Social Studies

Civics and Government

1. Principles and Documents of Government
2. Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
3. How Government Works
4. How International Relationships Function

1. Governments are structured to address the basic needs of the people in a society.
2. Effective citizens are committed to protecting their rights for themselves, other citizens and future generations, by upholding their civic responsibilities and are aware of the potential consequences of inaction.
3. Structures of government develop from the tension between the need for authority and the need to constrain authority.
4. A nation’s government functions in response to internal and external relationships.

1. Economic Systems
2. Markets and the Functions of Governments
3. Scarcity and Choice
4. Work and Earnings

1. Economic decisions made by governments, businesses, groups and individuals directly affect our current and future daily life and standard of living.
2. The way societies make economic decisions depends on cultural values, availability and quality of resources, and the extent and use of technology.
3. Decisions concerning the allocation and use of resources impact individuals and groups as well as local, national and international relationships.
4. The economy of each society is interdependent with that of other nations of the world.
5. Individuals function as producers, investors and consumers, influencing the stability of the market.

1. Basic Geographic Literacy
2. The Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions
3. The Human Characteristics of Places and Regions
4. The Interactions Between People and Place

Geographic characteristics which include both physical and human features influence the development of economic and political systems and cultures.

1. Historical Analysis and Skill Development
2. Pennsylvania History
3. United States History
4. World History

1. Historians must evaluate the evidence to determine if it’s reliable.
2. Historical events are not isolated; they are complex and have consequences in both the past and the present.
3. Individuals, groups and societies have made choices and decisions which have defined history.
4. Throughout history there are a series of common themes that enable us to reach a deeper understanding of past, present and future events.

1. Effective instruction actively engages students in a learning process that promotes higher order thinking.
2. Students learn best when objectives are clear, achievable and meaningful to their lives.
3. Effective instruction must meet the needs and interests of students through a variety of differentiated strategies.
4. Effective instruction is driven by continual assessment, teacher and student reflection and modification to improve student achievement.
5. A consistently positive, safe and respectful learning environment is integral for effective instruction.
6. Effective instruction builds shared accountability for learning.

1. Instruction in social studies should be student-centered with an emphasis on student-driven assessments, knowledge, activities and evaluations.
2. Social studies units should be interdisciplinary and thematic, allowing students to learn through different modalities.
3. Effective instruction creates a cooperative, interactive atmosphere where community is built and diversity is celebrated.
4. Social studies classrooms should be effectively organized into a workshop structure that utilizes cooperative grouping and student-generated discussion as a reflection of the topics studied.
5. Students need time to investigate topics through in-depth study, research and experiences.
6. Students need opportunities to exercise choice and responsibility by choosing their own topics for inquiry.
7. Teachers should devote less time to having students memorize facts and spend more time allowing students to explore topics.
8. Students need exposures to multicultural perspectives to enhance student awareness of society.

"To cultivate an exceptional, innovative learning community that enables all students to succeed in a changing world"

The Boyertown Area School District’s philosophy is to equip students for our changing world by providing daily exposure to 21st Century skills, knowledge, and tools.