The teachers of the Social Science department of Pleasant Valley High School strive to prepare students to be successful in course work and develop the elements of citizenship at school, in the community, in the nation, and of the world. All eleven teachers collaborate within course levels to create learning targets on essential standards, share common strategies, and administer common assessments. Our department’s goal is to guide every student toward proficiency with required state standards.

Students begin their Social Science program in the sophomore year with the study of Modern World History; students will study ten major turning points in the modern world beginning in the eighteenth century to present time. The course study begins with a unit on the rise of democracy and continues with discovering historical roots to current world events. As part of the philosophy of proficiency for every student, World History teachers begin the department’s strategies of success by incorporating a variety of learning techniques and studying skills with every unit.

In the junior year, students will study the major turning points in American history in the twentieth century. After a quick review of American beginnings, students study the change in American society, the role of the United States in the world, expanding role of federal government, and major social problems in relation to historical events.Students develop an understanding of the importance of an educated citizenry to protect our precious inheritance and rights. Juniors have the option of studying American history in a college preparatory course or in an honors course with an option of earning AP credit.

Seniors courses of Economics and American Government provide a deeper understanding of fundamental economic concepts and American government. In the required semester of Economics, students will study and learn the principles of economics and of the American economic system. American Government is the other required semester class offered in the senior year; the course study is to inform students on how our government operates, its duties and responsibilities at all levels, and how “we the people” play in its operation.

Pleasant Valley senior IB students study IB Economics, Government, and the History of Europe. This course is a year long study of World History in the 20^th Century, government comparisons and contrasts of Western democracies with totalitarian and dictatorial states, and the economics of capitalism, socialism and mixed economies.

Psychology is a course offering for both juniors and seniors. The curriculum covers a variety of topics to give students a general knowledge in psychology as well as a better understanding of themselves and their relationships with others.

Our Needs

• White-board Markers
• Transparencies
• Kleenex
• Mini White Boards with markers
• Ink cartridges for printers
• Educational DVDs
• Copy Machine costs
• Manila Folders
• Textbook replacement
• 3x5 cards
• paper