SOCIAL STUDIES

Social Studies

Our Lady of Peace Catholic School believes Social Studies is the multidisciplinary study of the humanities and the social sciences to prepare young people to become responsible, engaged citizens through disciplinary knowledge, disciplinary skills, commitment to democratic values and citizen participation. 

 

Our Lady of Peace Catholic School has adopted The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies that define the knowledge and skills that students must achieve in civics and government, economics, geography and history and the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in English Language Arts (ELA) that define the requirements for literacy in history and social studies.

 

BEST PRACTICE IN TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES

 

Each teacher who teaches social studies strives to increase the use of best practice in teaching social studies through:

 

  • In-depth study of topics in each social studies field, in which students make choices about the focus of the study 
  • Activities that engage students in inquiry and problem solving about significant human issues
  • Student decision making and participation in wider community affairs, to build a sense of responsibility for their school and community 
  • Participation in interactive and cooperative classroom study processes that bring together students of all ability levels
  • Integration of social studies with other areas of the curriculum; use of real-world reading 
  • Richer content in elementary grades, using children's prior knowledge, from psychology, sociology, economics, and political science, as well as history and geography; younger students' experience can relate to social institutions and problems of everyday living 
  • Students' sense of connection with American and global history, diverse social groups, and the environment that surrounds them 
  • Inquiry about students' cultural groups and others in their school and community, thus building ownership in the curriculum 
  • Use of evaluation that involves further learning and that promotes responsible citizenship and open expression of ideas