Students study the Western Hemisphere (North and South America), its geographic features, early history, cultural development and economic change. Students learn about the early inhabitants of the Americas and the impact of European exploration and colonization. The geographic focus includes the study of contemporary regional characteristics, the movement of people, products and ideas, and cultural diversity. Students develop their understanding of the relationship between markets and available resources.

Students study the Eastern Hemisphere (Egypt, Mesopotamia, Southwest Asia/Middle East, China, and India), its geographic features, achievements,  cultural development, religions, governments, and economic/social structures. They study the 5 major world religions that grew from the Eastern Hemisphere, and can compare and contrast their characteristics. Students learn how the past has shaped the modern day Eastern Hemisphere.  During the study of economics, students develop their understanding of the role of consumers and the interaction of markets, resources and competition. We continually reflect upon how where you live influences how you live, while studying how the past impacts the present.

The seventh grade year is an integrated study of world history, beginning with ancient Greece and continuing through global exploration. All four social studies strands are used to illustrate how historic events are shaped by geographic, social, cultural, economic and political factors. Students develop their understanding of how ideas and events from the past have shaped the world today.

The historical focus continues in the eighth grade with the study of European exploration and the early years of the United States. This study incorporates all four social studies strands into a chronological view of the development of the United States. Students examine how historical events are shaped by geographic, social, cultural, economic and political factors.

The honors course in American History is designed as a precursor to the Advanced Placement program which the student might wish to pursue at the high school level.  The curriculum covers the chronological course of study as per the Ohio 8th grade social studies model curriculum but with greater breadth and depth.  A goal of the curriculum in social studies is for the student to develop a historical perspective utilizing historiographic methods to interpret events, identify how humans view themselves over time, and compare relationships of the past with the present.  This integration of the collective stories of people, events, and situations requires that the student read a voluminous amount of primary and secondary source material nightly throughout the course of the year.  A major piece of the high school AP exam is completion of a Document-Based Question (DBQ).  This course introduces the process for the student to identify the source of documents, check for internal consistencies or inconsistencies, and establish the context for each document within the posed question manifest in a cogent written response. The student will also be required to reflect on various perspectives of contemporary accounts and historic observations by authors in the field; to write pieces that may be critical, persuasive, summative, etc.; and to participate within the class seminar.   In addition, each student will be required to periodically read and report on topical primary and secondary resources provided by the instructor.  Various projects will also be utilized to demonstrate mastery in specific content areas and will be assigned each nine weeks. This course is honors weighted for the purposes of middle school GPA only. Please click on the tab on the main registration page to see the criteria for honors/accelerated. It is not for high school credit.