Social Studies

The social studies program draws on the humanities and social sciences, which includes history, geography, government, economics, sociology, psychology, and anthropology.

The overall goals of the social studies curriculum are to teach citizenship education (social responsibility), the value and appreciation of diversity, and the importance of personal responsibility. Teachers advocate an inquiry approach to learning to develop the following skills: recalling and describing facts, interpreting facts and representing them in a variety of ways, solving problems by applying previously learned information to new situations, identifying patterns and relationships, creating new and original ideas, and making critical judgments that can be justified. The instruction is aimed at helping the students to become effective participants in society and to have a knowledge and understanding of the past, which gives students the appreciation and foresight to make relevant decisions for the present and the future.

The social studies program includes an emphasis on developing strong study and research skills. Teachers integrate and guide students in applying deliberate and specific skills. Through this approach, students build life-long strategies for effective learning.

The age-appropriate content builds upon the student’s prior knowledge and experiences. The Wilson School social studies program is developed by the teachers using a variety of resources within the school and in the community. Each year, the teachers develop a school-wide theme to support the School’s mission and social studies curriculum goals. The theme is integrated into school-wide activities, and special assemblies are planned that relate to it.