Humanities

Humanities is a dynamic, integrated course that blends English and Social Studies, providing students with a rich, interdisciplinary learning experience. Over the course of 11 periods per week, students will explore both subjects in a way that reinforces their understanding of each. This approach not only strengthens their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills but also allows teachers to build deeper connections with students, offering more personalized and targeted instruction to address individual learning needs.

Our focus will be on the first half of United States History, through 1865. Each unit will combine reading nonfiction texts and class novels, providing students with a well-rounded perspective on historical events and themes. As part of the curriculum, students will develop essential research skills, culminating in at least one research-based paper that challenges them to synthesize their learning.

In addition to the core materials, students will engage with a variety of reading experiences, including independent reading, book groups, and whole-class novels. The books we choose will align with the historical periods and major themes explored in Social Studies, allowing students to deepen their understanding of history through literature. Our goal is to inspire a love for reading while fostering critical thinking and thoughtful analysis of the texts.

Writing will be an essential part of our Humanities curriculum, with students composing a range of written works including essays, research papers, vignettes, poetry, and journal entries. While we will focus on helping students develop the skills to write clear, well-organized academic papers, we also want to encourage them to use writing as a tool for personal expression and creative exploration.

Through this integrated approach, we aim to help students become not only strong readers and writers but also reflective thinkers who are able to draw connections between history, literature, and their own lives.

Below are the Social Studies and ELA Units:

Unit Name	Social Studies	ELA
Native Americans, Early Encounters and colonial Development	Nonfiction reading and responses Reciprocal teaching Cultural project Comparative chart Document based essay	Writing benchmark Blood on the River chapter packet Reciprocal teaching Short responses Socratic seminar
The Revolutionary War	Nonfiction reading Reciprocal teaching Research notes on an unheard voice during the American Revolution Collage essay (biography, poetry, creative writing) Roundtable presentations Midterm exam	Write a personal vignette Research an unheard voice Collage essay (biography, poetry, creative writing) Roundtable presentations Midterm exam
The Constitution and Westward Expansion	Nonfiction reading Reciprocal teaching Analyzing the Constitution Unit test Pinwheel discussion	How I Became a Ghost chapter packet Reciprocal teaching Literature response on theme and poem
Mini Unit (May overlap with the unit above) - Analyzing the state test and Preparing for it	Finish working on above unit	Short response review Extended response benchmark Multiple choice strategy review
The Abolitionist Movement and The Civil War	Nonfiction reading Research on abolitionist in Brooklyn Research project and class museum Humanities final	Book group packet on book group book Reciprocal teaching Humanities final