Social Studies Curriculum

History/Social Sciences Electives

« Return to History/Social Studies Electives Framework home page

Adopted January 1999

History/Social Sciences (ESL)

Course Description:

The ESL History/Social Sciences course is designed for the bilingual student learning English as a second language at the beginning and intermediate levels. It introduces the student to the vocabulary, concepts, and processes of the social sciences and history and relates them to the student, the student's school, community, and current events.
The core areas to be investigated in ESL History/Social Sciences include:

• Anthropology
• Economics
• Geography
• History
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology

The course title and description have been approved by the Anchorage School Board.  This course outline is meant to serve as an example of one possibility for organizing this class.  It does not represent the only way the course may be organized.  Each course outline has been written by a different teacher so there will be differences in the approach used from one course to another.

Course Goals:

Through this course students will:

• Develop and increase social studies vocabulary, concepts, processes, and skills in preparation for application in other social studies courses.
• Develop and improve oral communication skills, reading comprehension, and written expression.
• Increase higher level thinking skills (application, synthesis, analysis, evaluation).
• Develop an understanding of multiple perspectives in and the interrelationship of the social sciences.

Course Objectives:

The student will:

• Participate in a variety of classroom activities (discussion, cooperative learning groups, partnering, individual, hands-on, field trips, guest speakers, etc.) to learn more about the social sciences.
• Discuss and interact with classmates regarding social science topics.
• Improve reading comprehension in the social science fields using a variety of sources (periodicals, texts, the Internet, etc.).
• Use, apply and increase social studies vocabulary and concepts.
• Keep a daily/weekly learning log of vocabulary and material covered.
• View and listen to a variety of social studies presentations.
• Share a social studies activity orally, in writing, and/or using illustrations, pictures or other visuals with classmates.
• Compare, contrast and show similarities with the student’s country of origin and the area being studied.
• Develop a project/activity including the vocabulary and concepts of one of the social sciences, which illustrates the student’s understanding of that particular social science and its relationship with two or more other social sciences.

Course Outline:

The emphases in this course will be geography and history with introductions to the other social sciences. The teacher will have flexibility in determining how in-depth the other areas will be covered, based upon the students’ English language proficiency.

1. Geography
   1. Location - Absolute and Relative
   2. Place - Physical and Human Characteristics
   3. Human/Environment Interactions and Relationships
   4. Movement - Mobility of people, goods and ideas
   5. Regions - Formation and change
2. History
   1. Definition and Themes
   2. Interpretation and Impact
   3. Historical Evidence and Legacies
   4. Characteristics and Development of Civilizations
3. Political Science
   1. Definition and Purpose of Government, Politics, Citizenship
   2. Citizens’ Rights and Responsibilities
   3. Governments’ Responsibilities and Power
   4. Types of Governments and Constitutions (local, state, national)
4. Anthropology
   1. Definition, Disciplines and Development
   2. Culture, Language, and Society
   3. Development of Technology
5. Psychology
   1. Definition and Purpose
   2. Perception, Personality, and Environment
   3. Interpersonal Relationships
6. Sociology
   1. Definition and Purpose
   2. Basic Institutions and the Nature of Groups
   3. Social Issues, Values and Society
   4. Diversity - Culture, Experience, Perception, World View
7. Economics
   1. Definition
   2. Concepts (scarcity, choice, supply and demand, etc.)
   3. Economic Systems - Types and Characteristics
   4. Issues - Local, State, National and International
8. Interrelationship/Integration of the Social Sciences

NOTE: Refer to ASD 8th Grade Social Studies Framework for specific listing of Core Questions/Objectives.

Next: Sample Course Outlines - The Holocaust and Human Behavior »