Stewartville Public Schools
Social Studies
Goal: Stewartville Public Schools strives to establish a strategic and comprehensive social studies curriculum for our students. We assist in building disciplinary knowledge and skills in our students while preparing them to be responsible citizens in our community and world.
Curriculum Overview
Kindergarten-3rd Grade: All classrooms use the Social Studies Weekly & Time for Kids curriculum, in a magazine-style format designed to be used both in school and at home. The consumable curriculum is aligned with the new MN State Standards.
4th and 5th Grade: 4th and 5th-grade classes use the Houghton-Mifflin curriculum. 4th-grade studies focus on the regions of the United States. 5th-grade studies focus on the early history of the U.S. including exploration and the Revolutionary War. Students study the earliest efforts to form a nation, a government, and a working economic system.
6th Grade: Social Studies classes, focus on Minnesota History, using the newest Northern Lights curriculum. Sixth graders also participate in the History Day competition.
7th Grade: This US History class focuses on United States history from 1800-present. The textbook used for this course is Discovering Our Past: A History of the United States.
8th Grade: This class focuses on global studies, with a heavy emphasis on geography. New Minnesota State Standards dictate that the students will study the geography of the world’s regions and contemporary world history.
World History: Work History 9-1 is a survey course that includes events beginning with the Stone Age and ending with the Renaissance. Studies include the economic, political, and social issues and the effect of various turning points and cultural diffusion. The topics covered in this course align with the required Minnesota State Social Studies standards in World History. World History 9-2 is a survey course that includes events beginning with the Age of Exploration and ending with the present day.
Human Geography: Human Geography studies the natural and human features and processes distributed over the earth. The central theme in this course is the tension between two important realities of today-globalization and the preservation of cultural diversity. We will look at the problems of modern society as they pertain to the use of the earth’s resources. The course will survey the physical and cultural aspects of world regions including landforms, climate, levels of economic development, cultural diffusion, attitudes toward the land, and toward social structure and values.
American Government: Principles of American Government is a survey course of the history of the United States Government from its origins to political systems in today’s world. Topics covered include the Foundations of American Government and the Constitution, the Branches of Government and the separation of powers, and how people participate in state and local government.
US History: This is a survey course that picks up the study of America from where students left off in 7th grade. The year-long course is divided into two parts, which together cover the history of the United States from post-Reconstruction to the present.
Economics: Economics is designed to study the basic characteristics of the U.S. economic system. Both microeconomics and macroeconomics will be covered.
Psychology General psychology is an introductory course to the immense field of psychology. Students will be presented with the major theories and schools of thought as well as the terminology necessary for the understanding of the science.
Global Issues Global Issues will take an in-depth look at current events. The class will highlight current global issues and explore the history and development of issues. The class will examine background details and events so that the student can understand current world issues. Issues discussed will include topics ranging from world conflicts, economics, geopolitics, resource issues, and all other current events.
College Sociology (101): This course is intended for students who excel in Social Studies and who are able and willing to handle an accelerated workload involving critical reading and thinking skills. It is designed as an introduction to sociological study for college-bound students, particularly for those interested in sociology-related careers. Coursework will address the major sociological theories and schools of thought, as well as the terminology necessary for the understanding of the science.
4th and 5th Grade: 4th and 5th-grade classes use the Houghton-Mifflin curriculum. 4th-grade studies focus on the regions of the United States. 5th-grade studies focus on the early history of the U.S. including exploration and the Revolutionary War. Students study the earliest efforts to form a nation, a government, and a working economic system.
6th Grade: Social Studies classes, focus on Minnesota History, using the newest Northern Lights curriculum. Sixth graders also participate in the History Day competition.
7th Grade: This US History class focuses on United States history from 1800-present. The textbook used for this course is Discovering Our Past: A History of the United States.
8th Grade: This class focuses on global studies, with a heavy emphasis on geography. New Minnesota State Standards dictate that the students will study the geography of the world’s regions and contemporary world history.
World History: Work History 9-1 is a survey course that includes events beginning with the Stone Age and ending with the Renaissance. Studies include the economic, political, and social issues and the effect of various turning points and cultural diffusion. The topics covered in this course align with the required Minnesota State Social Studies standards in World History. World History 9-2 is a survey course that includes events beginning with the Age of Exploration and ending with the present day.
Human Geography: Human Geography studies the natural and human features and processes distributed over the earth. The central theme in this course is the tension between two important realities of today-globalization and the preservation of cultural diversity. We will look at the problems of modern society as they pertain to the use of the earth’s resources. The course will survey the physical and cultural aspects of world regions including landforms, climate, levels of economic development, cultural diffusion, attitudes toward the land, and toward social structure and values.
American Government: Principles of American Government is a survey course of the history of the United States Government from its origins to political systems in today’s world. Topics covered include the Foundations of American Government and the Constitution, the Branches of Government and the separation of powers, and how people participate in state and local government.
US History: This is a survey course that picks up the study of America from where students left off in 7th grade. The year-long course is divided into two parts, which together cover the history of the United States from post-Reconstruction to the present.
Economics: Economics is designed to study the basic characteristics of the U.S. economic system. Both microeconomics and macroeconomics will be covered.
Psychology General psychology is an introductory course to the immense field of psychology. Students will be presented with the major theories and schools of thought as well as the terminology necessary for the understanding of the science.
Global Issues Global Issues will take an in-depth look at current events. The class will highlight current global issues and explore the history and development of issues. The class will examine background details and events so that the student can understand current world issues. Issues discussed will include topics ranging from world conflicts, economics, geopolitics, resource issues, and all other current events.
College Sociology (101): This course is intended for students who excel in Social Studies and who are able and willing to handle an accelerated workload involving critical reading and thinking skills. It is designed as an introduction to sociological study for college-bound students, particularly for those interested in sociology-related careers. Coursework will address the major sociological theories and schools of thought, as well as the terminology necessary for the understanding of the science.
