KENMORE WEST SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT

ELECTIVE COURSES•A.P. European History

•PSYCHOLOGY•SOCIOLOGY

•THE 60’S AND 70’S•THE HOLOCAUST

•WORLD WAR II•COPS, COURTS, AND THE CONSTITUTION: LAW

IN AMERICA

A.P. European History“dare to know” Emanuel Kant

Prerequisites: For juniors and seniors; a 90% in Global 10, teacher recommendation, and an advanced ability to read and write.Sophomores: A 90% average in Global 9 Honors, teacher recommendation, and advanced ability to read and write.Summer assignment? There is no summer reading assignment

A.P. European History“If I have seen farther than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants” -Sir Isaac

Newton

---cool things about the course:This class is worth 2 college classes if you pass the exam with a 3 or better; That’s 6 credit hoursYou will be taught, how to take college level notes, analyze primary source material and to think criticallyAll the dirt, scandals and stories your global teachers were not able to tell youMr. Knight teaches it; he’s nuts

A.P. European History

Teacher: Mr. KnightFuture Applications:This course touches many cross curricular themes; English, science, politics, economics and math. We study the historical causation for the development of all these areas of study.The skills and knowledge you learn in this class will be used in all areas in you life, SIGN UP TODAY, IF YOU DARE TO KNOW

PSYCHOLOGY

Possible Teacher: Mr. Harned, Ms. Pacer, Mrs. Howse½ Credit Course (20 Weeks)

PSYCHOLOGY: THE STUDY OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR

This course covers the models and theories of why people behave as they do.

TOPICS AND ISSUES INCLUDE: What do your dreams mean?When do you need hypnosis?How important is IQ?Why is anorexia a growing national problem?How do you remember what you do?Does nature or nurture determine who you are?

PSYCHOLOGY: EXPECTATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

In this course you will be expected to complete the following requirements on a topic of your choice: 1) Research Paper 2) Oral Presentation 3) Creative Display

***Overall, this course is designed to promote health and wholeness by adding to our storehouse of knowledge about who and why we are.

Psychology

Future Applications: Psychology helps you understand people's personalities and their behavior. This course helps you learn how to work with others and how to be part of a group as well as understanding your own behavior and that of family members.

Future Careers: Psychology can be a foundation to many careers in government, sports, schools, hospitals, as well as counseling and clinical situations.

SOCIOLOGYTHE STUDY OF SOCIETY’S INSTITUTIONS

Possible Teacher: Mr. Beale, Mr. Strach, Mr. Stuhlmiller

½ Credit Course (20 Weeks)

WELCOME TO AN EYE OPENING COURSE ON WHY GROUPS ACT AS THEY DO!

TOPICS/ ISSUES

GENDER ISSUESNATURE VS. NURTURECULTURE AND SOCIALIZATIONDEVIANT BEHAVIORGANGS COUNTER CULTURECRIME AND PUNISHMENT

EXPECTATIONS

INTERPRET AND FORMULATE YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS!ORAL REPORTGROUP PROJECTCLASS DISCUSSIONHOMEWORK/TESTSFINAL EXAM

QUESTIONS FOR SOCIOLOGISTS:

WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO SUICIDE?

HOW DO SOME GROUPS PROMOTE DEVIANT BEHAVIOR AMONG THEIR MEMBERS?

WHAT EFFECT DOES MUSIC HAVE ON THE YOUTH?

WHAT DO TWINS SHOW US ABOUT THE NATURE VS. NURTURE DEBATE? (Engage in a twin study in this course)

Emile Durkheim

Sociologist

Sociology

Future Applications: develop a strong understanding of social factors that influence, family, community and society. Awareness of factors that cause deviance. This course provides students with the skills required to understand group dynamics and how group behavior can effect individuals. Develop contrasts in multicultural studies.Future Careers: Education, social work, counseling, advertising and marketing.

THE 1960’S AND 1970’S

Possible Teachers: Mr. Conrad, Mrs. Reidell-Mazcka, ½ Credit Course (20 Weeks)

EXCITING, TURBULENT TIMES: AMERICAN HISTORY DURING THE DECADE OF THE 1960’S AND 1970’S

TOPICS INCLUDE:SIXTIES COUNTER CULTURE

WOODSTOCK AND HIPPIES

KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

WOMEN’S MOVEMENT

VIETNAM WAR

CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

WATERGATE

70’S CULTURE

TOPICS: 60s AND 70s

60s and 70s EXPECTATIONSREQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITIESView and discuss the film JFKView and discuss the film

Mississippi BurningSee clips from films that

depict the Vietnam War What was the fighting like?

Listen to the music of the timesRead Poetry of the eraListen to the important speeches of great American historical figures

REQUIREMENTS

Class Discussion

Written response

Group project

Tests and Final Exam

Investigating the Holocaust

Possible Teacher: Mrs. Georgic-Schmitt, Mr. Knight, Mrs. Reidell-Mazcka, Mrs. Howse, Mr. Strach

½ Credit (20 weeks)

AN INVITATION TO UNDERSTANDINGHow could this catastrophe happen?

