The Ethel Walker School
Curriculum: Grade 10
This course introduces students to the principles and practices of digital animation through storytelling and visual communication. Students create short animated projects using techniques such as stop- motion animation, flipbooks, video, and photography. Emphasis is placed on planning, sequencing, and translating ideas into motion while developing an individual artistic voice. Students expand their technical skills using Adobe Creative Cloud and other digital animation platforms to bring original concepts to life.
In this course, students explore the world of digital illustration through storytelling and visual communication. Emphasis is placed on concept development, composition, and creating illustrations that communicate a clear narrative or idea. Students use photography to create their own reference images and develop a personal artistic voice and visual style. A creative writing component allows students to pair their illustrations with original short narratives. Students deepen their proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and other digital art platforms while producing polished, thoughtful illustration projects.
Offered Fall 2026 and Spring 2027
Intro to Media Arts
Credits: 0.5
This introductory course provides students with foundational skills in media arts. Students explore basic photography, develop familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud software, and gain an introduction to three- dimensional modeling. Through structured projects and goal-setting, students build essential digital art skills while developing technical confidence and creative problem-solving. This course prepares students for more advanced coursework such as Digital Illustration or Animation.
Offered Fall 2026 and Spring 2027
UConn ECE Course: Introduction to Theatre
Credits: 0.5
This course introduces students to theatre as a collaborative, dynamic, and socially expressive art form by delving into the artistry, concepts, and techniques of theatre makers. Through discussions, experiential activities, and in-class performances, students of all backgrounds are invited to apply their knowledge and experience to explore creative processes. In this course, students will immerse themselves in the creative process of theatrical production by exploring diverse artistic approaches, experimenting with innovative techniques, and expressing their unique voices through hands-on collaboration and performance. Students will investigate the collaborative nature of theatremaking, examining how directors, designers, performers, and other creatives bring a production to life. Through the analysis of a representative case study play, students will deconstruct the interpretive and preparatory work of creative teams. Building on these insights, students will engage in hands-on experimentation to develop original short theatrical pieces. Interactive discussions and practical exercises will strengthen communication skills, spark new ideas, and expand creative practices. Students will also learn to critically evaluate and refine their creative processes in response to the evolving needs of collaborators, audiences, and production goals.
Offered Fall 2026
Playwriting, Performance, and Play Production
Credits: 0.5
After studying plays from contemporary playwrights, this course culminates in a performance of students’ original plays in a one-act mini play festival. Students will develop, write, and perform an original 10-15-minute play that will be staged with other students in the class (or from the Walker’s student community). Students will learn how technical aspects of the theatre can inform storytelling such as costume creation/selection, prop acquisition, and research, etc. Class will also include interactive theatre and improv activities to improve acting, playwriting, and team building.
Offered Spring 2027
Advanced Computational Modeling: Data Science and Machine Learning Models
Credits: 0.5
Prerequisite: Departmental Approval
What makes some internet videos more popular than others? Where do gender inequities pop up in the music industry? What are the demographics of police stops in the United States? Did you know that you can explore and analyze real-world questions like these using code? In this semester-long course, you will develop the skills to use the Python programming language to mine public datasets for interesting patterns and to statistically analyze and visualize those patterns using beautiful, code-generated graphs. You will then build upon these skills by learning how to create your own machine learning models that you can use to make predictions in fields of your choice, and even enter some of your models into competitions. You will come away with skills to critically analyze and evaluate trends in science, society, and culture with the goal of using code to dig deep into questions that you are interested in exploring. No previous coding experience is required, but students will be expected to take initiative in the process of researching and developing project topics, learning any extra skills required for the projects that they select, and tinkering with their codes to accomplish their goals. Enrollment in the first-semester course, 3D Models and Animations, will be useful but is not necessary for this second-semester course.
Offered Spring 2027
Advanced Computational Modeling: 3D Models and Animations
Credits: 0.5
Prerequisite: Physics 9 or Equivalent and Departmental Approval
Are you interested in designing your own characters, animations, and games while also learning foundational skills in coding? In this semester-long, project-based course, you will create renderings of 3D models, physics-based animations, and user-interactive games using VPython, a coding environment that combines the Python programming language with a 3D graphics module. Through your projects, you will learn how to use coding elements such as variables, loops, lists, conditionals, functions, and more. We will use the engineering design process to develop each project, including research, brainstorming, iterative prototyping, peer feedback, and sharing. This is a highly collaborative class; you will share your codes with your classmates so that they can build upon them “open-source”-style, and you will adapt and cite some of the work of your classmates to move your own projects forward. No previous coding experience is required, but students should be comfortable with mathematical thinking, troubleshooting, and sometimes feeling confused! Since we will be drawing upon physics concepts to create animations, students should enter this course having completed a year of Physics 9 or equivalent.
