GHS Social Studies

This course is approached by using the five themes of geography: Location, place, region, human-environment interaction, and movement. Students will become acquainted with countries around the world. The physical features, the climate, the location, government, exports and imports, as well as the relationship of this country to its neighbors will be studied in depth. Cultural awareness will be and important part of this course. Students will be expected to master many map skills. Independent and group projects will be used to measure the students mastery of world geography.

United States History

Grade Placement: 11th

This course is a survey of history since the Civil War. It begins with a brief review of the Civil War years and follows with an in depth study of reconstruction and the graft and bitterness of the post-war era. Also covered are manifest destiny, expansion, business growth, development of labor unions, problems of industrialization, and impact of immigration. During the second semester, imperialism and nationalism leading up to World War I, the events and personalities of the twenties and thirties, and the rise of the dictatorships leading into World War II. Post-War America of the forties and fifties, and the main political, social, and economic events of the sixties, seventies, and eighties, including prominent figures and events of today's world, concludes the course.

World History

Grade Placement: 9th

This course teaches students about the major historical developments from the earliest civilizations to the twentieth century. Students will concentrate on a number of skill areas. The class will combine history and geography and will place emphasis on map reading, as well as the study of ancient, medieval, and modern history.

US History Advanced Placement

Grade Placement: 11th

This course is designed to give a student the opportunity to study US History from the Civil War to present day events. The course will emphasize critical thinking at a high level on the major developments of American history. Students will be required to take objective and essay tests, read and make reports of four library books, and write a comprehensive research paper on a topic of the students choice.

Economics

Grade Placement: 12th

In Economics, students will investigate fundamental concepts of economics, including:

* scarcity
* opportunity costs
* specialization
* supply and demand
* business cycles
* inflation
* unemployment

Students will study the American free enterprise system, interrelationships between this system and the government, and relationship between the American economic system and international economic policy. Consumer economics will also be a part of the course.

Government

Students in this course will examine the three branches of government at the federal, state, county and local levels. Students will examine current events to understand practical application of this study of government. Students will gain an understanding that the U.S. Constitution grants us a democratic system of government and that in order for this form of government to be successful individual participation in this process must take place.

Macroeconomics Advanced Placement

This is an introductory economics course. The primary objective being to help students learn and think effectively about economic problems, how our economy works, the policies we have developed to manage it and thus attain certain goals, and our record of success and or failure. Economics is about much more than how the country is doing, however. It is a way of thinking about problems; it is a problem solving approach. The students will be expected to learn the language of economics, demonstrate a proficiency in a few basic principles and analytical concepts necessary to think intelligently about economic problems, develop an independent ability to apply analytical tools in thinking independently about economic problems, and exhibit and awareness and continuing interest in major economic problems of modern society. Principles of economics will be taught in this course in preparation for the AP Examination.

Government Advanced Placement

This course teaches the principles and processes of American government. Major areas of study will be:

* The constitutional underpinnings of democracy in the US
* Political beliefs and behaviors of individuals
* The Congress, Presidency, bureaucracy, and federal courts
* Civil Liberties and Civil rights

This course will prepare students for the role of active participation of a citizen in the local, state, and national community. This class will require more detailed and in-depth reading and writing assignments than the regular Government course. Students are require to complete a project of political involvement. They will prepare themselves for the Government AP examination.

Psychology

This course is designed for the student to learn about themselves. The study of psychology is the study of "The Self." The Individual's thoughts and actions are the focus.

Sociology

This course is designed to study the actions and ideas of social groups. How to different societies interact and how did such a diversity of culture develop?


Mrs. Exner getting her class started on their assignment	Mr. Simmonds sitting at his desk grading papers

Mr. Walker is sitting at his desk	Coach Campbell working on his computer

Coach Slatton teaching his students	Coach Birnbaum is teaching his class