Social Studies
Global Thinking. Global Understanding.
Our goal is for students to see themselves as responsible citizens locally, nationally, and globally. Explorer West’s Social Studies program explores various aspects of human and geographic history. The curriculum enriches students’ historical understanding and connects their lives to the past, present, and future.
Program Overview
Developing Citizenship and Leadership Skills:
- Lifelong Skills: History and social studies help students develop essential skills for life. Using a scaffolded approach, students build these skills step-by-step.
- Writing Process: Supported by rubrics and tracking tools, students improve their writing quality through personalized feedback. By graduation, they will have exceptional writing skills.
- Real-World Understanding: The curriculum prepares students to be leaders and ambassadors who understand current global realities and take sustainable actions to address challenges.
8th Grade "Change the World" Project
Past "Change the World" projects have addressed factory farming, human trafficking, and the gender pay gap.
Curriculum and Skills
Throughout the three-year program, students participate in projects that empower them to improve their communities and the world. They work individually and in groups to enhance expository writing and presentation skills.
| 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Focus | Geography and ancient civilizations | Washington State history and US history (Constitutional issues) | Global studies through the lens of sustainability |
| Study Skills/Citizenship | Note taking with visual aids, primary and secondary reading, test preparation, essay structure, class discussions, group work | Note taking with visual aids and occasionally without visual aids, primary and secondary reading, test preparation, reinforce essay structure, class discussions and debates, group work | Note taking often without visual aids, high school textbook reading, test preparation, reinforce essay structure, class discussions and debates, group work and community engagement |
| Tests and Quizzes | Unit multiple choice tests and shortened structure essay tests | Unit multiple choice tests and shortened structure essay tests | Unit multiple choice tests and shortened structure essay tests |
| Expository Writing | Paragraph structure, 2 expository essays, one with a bibliography and parenthetical citations (MLA) | Reinforce paragraph structure, 2 expository essays with bibliographies and parenthetical citations | Reinforce paragraph structure, 2 expository essays with bibliographies and parenthetical citations |
| Large Projects | Fair Trade and Chocolate project in the spring | Change the World Project (second semester) | |
| Presentations | At least 2 formal individual presentations and some group presentations | At least 2 formal individual presentations and some group presentations | At least 2 formal presentations and several group presentations, including a Change the World presentation in front of a larger audience |
Grade Specific Focus:
6th Grade:
- Focus: Geography and ancient civilizations
- Projects: Fair Trade and the chocolate industry, Art collaboration
- Skills: Essay writing, research methods, paragraph structure, MLA formatting, note-taking, source material understanding, test preparation
7th Grade:
- Focus: Washington State and U.S. history
- Projects: Constitutional issue research project
- Skills: Analysis of primary and secondary sources, study skills, essay structure development, debates
8th Grade:
- Focus: Global studies through sustainability
- Projects: Capstone social advocacy project "Change the World"
- Skills: Advanced writing and research, evidence-based projects, community action presentation, cross-curricular integration with Drama and English
Our Social Studies program is designed to prepare students for future academic success and responsible citizenship. They leave Explorer West ready to make a positive impact on the world.