Offered Fall 2026
Before 1492: The Americas Prior to European Contact
Credits: 0.5
This course examines the rich, complex societies of the Americas prior to European contact in 1492. Students study indigenous cultures through archaeology, material culture, trade networks, agriculture, and technologies to understand how communities interacted with one another and shaped their environments. Emphasis is placed on challenging narratives of isolation by exploring exchange, innovation, and continuity within and across the Americas.
Offered Spring 2027
As a way of helping students become more knowledgeable and confident with finances, seniors learn about investment strategies, how the market works, political effects on the market, and the role of women investors. Thanks to a generous donor, each student actually invests $1,000 in the market and follows that investment, along with the aggregate investment of the class, for the course of the year, when the investments are sold and the profits are shared as a charitable contribution.
Women, Health, and Culture is taught by Walker’s Director of Health Services. Using a medical model, comprehensive analysis of issues related to the health status and health care of women is presented. Knowledge of health concerns of particular importance to women are shared to aid in maintaining wellness, as well as the identification and early treatment of common physical illnesses. All students will be instructed in American Red Cross Child and Adult CPR as well as the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED). [Note: A nominal fee will be charged to students’ accounts for these certifications.] Women, Health, and Culture is designed to aid students in becoming critical thinkers about health and wellness issues facing young people and it is expected that they will be knowledgeable about current events that affect young women.
This seminar shares the resources of positive psychology, academic support, and social and emotional intelligence to help students develop a strong sense of wellness. Activities are designed to strengthen self-awareness, emotional resilience, and self-esteem. Using tools such as the Johari Window, students learn relationship-building skills and develop social awareness. Other subjects explored include identifying signature strengths using UPenn’s Authentic Happiness Site, practicing mindful meditation, developing healthy sleep habits, stress management, and learning and memory.
This seminar provides students with direct engagement and negotiation with the natural world. Sustainability refers to the human relationship to the natural world and our stewardship, care, and nurture of the planet we call home. Sustenance refers to the ways in which we internalize these relationships through mindfulness, connections, and spirituality. Together, these capabilities allow students to engage both physically and spiritually with the world around them and develop skills that have been credited as defining the American experience.
Sustainable Fashion Design
Credits: 0.5
In this course, students will combine sustainability and design to discover an environmentally conscious approach to fashion and accessories. Through hands-on projects, students will repurpose recycled and upcycled materials, such as fabric scraps, plastic, paper, and other non-traditional resources into wearable art and functional designs. The course emphasizes creativity, problem-solving, and the importance of reducing waste in the fashion industry.
Offered Fall 2026
Land use will take an intensive look on how people use land in our world today, and how this use is a shift from years past. The desire for profits and the ease with which goods and people can move have combined to create this shift. Over this semester, we will look at real world examples that will help us to see and understand the causes of this change in land use and will hypothesize about some potential effects. As this is an advanced course, students should be expected to work independently on assignments, stay up to date with work, and read thoroughly and at length about topics. Written assignments will be assessed with the expectation that students are formulating opinions using evidence and are clearly stating both in writing.
Offered Spring 2027
Introduction to Archaeology
Credits: 0.5
This history elective blends theoretical study with practical experience to provide an immersive introduction into the field of archaeology. Students explore the history, methods, and ethics of archaeological research and learn how archaeologists uncover and interpret material remains to understand human history. A significant component of the course involves hands-on experience through a supervised excavation, held on campus. Students practice excavation techniques, proper documentation methods, and artifact handling in a team setting. The class culminates in a project where students analyze artifacts uncovered during their dig and craft a research paper that utilizes one or more of the artifacts as a primary source. They will also work together to develop a museum-quality physical and digital exhibit to display their artifacts.
Offered Fall 2026
Art History: Art of Ancient Civilizations
Credits: 0.5
In this class, we will gain an understanding of the cultures of ancient civilizations through the study of the objects they produced. We will grapple extensively with issues such as who decides what is art, the ethics surrounding display and repatriation, and the difference between art, artifact and cultural object. By studying the objects produced by these great civilizations, we will gain a better understanding, not simply of the objects themselves, but of how they fit within the context of their time and place.
