSURE ENGLISH  

    • COURSE DISCLOSURE SPANISH