The social studies program of the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School Middle School focuses on the processes, concepts, and skills that are essential in making a successful transition between the foundational elementary years and the demands of high school. The thematic threads of ancient, U.S., and contemporary history and geography are woven into a comprehensive long view of man’s place in our world.
Students utilize the skills of historical examination and analysis, critical and creative thinking, and the technological tools available to 21st century learners, to collaborate on projects involving research, design and the production of models that relate ancient skills to modern world situations, and the communication of their findings orally and in writing.
A lifelong awareness of and interest in contemporary world events is further fostered via research, map study/land and water form identification, discussion, and personal position debate, as students find their own place in the history of our planet. In the process students gain proficiency in note-taking, evaluating, synthesizing, a wide variety of test-taking skills, and oral and written expression.
While viewing man’s development through his art, music, literature, mythology/religion, technology, cultural, political and governmental institutions,
- sixth graders study the time from his appearance in prehistory, to the appearance of worldwide civilizations, through the period of the creation of the Roman Empire.
- seventh graders continue viewing this continuum from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Middle Ages and the events of other world cultures of that period, until many of those cultures meet through the events of the Age of Discovery and colonization of the Americas.
- eighth graders conclude this overview of world history with a comprehensive look at the history of the United States and its place in other world events of the time.
