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Social Studies Core Courses

9th Grade 

GLOBAL HISTORY R

(1 unit) Do you wonder why different countries and cultures get along…or don’t? The roots of our complex world, with its global connections and conflicts, lie in the past.  In this course, students will explore enduring issues and common themes that are present in the earliest civilizations and continue to the  modern world.  Our approach will be chronological and thematic, covering world history until the mid-1750s.  The course prepares students for the 10th grade Global History and Geography Regents exam by developing the thinking and writing skills needed for the Enduring Issues essay as well as more advanced work in Social Studies.  At the end of the course, students will take a final exam modeled after the Regents exam format.  Additionally, upon successful completion of the course, students can continue to World History Regents or AP World History.  

Note: Global Studies students receive an unweighted H credential for earning at least a 93 average for the year and a 90 or above on the final exam.

10th Grade

WORLD HISTORY R

(1 unit) The course will specifically address the NYS Social Studies Framework for World History and Geography.  Grade 10 begins with a snapshot of the world circa 1750.  The course then continues chronologically up to the present.  Several concepts are woven throughout the course including industrialization, nationalism, imperialism, conflict, technology, and globalization.  The last units address global issues, applying a more thematic approach. Students will develop their historical thinking and analysis skills through examination of enduring issues in World History.  The course culminates in the World History and Geography Regents. 

AP WORLD HISTORY 

(1 unit) Are you interested in learning about societies in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas?  This rigorous course develops a greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts, in interaction with different types of human societies through a combination of factual knowledge and analytical skills. Students are expected to have a desire to challenge themselves, a genuine interest in history and culture, and a willingness to complete a copious amount of content reading after school hours. Students interested in AP World should not rely on their grade in Global 9 as a measure of AP readiness.  Students who get high scores in Global History often find that AP World is challenging due to the level of difficulty of the texts and the evaluation of writing based on national standards.  A strong work ethic and a growth mindset is crucial for success in AP World History.  The major chronological units of study in this course will be 1200-1450 C.E., 1450 C.E.-1750 C.E.,  1750-1900, and 1900-present as written in the AP World History framework.  This course culminates with the AP exam in May.  Students are expected to take both the Global History Regents and the AP World History exams. 

Suggested Guidelines: 93+ average in Global History, 90 on the final, and teacher/department recommendation.  

11th Grade

UNITED STATES HISTORY R

(1 unit) What if the colonies never rebelled against England!? Where would we be now? US History Regents begins with the colonial and constitutional foundations of the United States and explores the government structure and functions written in the Constitution. The development of the nation and the political, social, and economic factors that led to the challenges our nation faced in the Civil War are addressed. Industrialization, urbanization, and the accompanying problems are examined, along with America’s emergence as a world power, the two world wars of the 20th century, and the Cold War. Students explore the expansion of the federal government, the threat of terrorism, and the place of the United States in an increasingly globalized and interconnected world. All students in this course will take the US History and Government Regents Exam.  

AP UNITED STATES HISTORY 

(1 unit) Do you love studying American History? Do you like thinking about different perspectives on significant events?  Do you like taking academic risks, such as discussing with your peers? Do you like to write evidence based arguments?  Are you willing to take on the journey of becoming a better writer and thinker of history? If so, AP US History is the course for you. AP United States History is a demanding curriculum that will move at a rapid pace and requires a substantial time commitment on the part of the student. This course is for Fox Lane students who have a keen interest in studying historical evidence from different perspectives.  Assessments are based on the national College Board standard of rubrics.

FLHS APUSH Expectations:

  • 20 to 30 minutes of homework a night: Reading, note taking, Skills Practice
  • Make meaningful contributions in class discussions 
  • Advocate for yourself when needed / attend review sessions

College credit may be earned  upon successful completion of the AP examination in May.  NOTE: AP students will take the United States History and Government Regents and are encouraged to take the AP United States History exam.

Suggested Guidelines: 94+ average in World History and teacher/department recommendation OR completion of AP World History and teacher/department recommendation.

12th Grade

ECONOMICS

(1/2 unit) Don’t be left behind in a world of fast technological change.  Help solve  global economic challenges such as national debt, high tuition costs and personal finances.  Be a part of  changes and discover a role in an economy that would include you.  This is a required half-year course that introduces students to the essential components of Economics.  The course will focus on essential terms and ideas that form the foundation of economic study.  The course is a student-centered course where students are encouraged to  participate in Economic simulations and solve problem-based learning tasks. They are asked to be active learners as they acquire knowledge about global and national economic issues. This course fulfills the requirements stated in the New York Social Studies Standards concerned with Economics.

US GOVERNMENT 

(1/2 unit) Government and politics impact every part of our lives. It affects the way we live and the opportunities we are given. This half-year course will improve your understanding of our Federal, State and local governments. Students will complete projects that demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between government and society.  Examples of this include studying the elements of party platforms, speeches in the context of a presidential election, or analyzing the relationship between business and government in the new era of globalization. The processes of public policy formation are explored at the local, state and national levels. This course fulfills the requirements stated in the New York Social Studies Standards concerned with Government.  

PUBLIC AFFAIRS H

(1/2 unit) This course will be a college level expectation project-based course. There are no traditional exams in this class. Students will be required to hand in weekly current event assignments, participate in discussions, and will write a college-level research paper.  This is a very current events heavy class but other topics that will be discussed include how the US government functions, Constitutional Rights and recent Supreme Court cases of significance, political ideologies, social media’s impact on society, controversial domestic issues, and current topics facing our country.  This course is designed for students who like to participate in discussions, for students who can work independently, and for students who can work on content outside of class.  Students will be required to participate in class presentations that last the entire period. 

Expectations:

  • Hand in one weekly assignment on topic of your choice
  • Participate on a daily basis
  • Be able to work independently
  • Be able to present in front of the class for entire class period
  • Hand in a research paper

Students who take both Public Affairs H and Economics H fulfill the 12th grade social studies requirement for Economics and Participation in Government (Eco/Gov). 

Suggested Guidelines: This class is recommended for students who are comfortable speaking on a daily basis and during class presentations.  

ECONOMICS H  

(1/2 unit) The goals of this course are to introduce students to the ideas that form the foundation of modern western economic thought, to examine the basic framework (the model) that economists have built on this foundation, and to show how this model is applied to current issues facing individuals and society. The course helps students to understand and recognize the elements of economic theory, to identify the peculiar roles of these elements, and to understand how they fit together. Although its goal is not to study complexities of theory in great detail, students can expect to develop a strong foundation in analysis applicable to study in other fields and to everyday life as readers of periodicals and their participation as citizens in a representative government. Students who take both Public Affairs H and Economics H fulfill the 12th grade social studies requirement for Economics and Participation in Government (Eco/Gov). 

Suggested Guidelines: Teacher recommendation