SOCIAL STUDIES
Our Social Studies curriculum at St. Boniface takes the students to destinations around the world. Students travel all the way back to the Ice Age and then continue their journey through present times. They learn to understand and appreciate various cultures as they learn about countries throughout our world. Text books are only one means of teaching this exciting subject. Students can visit exotic locations and travel back in time to witness historic events via the internet. Each middle school student has access to his/her own laptop that is used on a regular basis to research various topics. In 7th and 8th grades the students focus on history while in the 5th and 6th grades they learn more about cultures. Having internet access at their fingertips allows students to be active learners in their education. Teachers also have access to another beneficial resource. United Streaming is an online program that offers a variety of videos on various topics relating to all subjects. Rather than the students simply reading about an event they can watch it on a video that the teacher can streamline into the classroom. When applicable field trips are also planned to introduce, supplement, or culminate topics being taught.
Understanding the need for our students to be well informed citizens, current events are a regular part of Social Studies classes. Through discussion and research children stay well informed as to what is happening in our world. Classroom newspapers as well as Weekly Readers supplement the current event discussions. And of course, travel would be difficult without good map skills. Reading and understanding maps, charts and graphs is a skill that is practiced by the students as they use books published by Modern Curriculum Press to enhance their learning.
No Social Studies class would be complete without “hands on “projects. Students are required to complete projects throughout the year to demonstrate their understanding of various topics. Projects are shared in class as well as displayed so that other students, parents and visitors can benefit from the research and knowledge presented by the students.