social studies

The Social Studies program leads the students from learning about their immediate world into an awareness of the richness of human history. It is designed to develop the skills necessary to succeed in school and in life, including writing, reading, logical thinking, questioning, and analysis. National and state standards are followed in each course, an1d each of them is covered more than once from Kindergarten through the Senior year.

Elementary

The program follows a spiral starting with the family, then onto the neighborhood, the community, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the United States. Map and globe skills are key components of the program. The development of critical thinking, questioning, and spatial relationships encourage the students to understand how they are an integral part of the world today. Projects, group and individual research, and presentations are used to encourage students to use their talents to the best of their ability.

Middle School

The program at Sandy Run is designed to immerse the students in the study of various periods of history, other parts of the world, continue their geography skills, and introduce them to the study and practice of government. In sixth grade, the students study the Ancient Worlds of China, Africa, South America, and Asia. This study of the Ancient World continues in seventh grade with the study of the Greek and Roman Empires, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. In eighth grade, there is a concentration on geography, which is somewhat unique among schools today, and an introduction to American government.

High School

In ninth grade, the students start a two year study of American History, which brings them to the end of Reconstruction at the end of the year. As sophomores, the students continue with American History up to the present day. The eleventh grade course of study is World History, which covers the development of human civilization from pre-history to the modern world. The study of the government of the United States and a unit on economics are the focus of the twelfth grade curriculum. In addition to the standard courses, Advanced Placement United States History, Advanced Placement European History, Advanced Placement World History, Advanced Placement United States Government, and Advanced Placement Microeconomics are offered. Additional electives include Modern Law, Psychology, and Current Events.