Offered Fall 2026
Latin 1
Credits: 1
What is Ancient Rome, and why do we care? In this first-year course, students will learn about the ancient world through geography, mythology, history, archaeology, and, of course, language. Through short readings, plays, and cartoons, students will become comfortable interacting with Latin prose. Special attention will also be given to the context of the ancient world.
Advanced Studio Art
Credits: 1
Prerequisite: Studio Art/other Relevant Visual Arts Course and Department Approval
This is a one-year college-level course with heavy emphasis on portfolio production and review. Advanced Art students will produce a series of sequential visual forms while exploring in greater depth a particular visual concern or inquiry, through practice, experimentation and revision. Emphasis will be placed on the elements of art, the principles of design, materials, processes and ideas, and skill development. Students will study and discuss historical and contemporary artists to aid in their own creations and development. Students may choose to submit portfolios to the Advanced Placement program in the spring in Advanced Placement Drawing, Advanced Placement 2D Art and Design, or Advanced Placement 3D Art and Design. The course is taught in the same physical space and time block as the Studio Art course.
This is a one-semester course for the higher-level ceramics student who has already completed Ceramics 1 and has mastered the basics of throwing pottery on the wheel. In this course, students will explore the act of combining hand-built elements with wheel-thrown pieces. Projects will include teapots, nesting bowls, water pitchers, vegetable steamers, ring holders, and citrus juicers. Students will also be tasked with using the principles of design to create an effective and attractive composition for an independently produced original piece of art, which may be either decorative or utilitarian.
Offered Spring 2027
World Religions
Credits: 0.5
In order to be a culturally competent global citizen, one must understand the motivations, traditions, and cultural forces that influence the globe, including religion. Though the United States is an increasingly secular state, other parts of the world are strongly influenced by their religious traditions, informing international relations, social values, and the global marketplace. This class will address the religious practices of the major world religions and the vast spectrum of beliefs within each that makes it difficult to generalize about them. To honor the living traditions that we are studying, we will not only examine but will also find ways to experience the Hindu Traditions and various Yogas, Buddhism and Meditation (or the interpretation of a Koan), Taoism and Tai Chi, Islam and Prayer, Christianity and Worship, Judaism and the study of the Torah, and native Aboriginal and American relationships to the Earth. In the midst of this quest, we will consider the way astrology, cults, New Age practices, and mindfulness function as derivatives of religious intent.
Offered Fall 2026
In this course, students will expand their knowledge of literature and genre as they explore novels, plays, poetry, and creative nonfiction from literary traditions across the globe. They will build their lexicon of literary devices and terms as well as learn to analyze these both verbally and in writing. Students will continue to build on their foundation of writing skills as they practice analytical writing in academic essays as well as creative pieces demonstrating their understanding of each genre. By the end of the year students will be comfortable encountering and engaging with a wide range of literature as they work toward becoming independent learners, thinkers, and writers. Works may include Much Ado About Nothing, Antigone, A Raisin in the Sun, Parable of the Sower, Homegoing, When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities, and texts from our visiting writers.
This class moves at the pace of the Advanced Placement Music Theory course with the intent to prepare the student to participate in the Advanced Placement testing program. This course includes fundamentals of music theory and related aural skills, score analysis, sight-singing, and harmonic and melodic comprehension. Students’ eligibility will be determined by the instructor.
Studio Art
Credits: 0.5
This course is designed to accommodate students with a desire to learn about art or to continue evolving in their artistic pursuits. Students will work on a variety of media, tools, and techniques through open-ended assignments that challenge them and encourage creativity and originality. Through studio practice, application of the fundamentals of art, and informed decision-making, students will create a body of work that demonstrates a high level of quality and growth over time in content, technique, and process.
Offered Spring 2027
Graphic Publication: Yearbook
Credits: 0.5
Students may take this course for either semester but are encouraged to stay in the course for the whole year to help bring the yearbook to publication.
This course allows students to develop the design, writing and photography skills needed to create a thorough, interesting, and dynamic documentation of the life of the School: the official school yearbook, the Pepperpot. This course includes elements of art, image manipulation, design, layout, article writing, research, editing, marketing, publishing, and sales. Students will have additional responsibilities and take greater leadership roles each time the course is taken.
