History

Understanding the past helps to prepare us for the future. History classes at York aim to develop each student’s appreciation for and understanding of the past and its impact on the present.  At every grade level, students use primary and secondary sources accessed through the school library and internet archives to research significant historical issues and events. Innovative assignments challenge students to recreate historical eras through a variety of cooperative projects. In each of the history classes, for example, students work in small groups to bring history to life, creating plays, movies, or Power Point presentations to illustrate a topic for the whole class. They also incorporate technology, using Google Earth to plot the major expeditions of Magellan, Columbus, and Vespucci, or writing articles for Wikipedia.

The study of world geography broadens our students’ understanding of global perspectives, world cultures, and historical interactions and conflicts, creating citizens who are more aware of the world and their place in it.

• Ancient History, 8
• World History I and II (incorporates Geography and World Religions)
• U.S. History/AP U.S. History
• Asian History

 
Humanities Electives

• Art History
• Introduction to Cinema
• Psychology/AP Psychology
• Economics
• Philosophy
• AP U.S. Government and Politics

8th Grade Ancient History
The purpose of 8th grade Ancient History is to ensure that students understand how and why civilisations evolved and as in the case of the Mayans, could even be abandoned. Students look at history as a science and evaluate like a detective with the clues from written sources, archaeology and anthropology. Students will understand the connection of events and impact of cause and effect and see the relevance of each topic today and what we can learn from the past. Students will develop a life long interest in the subject by making it real through stories, plays and hands on assignments.

9th Grade Ancient and Medieval World History
The goals of the 9th Grade Ancient & Medieval World History course are to provide an understanding of the past and comprehend the origin of issues today such as separation of church and state or why the Arabs get upset by the word Crusade. Students will understand where historical information comes from and look for clues like a detective to determine biases, what is omitted and what is true. This course makes history real and develops in students a lifelong passion and interest in the subject. With geography, students will learn where places are, where products come from, to appreciate different cultures and perspectives, and to understand and foster an interest in current events.

World History II
The purpose of the course is to give students an appreciation and insight into the connection between significant historical events and today’s complex world. This is accomplished through the use of lectures, primary and secondary sources, videos, student-centered projects and discussion of current events in a historic context. Particular emphasis is placed on historical analysis and interpretation. The course uses IDs and essay exams, student projects, and class discussion as a major means of assessing student performance. An analytical essay is also completed in the spring. The first semester covers the 15th to 19th centuries, emphasizing European transformations through the Age of Exploration, the Protestant Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment; the reunification of Japan; and the Russian Empire. The second semester covers the 19th and 20th centuries, emphasizing the American and French Revolutions, the industrial revolution, the decline of land empires, the rise of nationalism and imperialism, World War I, Communism in the Soviet Union and China, World War II, the Korean War and the Cold War.

United States History
The purpose of the course is to give students an appreciation and insight into American historical events, and their linkage to the present. This is accomplished through the use of lectures, primary and secondary sources, films and songs. Particular emphasis is placed on developing the skills of historical analysis and interpretation. The course uses essay exams and a research paper as a major means of assessing student work and improving writing ability.

COURSE OUTLINE
First Semester:
Exploration and the Colonial Era
Wars of Empire and the American Revolution
The Constitution and Political Parties
Jeffersonian Era
Nationalism and Sectionalism
Jacksonian Era
Manifest Destiny
Antebellum Conflict
Civil War and Reconstruction

Second Semester:
The Gilded Age
Western Settlement and Conflict
Robber Barons and Labor
Populists and Progressives
Imperialism and World War I
Boom and Bust
World War II
Consumerism and the Nuclear Age
1960’s and Vietnam
Nixon and Watergate
Carter-Ford-Reagan Eras

Advanced Placement U.S. History
This course will cover the major political, economic, social, diplomatic and cultural history of the United States from the founding of the colonies to the present. The principal reading will be drawn from both primary and secondary sources. It will follow a chronological path and will focus on the major recurring themes in United States history which are found in the AP course Description including economic transformations, reform, war and diplomacy and national identity.

Economics
Students are introduced to the history of economics and trace the evolution of economic thought from the late 18th century until the modern era. Emphasis is placed on the foundations, philosophy, and debates of macroeconomic theory, and the vocabulary and concepts of modern micro and macro economics. The course provides basic background knowledge in micro and macro economics and some case studies, with supplementary materials coming from websites, films, newspapers, magazines, journals, class discussions and debates. The course goal is to provide the beginnings of a measured economic philosophy for the student. Prerequisites: Successful completion of the 10th grade.

Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics
The aim of this course is to provide an analysis and understanding of American government and politics – with the particular goal of preparing students to take the AP exam in U.S. Government and Politics. We will examine in detail the framework and traditions that have shaped American politics, and we will explore how public policy gets made today, including the nature and influence of political parties, special interest groups, the media (new and old), and government institutions. At semester’s end students will have developed a critical, across the board understanding of American politics, with an appreciation for the nature of individual rights and responsibilities.

Overview: As AP United States Government & Politics mirrors a college-level course, students must be prepared to read thoroughly the assigned texts; in addition to the textbook, there will be regular supplemental readings. These will include primary source documents, full-length works, newspapers and magazines, blogs and other on-line resources, and data such as polls and statistical analysis. Generally speaking, students must be prepared to go above and beyond the material assigned in order to attain an understanding of American politics. The classroom format features lecture, discussion (including a regular discussion of current events), and quizzes and tests; out-of-class writing assignments include critical analysis, and data interpretation.

Modern Asian History
This course is designed to expose students who are about to vote and go out into the World to events in a continent that has over half of the World’s population. It is also about making students aware of different points of view and seeing history from an alternate vantage than the standard one. We generally look at an event in the news today showing the relevance of the situation and then go back roughly a 100 years in a country’s history and bring events up to the current day. Students also give a weekly report about recent events in the country of their choice, which keeps us abreast of trends and helps improve their public speaking. A good amount of research is required and daily newspapers on line from around the world and blogs are important sources. This course is divided into 4 sections. The first semester covers parts 1 and 2 and is taught by one teacher, the second by another. This exposes students to 2 very different teaching styles and lets teachers focus on their particular interests. Part I covers the geographic background and the impact of communism across Asia with special focus on Russia, China (and Tibet), North Korea and Cambodia. Part 2 covers crises and conflict in the Middle East and Central Asia with emphasis on Israel, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. The 3rd part is about the emergence of democracies across Asia with Turkey, India, Pakistan, Burma (Myanmar) and Indonesia being studied. The final quarter is an in depth study of Japan.

Art History
This course is an overview of art from prehistoric times to the end of the 20th century. The focus is on the Western tradition (Eurocentric), though there will be some exposure to non-Western art. Emphasis is on painting, sculpture and architecture. The student will be able to analyze art in terms of form, content and context. He will draw connections between art of various eras, recognize how history and historical viewpoints are reflected in art, and examine what is being communicated.

Students will read, discuss, and summarize the text, looking at and commenting on images that illustrate each chapter. Videos and handouts for further background and contextual information will also be used, and there will be at least three field trips to art exhibits. Art History is a full year course but only meets five days per cycle. On the 6th day students will have an online assignment, writing, research, or other assignment.

Philosophy
This course is designed to provide the student with an overview of some of the major concepts of philosophy. Essentially an introduction to these concepts, the class is structured around readings, lectures and class discussions through which students can become familiar with some of the basic notions of philosophy and begin to develop their own perspectives on philosophical questions. Independent projects allow students to investigate particular areas of interest in greater depth. First semester focuses on Greek Philosophy, particularly Plato and Aristotle. After reading Plato, students design their own, “Republic” and present it to the class. The second term is devoted to units on the basic ideas of Eastern thought, particularly the Hindu and Buddhist traditions and the evolution of existentialism. In addition to mid-term and cumulative semester final exams, each student will be required to prepare a class presentation and submit a term paper on an independently chosen topic each semester. These independent projects should focus on the influence philosophy has on other fields such as the arts, literature, politics, etc.

Advanced Placement Psychology
Students in this course trace the evolution of scientific understanding of human behavior and mental processes. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing students with the foundations of significant psychological perspectives: behavioral, cognitive, psychodynamic, humanistic, developmental, evolutionary, neurobiological, and sociocultural. Using the Myers textbook as a point of departure, students supplement their understanding of central ideas by reading primary source materials and case studies, modeling the scientific methods of experimentation, and participating in research projects, presentations and class discussions. As the year progresses, assignments and tests are increasingly geared to preparing students for the AP exam in May.