Purpose

= Why are we doing this? =

__ The Study of History __
The study of history should situate learning in a social and cultural context that goes beyond mere facts and information. The ideas and skills students are learning through individual study and in discussion with classmates are an important part of how young people will come to understand their society and the way it operates. This assignment will take advantage of the fields of art and history to give students a rich and wide understanding of how societies operate and affect the individuals who live within them. Through this assignment, the classroom becomes a place where students begin to see connections between the past and the communities they live in today.

__** Understanding How Societies Function **__

 * Explore how societies function and begin to understand that what they are learning can have immediate applicability.
 * Use the knowledge they are building collectively as a tool for understanding their own community. Such understanding is a critical part of the development of civic competence.

__ ** Appreciating the Variety of Cultures and Integrating and Applying Learning ** __

 * U nderstand that societies vary, depending on the cultural backgrounds and experiences of their members and on the physical environments that surround them.
 * Be aware that the way a community views an institution is affected by the community’s cultural values and history.
 * Recognize the importance that physical environment has in shaping culture.
 * Understand that because societies and cultures evolve, their characteristics are often different today from what they were in the past and will be different in the future.
 * Analyze the various economic, social, and cultural trends that have potential for shaping the future.
 * Integrate and apply knowledge from a variety of disciplines to understand, analyze, and address problems surrounding societies and their people.
 * Understand the ways societies function
 * Seek to broaden the horizons of students, moving them from concern about themselves to an awareness of the needs, views, and rights of others.

__** Developing Civic Virtue and Civic Participation **__

 * To feel a sense of personal responsibility toward their community. Apathy and neglect are among the greatest enemies of any democratic society.