QUESTIONS AND ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED: Were average Germans Hitler’s willing executioners or did

they not know what was happening? Were the Nazi officers guilty or were they simply following

orders? Why were Jews, Gypsies, Homosexuals, Jehovah’s

Witnesses, others targeted by the Nazi regime? Who was Hitler and what made him a mad man? Are there people denying that the Holocaust happened?

HOLOCAUST ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

CLASS EXPERIENCES:

Music of the WW II era

Holocaust Poetry

Primary Source Documents of the Nazi Regime

Movies (Uprising, Schindler’s List)

Elie Wiesel’s book Night

EXPECTATIONS:

Learning Logs (written responses)

Class discussion

Website assignments

Power Point and or Research Project

Final Exam

HOLOCAUST

For college – encourages critical thinking and analysis of important issues and problems in history through discussions, reading, research, debate, and use of technology in a seminar setting

For life –Define racism, stereotypes, and prejudiceUnderstand the dangers of being a silent witness

and bystanderRecognize the dangers and warning signs of

totalitarian governments and the stages of genocide

Develop empathy for victims of genocide through the personal stories of survivors

Be inspired to investigate human rights abuses and genocide in the world today, and act to stop them!!

Rise of Dictators:

“The History of World War II”

-20 Week (1/2 Credit) ‘College Style’ Social Studies Elective Course Designed to Prepare You for the Next Level

Possible Teachers Include:

Generals Meetze and Strach

Did You Know ??????

- Hitler Survived over 42 Assassination Attempts!

- In 1943 American Soldiers in the Pacific were Ordered to Stop Wearing Human Body Parts by F.D.R.!!

-The People of Leningrad only survived by eating Everything and we mean absolutely

EVERYTHING!!!! (and Everyone!)

Introducing the WWII Cast of Characters(in no particular order)

-The’ Russian Man of Steel’ J. Stalin -’Everyone’s Favorite Uncle’ D. Eisenhower

-America’s Best the ‘Band of Brothers’ -The ‘World’s Greatest Failed Artist’ A. Hitler

-’Tortiselike’ General B. Montgomery -The ‘Reincarnated’ General George S. Patton

-’Tiger Wrestling’ Benito Mussolini -Admiral William ‘No Bull’ Halsey

-The ‘Man with the Plan’ Yammamoto -The ‘Man Who Never Was’???

-’Desert Fox’ Field Marshall Rommel -‘I’m So Crazy’ Marshall Georgie Zhukov

& Don’t Forget Winston ‘I Never met a Quote I didn’t like’ Churchill

WWII Course Topics

-The Hopelessness of Trench Warfare & NYC’s own ‘Lost Battalion’

-Implementation of ‘Lightning War’ & the Fall of Fortress Europe

- Fun Sounding Operations including Barbarossa, Market Garden, & Sea Lion

-Living Under Rule of the Nazis & Horror’s of the Pacific Theater of War

-Non Accuracy of the Air War & the 3 Greatest Secrets of WWII

- ‘D-Day’ the True Story (Doomsday? Demolition Day?? Doorknob Day???)

- The Battles for El Alamein, Iwo Jima, Gudalcanal, Monte Cassino, Stalingrad, & Everyone’s favorite Battle of the Bulge!

- Boot Camp, Spy School, How to Pack, and Much Much More!!

Activities for the Course

-Be an Armchair General: You Control & Solve realistic Battle Plans Simulations

-What every Soldier needs, A Personal Wartime Journal as a member of the O.S.S.

-Conspiracy Web Quests including The Truth of Pearl Harbor, Japanese Atrocities, the Secret War, & Nazism in the Classroom

-Independent Reading Project: You pick the book & you create your Final Project for the exam

-Command Decisions: Interactive Classroom Video Competition

Future Applications:

-A New Found Respect for our ‘Greatest Generation’ of Citizens and the Opportunity to take a Comprehensive look at the most Honored World Wide Conflict in History!

-Access to Potential Final Jeopardy Answers as well as $50 Cash Cab Questions

-The Ability to Fully Understand the Many, Many Video Games

that you so Frequently Play!

What are you Waiting For?? Join your Friends and Sign up Now!!

COPS, COURTS AND THE CONSTITUTION: LAW IN AMERICA

Possible Teacher: Mr. Strach, Mr. HarnedMrs. White

½ Credit Course (20 Weeks)

COPS, COURTS, AND THE CONSTITUTION: LAW IN AMERICA

TOPICS OF THE COURSE:

CRIMINOLOGY

POLICE WORK

COURTS AND PRISONS

SUPREME COURT CASES Rodney

King

COPS, COURTS, AND LAWEXPERIENCES AND EXPECTATIONS

Written assignments

Research on legal issues (Projects)

Recent developments in Constitutional law

Class discussion

Mock Trial of a Murder Case

Field Trip to Erie County Holding Center/Court

.“CRIMINAL LAW FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THE

OUTSIDE IN”

MIRANDA WARNINGS!

SEARCH AND SEIZURE!

CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR!

POLICE WORK!

THE DEATH PENALTY:

Cruel and unusual punishment?

The Supreme Court,

Washington, D.C.

Law in America

Future Applications:

Allows citizens understand when their rights are violated, or when legal action is requiredLife After school and college:All citizens will be faced with a legal situation that involves criminal/civil law at some point in your life.Future careers: Police officer, lawyer, judge, criminology, politics, education, business, self employed