Offered Fall 2026 and Spring 2027
Drawing and Painting
Credits: 0.5
Visual Arts courses are offered at several different levels. Students with a passion for a particular field may register for the same course over multiple semesters.
Drawing is the foundation from which we develop our visual vocabulary as we hone our observational skills. Drawing from observation or from life is a critical skill to develop for anyone wanting to quickly and visually express ideas, as it trains the eye, hand, and brain to translate the 3D form into a 2D illusion. In this multilevel class, whether taken for the first time or as continuation to further develop one’s visual skills, students will be exposed to a variety of “dry media” (graphite, oil and soft pastels, charcoal, etc.) and “wet media” (transparent and opaque painting, including watercolor, gouache, acrylic, and oil), learning the necessary technical skills to communicate their ideas, while continuing to strengthen their knowledge of the elements and principles of design. Students will also discover the expressiveness of color and media application techniques while learning color theory. They may take this class as a repeated course in order to prepare their art portfolios for college admission and to fully develop their visual and unique language. There will be opportunities for students to work on public art projects that enhance our School community.
Offered Fall 2026
Ceramics 1
Credits: 0.5
The Ceramics class will provide an opportunity for students to develop a body of work that is both conceptually valid and reflective of their artistic style. Sculpture techniques, the science of glazing, and wheel skills are taught to all levels of students, and they will be encouraged to experiment at all times. In addition to developing technique, students will design their own multi-part construction based on exploration of pottery around the world. Each student will be expected to produce work that portrays her creative powers and technical abilities.
Offered Fall 2026 and Spring 2027
African Drumming is an essential part of Walker’s music program. The group utilizes a variety of drums, some of which were constructed from trees on the school property in Simsbury. Students study a wide array of styles and develop an appreciation for the intricate musical sounds, and variety of moods the different drumming disciplines convey and express. The tones of the instruments as well as the use of a particular rhythm open the mind to the rich world of music and enhance the capacity of each drummer. Students are encouraged to both read and hear patterns so that they engage the better part of themselves when they play together. The group often performs on campus and continues to create a moving presence at Walker’s.
Meets outside of a class block
Orchestra is open to instrumentalists who are capable of individual preparation and working toward a standard of musical excellence in a group setting. This is a wonderful environment in which to develop technique and broaden the musical experience.
Meets outside of a class block
The Bell Choir performs for many events on campus and can be taken as a music discipline for Music Majors. This course teaches a basic understanding of rhythm and note reading and allows students of all levels to perform in an ensemble. All musicians are welcome.
Meets outside of a class block
Each year, our campus rock band morphs and evolves as new students join the group. Students who sing and play drum set, keyboard, guitar, bass, percussion, and other instruments collaborate as an ensemble to play classic rock and more contemporary covers, learning how to exchange musical ideas and work together as a group towards a rock concert performance at the end of the school year.
Meets outside of a class block
Grapes
Prerequisite: By Audition
This vocal ensemble is an a cappella singing group. Only members of the Choir may audition. This ensemble performs music from a wide range of genres. Auditions take place at the beginning of the school year and include a simple sight-singing exercise, presentation of a piece that best shows the singer’s voice, and a group piece that determines vocal blend and intonation.
By audition
Meets outside of a class block
Chamber Ensembles
Prerequisite: By Audition
The Chamber Ensembles afford the serious musician the opportunity to perform fine works. Students must be proficient on their instrument and enjoy working in a focused, musical environment. These ensembles are called upon to perform at many functions throughout the school year.
By audition
Meets outside of a class block
Music Major Program
Credits: 1
Credit is given to students who wish to take two private lessons a week or two music disciplines, not including Choir. A half credit is given along with grades and comments for each semester. Music majors are expected to perform during the school year.
Music Theory
Credits: 1
A two-semester course that involves the study of the laws, forms, and language of music with a focus on assimilating these skills and demonstrating them in compositional forms. The course is taught at the level of the student and progresses according to her capacity. It presents the basics of music theory, dictation and notation, and ear training before composition is introduced. The advanced student may study composition and harmony and musical analysis.
Choir
Credits: 1
A full Arts credit is given for this course. It fulfills the arts graduation requirement but is not figured into the GPA. Walker’s Choir performs regularly at many school functions and presents two major choral concerts. This ensemble enjoys meeting a varied repertoire and honing musical skills such as sight-reading and vocal production. Students interested in Grapes must be part of this ensemble.
