History - Ninth Grade
	Goals and Objectives Students will develop an understanding of and appreciation for: our role as members of a community the diversity and complexity of our changing world democratic values, community and our responsibilities as citizens each student’s heritage the study of the human condition and the customs and accomplishments of others our environment the connections between seemingly unconnected places or events being a member of a small community. Students will show respect, concern and tolerance for other people They will acquire the skills to: think critically, logically and independently develop research skills (collecting, organizing and drawing inferences) think logically and rationally and to present ideas, opinions and values coherently through oral and written communication engage in decision making (considering alternatives and consequences, as well as an understanding of interpersonal relations) establish a solid foundation of geographical concepts increase reading comprehension (of texts, books, periodicals, newspapers, maps, graphs, charts and Internet for content and interpretation) improve communication skills (written and oral) develop strong work skills, study habits and study skills develop an interest in current events   Methods and Techniques Various techniques, resources and strategies are used to implement the program in history. Some of the various tools used are: lectures discussions video presentations filmstrips periodicals plays reading stories field trips guest speakers computer applications newspapers games audiotapes CD-ROM and Internet applications cooperative projects multimedia projects   Curriculum The emphasis of the history program in Seventh through Ninth Grade is to refine the academic skills developed in the earlier grades such as: note taking, analyzing maps and independent work. Moreover, research skills incorporated into long and short-term projects are emphasized. Other strategies and motivational vehicles for achieving positive outcomes in history are: debates, an emphasis on current events using various periodicals throughout the program along with The New York Times and Newsday, and essay writing along with a formal research/thesis paper (Ninth Grade Humanities students). Literature is integrated into the history curriculum by frequent collaboration with other departments, especially the English department. However, along with this refining process, there is a concerted effort to develop clear and logical thinking. Students are encouraged to air their views about what they are studying through written assignments, class discussions and debates so that they learn to voice their opinions in a proper manner. Furthermore, ability to analyze and synthesize ideas gained from class lectures and discussions and different reading sources is developed so that by the time a student departs Eighth or Ninth Grade, he/she is well prepared to study all the different social sciences and to participate in their next stage of learning at the secondary level. The Humanities course is designed to weave together the study of History, Literature, the Arts, Music, Religion, Geography and Philosophy. The focus will be on an interdisciplinary approach to the examination and analysis of the difficulty that people have had to make peace, worldwide. The class will examine issues concerning war and peace, conflict resolution, roots of war, theories of peace, disputes and the inevitability of war. We study wars in different time periods and in different regions of the world. The course will be literature based. We use some of the great works of literature that examines, among other things, human values and human experiences. These works have had a formative influence on Western thought. Some of the books that are being used are: Siddhartha, All Quiet on the Western Front, Johnny Got His Gun, Tale of Two Cities, Farewell to Arms, Scarlet Pimpernell, Catch 22 and Gone with the Wind, to name a few. The New York Times, Newsday and Upfront Magazine are encorporated into the program as well. Specific conflicts which will be examined are: WWII, Israel and Palestinian conflict, the Holocaust, India-Pakistan and the Kashmir conflict, the Vietnam War, the Crusades, the Iraq War, the War on Terror and the Iranian Revolution. The Humanities course will expose students to the basic tools of the Humanities: reading, writing, oral expression, sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding and evaluating the past. Emphasis will be on critical thinking, creativity and the rights and responsibilities of individuals and societies. It has been said that “the Humanities have been associated with the best that has been thought and said.” Trips: The class attends service at an Islamic Mosque. We then have lunch at a Persian restaurant. The class also goes to a Hindu Temple and has lunch and an educational program at an Indian restaurant.