Social Studies
Mission
“What are issues that you want to change in your community and in the world?” “How can learning about the past help us to understand the present, and the future?”
As Social Studies teachers, our mission is to help you understand yourself, others, and the environment around you so that you can skillfully use your thoughts and actions to positively influence your community...and positively change the world.
If you come to class every day with this purpose in mind, you’re going to not only set yourself up for a successful future, you’re going to have a great time learning here!
Courses
Throughout your time at FOMS, you will take three Social Studies classes:
6th Grade: Historical Inquiry in World Studies 6 OR Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities 6
(Egypt, Greece/Rome, China)
7th Grade: Historical Inquiry in World Studies 7 OR Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities 7
(Latin America, Europe, Africa)
8th Grade: Historical Inquiry in US History 8 OR Historical Inquiry in American Studies 8
(American colonization, independence, expansion, Civil War, and Reconstruction)
What does “Historical Inquiry” mean?
You will notice that all course names start with "Historical Inquiry" (to inquire or ask questions). That's because you and your teachers will be investigating the answers to questions about geography, political systems, culture, and economic systems during each time in history–by critically analyzing multiple diverse perspectives of primary sources to learn more about the experiences of the people living then and how their experiences still connect to our lives now.
Historian Literacy Skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking)
Sourcing- Identify the origins of a document, predict author’s point of view, and evaluate reliability of sources
Close Reading- Identify claim and evidence, and its strengths and weaknesses of sources
Corroboration- Identify areas of agreement and disagreement and reliability of arguments of sources
Contextualization- Identify time and place and its influence of sources
Historical Interpretation- Identify differences of historical interpretations and evaluate evidence to support sources
Experiential Learning Opportunities:
Many of your Social Studies teachers lead and sponsor extracurricular clubs, activities, and field trips where you can join, and apply those historian skills that you have learned in class. Clubs led by your Social Studies teachers include: EML Academy, International Club, Minority Scholars Program (MSP), National History Day (NHD), and Student Government Association (SGA).
You Are A Change Maker!
While leaving with all this historical knowledge is great, we care just as much (if not more) about you leaving with the literacy skills of a historian, which you will be able to apply to just about anything you do for the rest of your life.
The FOMS Social Studies teachers are committed to helping all students to not only see yourselves in the curriculum but how you fit into the history of our world as competent, capable, agents of positive change!
MCPS Social Studies Curriculum Links
Hard History & Contentious Topics Resources
Resources Talking About Race & Racism
Learning For Justice: Teaching Hard History: Grades 6-12
MCPS National History Day- NHD