This course provides students with an opportunity to learn and improve vocal technique and to experience a repertoire of various styles. Enrollment in Choir is not required. Voce Felice, a fine vocal ensemble, is formed from members of this class. Individual singers have the opportunity to perform as soloists at the end of the school year concert. All singers are welcome.
Meets outside of a class block
The Gospel Choir is a lively vocal ensemble that incorporates musical styles from the spiritual, blues, and gospel genres. This ensemble demands a willingness to participate in the appropriate style that this music commands. All singers are welcome.
Meets outside of a class block
Private Music Lessons
Prerequisite: Scheduled Individually, Additional Fee
Private lessons are offered for many instruments. Numerous recitals and assemblies involve the music program, and public performance opportunities continue to expand the musical experience here on campus.
Financial Commitment: Private lessons are billed through the Business Office. The Music Instruction Agreement must be signed by a parent/guardian and returned before lessons can begin. Please contact the Business Office for additional details.
Acting
Credits: 0.5
This course is designed to give students an overview of acting, theatre technique, storytelling, playwriting, and improvisation. Students will study several theatre techniques and styles to build understanding and knowledge in acting and the performing arts. The study of theatre through class activities, play projects will be a central focus of the course. The class is open to all experience levels.
Offered Spring 2027
Dance Fundamentals
Credits: 0.5
This course is designed to give students an overview of dance technique, improvisation, composition, and history. We will focus on several techniques and history to build strength and knowledge in the art form. The study of dance composition through improvisation and design concepts will also be a focal point of the course. Recommended for students with little to no experience in dance.
Offered Fall 2026 and Spring 2027
Dance Composition
Credits: 0.5
This course focuses on the process of choreographing original dance pieces. Students will learn composition through experimenting with the elements of movement: time, space, weight, and flow. This course is recommended for students with some dance experience through the advanced level.
Offered Spring 2027
The Honors Chemistry course covers content similar to the Chemistry course with the addition of stoichiometry and acid-base chemistry. The course is fast paced and requires a sophisticated depth of analysis. As students progress through the year, their work increasingly focuses on the applications of basic concepts and involves complex, multi-step problem-solving. Laboratory work includes a focus on experimental design and requires more involved error analysis. This is a rigorous course with high expectations for student effort and commitment.
Recommended: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in Honors Algebra 2
Chemistry is a laboratory-based course that allows students to discover basic chemical principles and understand how to use them to make sense of the world around them. The course covers the scientific method, measurement, atomic theory, nomenclature, chemical quantities, chemical reactions, aqueous chemistry, bonding, and gas laws. Students learn how to work both collaboratively and individually. Laboratory work emphasizes making careful observations, learning correct measuring and data collection techniques, analyzing data, and discussing errors. Projects each semester enable students to explore how chemistry is relevant to their daily lives.
This course is a continuation of French 3. Learners will examine the history, contemporary life, art, and culture of the French-speaking world, while reinforcing and building upon the skills developed in Levels 1-3. This course uses authentic literature and film to expose learners to diverse Francophone perspectives. Learners are expected to make cultural comparisons, participate in individual and group analysis, and draw conclusions about historical and current events. By the end of the year, learners will be able to express themselves fully and spontaneously in paragraph-length language on a wide variety of everyday topics as well as topics of personal or general interest. Learners will be able to formulate and support hypotheses, make arguments, and sustain narration in multiple time frames. Students will be able to negotiate meaning in a wide range of unfamiliar contexts with confidence.
This course is a continuation of French 2. Learners will build upon the structures they acquired in French 2 and engage in the target language with greater ease. By the end of the year, learners will be able to express themselves in increasingly complex sentences on a variety of everyday topics, topics of personal interest, and studied topics. Specific structures that learners will acquire include what they should/could/would have done, what they would/could/should do, as well as expressing counterfactuals, necessity, opinions, and feelings. Learners will be able to comfortably negotiate meaning in a range of unfamiliar contexts.
This course is a continuation of French 1. Learners will build upon the structures they acquired in French 1 and engage in the target language with greater ease. By the end of the year, learners will be able to express themselves in complete sentences on a variety of familiar topics. Specific structures that learners will acquire include: what they were doing or used to do and what they will do.
