Teacher Job Fair
Social Studies
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT
MISSION
The Social Studies Department at Edison High School provides a three year sequence of mandated core courses and also offers a number of electives. In the required sequence, students undertake two years of study in United States History and then another year in World History. All of these classes are closely aligned with the latest New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS). For the electives, students can choose from both semester offerings and full year Advanced Placement courses. Parents can view the district Program of Studies for a more complete description of each of these classes.
CURRICULUM
The high school Social Studies curriculum has been developed to provide students with the opportunity to learn about both American and global society, with the goal of helping students become engaged citizens. Guided by New Jersey state standards and law, the Edison curriculum will enable students to recognize the changes occurring in the country and world around them, understand the implications of those changes, and think critically so that they can make informed choices in their lives after high school.
SKILLS
All courses in the department hone the essential skills that reside at the heart of the social studies discipline. Incorporated throughout our curriculum guides are the historical thinking, reading, and writing skills prescribed by the most recent NJSLS. Throughout each required course, as well as the electives, students will practice the historical thinking skills of analysis, argumentation, comparison, continuity and change over time, causation, and contextualization. Similarly, students will develop their writing, read complex primary sources, and conduct research using modern technology. These skills are captured through short and long writing responses to prompts, major grade-level projects assigned during a student’s first two years, and then again in the culminating “Junior Project” of their third year. This milestone project requires that students thoroughly research a topic, read multiple sources on the subject, write extensively on their findings, and then present to an audience using traditional public speaking and more modern technologies.
CONTACT
Mark DiGiovacchino
Supervisor