Social Studies

At every grade level, our teachers utilize a collaborative scaffolding approach in the essay writing process.

• Essays are broken into manageable components and students are assigned ownership of a portion.
• Students share and refine their work through structured collaboration. Using a jigsaw-style rotation, students switch groups to exchange ideas, provide peer feedback, and learn from multiple perspectives.
• The teacher actively facilitates, monitors progress, and provides targeted support throughout the process, ultimately regrouping the class to synthesize learning, clarify expectations, and reinforce effective writing strategies.

In Honors Economics, 12^th graders conduct an in-depth investigation of a current issue challenging the U.S. economy, such as rising college tuition or housing affordability. Using credible, real-world data sources, students analyze trends and patterns to identify the key economic factors and root causes contributing to the problem. Students discuss possible solutions grounded in economic theory while evaluating the trade-offs and unintended consequences.

In our sophomore World History lesson on the rise of ancient civilizations, our students work in groups to research key factors such as geography, social structure, and contributions to civilization development. Upon completion, students share their work through a gallery walk, allowing them to engage with and learn about a variety of civilizations.

Across the various grades and levels, our teachers offer choice boards as a dynamic review strategy for midterm and final exams, giving students multiple pathways to demonstrate mastery of course content.

• Students are assigned a review topic and select from a menu of creative and academic options to design an interactive presentation for the class.
• As part of the process, students generate their own review materials, including review sheets, key vocabulary, a review game, or a short quiz to distribute to classmates.
• Students take on the role of teacher, leading the class through their activities and guiding peers in understanding the material. This approach encourages student choice, deepens content retention, and promotes collaboration and accountability through peer-led instruction.

Twelfth-grade Economics classes explore the foundations of Catholic Social Teaching and its relevance to economic life. Through discussion and guided analysis, students become familiar with some of the Church’s teachings and discuss how many of the issues from centuries ago are still relevant today. The lesson encourages students to see how faith and economics intersect and how the Church offers a moral framework for evaluating economic decisions in the contemporary world.