French 1
Credits: 1
This course serves as an introduction to the French language through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. By the end of the year, learners will be able to talk about very familiar topics: themselves; the weather; their likes, dislikes, and preferences; their families and homes; their favorite pastimes and hobbies; what they did over the past weekend as well as what they are going to do over the next weekend; and what they want to do versus what they can or must do. Learners will develop the ability to negotiate meaning in unfamiliar contexts.
This course is a continuation of Spanish 3. Learners will examine the history, contemporary life, art, and culture of Spain and Latin America, while reinforcing and building upon the skills developed in Levels 1-3. This course uses authentic literature and film to expose students to Spanish and Latin American perspectives as well as the importance of Spanish in the United States. Learners are expected to make cultural comparisons, participate in individual and group analysis, and draw conclusions about historical and current events. By the end of the year, learners will be able to express themselves fully and spontaneously in paragraph-length language on a wide variety of everyday topics as well as topics of personal or general interest. Learners will be able to formulate and support hypotheses, make arguments, and sustain narration in multiple time frames. Students will be able to negotiate meaning in a wide range of unfamiliar contexts with confidence.
This course is a continuation of Spanish 2. Learners will build upon the structures they acquired in Spanish 2 and engage in the target language with greater ease. By the end of the year, learners will be able to express themselves in increasingly complex sentences on a variety of everyday topics, topics of personal interest, and studied topics. Specific structures that learners will acquire include what they should/could/would have done, what they would/could/should do, necessity, opinions, and feelings. Learners will be able to comfortably negotiate meaning in a wide range of unfamiliar contexts.
This course is a continuation of Spanish 1. Learners will build upon the structures they acquired in Spanish 1 and engage in the target language with greater ease. By the end of the year, learners will be able to express themselves in complete sentences on a variety of familiar topics. Specific structures that learners will acquire include what they were doing or used to do and what they will do. Learners will continue to develop the ability to negotiate meaning in unfamiliar contexts.
Spanish 1
Credits: 1
This course serves as an introduction to the Spanish language through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. By the end of the year, learners will be able to talk about very familiar topics: themselves; the weather; their likes, dislikes, and preferences; their families and homes; their favorite pastimes and hobbies; what they did over the past weekend as well as what they are going to do over the next weekend; what they want to do versus what they can or must do, as well as developing the ability to negotiate meaning in unfamiliar contexts.
This course is a continuation of Latin 2. Learners will build upon the structures they acquired in Latin 2 and engage in the target language with greater ease. By the end of the year, learners will be able to read and understand increasingly complex sentences and will be able to comfortably negotiate meaning in a wide range of unfamiliar contexts. Novellas will explore topics in mythology and Roman history.
In Latin 2, students begin to go deeper with their Latin language skills, learning more challenging and sophisticated grammatical concepts. Learners will build upon the structures they acquired in Latin 1 and engage in the target language with greater ease. Students are assessed through reading novellas of increasing length and difficulty, and explore.
Introduction to Ethical Reasoning
Credits: 0.5
Human society has always looked for answers to big questions: Why am I here? What is my place in society? How should I behave toward others? What is the nature of good and evil? This course introduces students to tracts of moral and political philosophy from Aristotle to Nussbaum. Ethical reasoning is applied to an examination of contemporary issues such as bioengineering, human rights, social justice, our relationship to the natural world, and the obligations of citizenship. Students will be encouraged to use what they are learning as a framework to develop and support their own opinions on these topics.
Offered Spring 2027
This course requires the ability to read a wide variety of texts closely, write incisively, and argue persuasively. Political and economic forces are viewed through the lens of social movements. Students explore extensive primary and secondary sources, consider the conflict and unity underlying these movements, and draw conclusions. Instead of interpreting issues and evaluating people solely through their 21st-century lens, students are encouraged to consider two questions: what did the people they are studying know and what could they have known? Assessments will largely center around document-based writing, and students will use scholarly sources to complete a final research paper.
This course takes a thematic approach to the study of the history of the United States from early European and Native American encounters to the start of the 20th century. Rich content and intentional skill instruction work simultaneously throughout the year, as students engage with a variety of written, visual, and primary and secondary sources, hone their historical thinking skills through developing evidence-based arguments, and communicate their ideas through clear and compelling speaking and writing.
Support
The Match
for Girls
Support The Match for Girls and double your impact.
Whether you’re making your first gift or renewing your annual support at the same or an increased amount, your contribution will be matched dollar for dollar up to $25,000.
