• Course Offerings:

     

     “Democracy must be reborn in each generation and education is its midwife.” By John Dewey

     

    The Franklin Social Studies Department provides a wide variety of classes, all designed to help students become engaged members of our society, country, and world. There are many ways for students to earn their required Social Studies credits, as well as exciting electives. Students can focus on rights, government, law, psychology, or several other electives. There are many AP and ethnic studies options.

     

    Modern World History: Course credit earned: Social Studies (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. Fulfills Modern World History requirement for graduation No Prerequisite Grade 10 Modern World History will promote an awareness of the interconnected nature of the global community. Core studies will include geography, cultural belief systems, modern history, political and economic structures, and world issues. Students will be asked to connect historical events, social and political movements, environmental and economic changes, and cultural and technological innovations with contemporary issues, considering a broad range of perspectives.

     

    AP Modern World History: Course credit earned: Social Studies (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. Fulfills Modern World History requirement for graduation No Prerequisite Grade 10 Students will develop critical thinking and analytical skills, compare cultures, and use primary and secondary sources to establish greater understanding of the big picture of world history from 1200 C.E.-present. Students will connect with the past in order to better understand the present and its global complexities. Students develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians. After completing this engaging, rigorous curriculum the students will be prepared for the challenge of the AP exam.

     

    United States History: Course credit earned: Social Studies (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. Fulfills US History requirement for graduation No Prerequisite Grade 11 We must know our history in order to create a better future. This US History course examines how our Nation has been impacted by events and movements from our past and present. Our systems and institutions will be analyzed from multiple perspectives through historical, personal and cultural lenses. We will investigate how conflicts have influenced our society throughout time, while making connections between power, justice and our varying identities.

     

    African American History: Course credit earned: Social Studies (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. Fulfills US History requirement for graduation No Prerequisite Grade 11-12 This African-American History course focuses on the lives, achievements and contributions of African American people in spite of the systemic barriers they faced. Our lessons will include topics from African Kingdoms to present day social justice movements. In each class, we use various learning strategies to introduce key themes, courageous people, and significant events. Multiple perspectives are utilized to evaluated historical events through discussions, assigned readings, video clips, and movies. We learn about history so we can understand the present and shape our future.

     

    AP United States History: Course credit earned: Social Studies (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. Fulfills US History requirement for graduation No Prerequisite Grade 11-12 Boldly travel through more than 500 years of American History and learn college level and professional level historical skills. Students in this course will contemplate the complexities of the American experience by comparing the experiences of different ethnic and social groups throughout history. Students will also gain college level proficiency in historical writing. This U.S. History program will prepare you to take the AP U.S. History exam. Passing the AP exam makes a student eligible to receive college credit.

     

    Government and Economics: Course credit earned: Social Studies 1.0 May be taken only once for credit. Fulfills Government/Economics requirement for graduation No Prerequisite Grade 12 In Government: Students will study formation, processes and institutions of the United States. Students will find their political identity and how they can be involved citizens on the local, state and national level. In Economics: Students will look at micro and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, economic theory and practice, and personal finance. By the end of the course, students will develop the essential skills necessary for navigating the adult world.

     

    AP U.S. Government/Constitutional Law and Economics: Course credit earned: AP Government (0.5) Course credit earned: Economics * (0.5) May be taken only once for credit. ALERT: Students will be expected to attend weekly evening meetings lasting up to three hours during the first semester. No Prerequisite Grade 12 When forecasting for the class, you are applying to be a member of the Franklin Constitution Team. Students are encouraged, but are not required, to have previous experience in Mock Trial, APUSH, theater or team sports. This AP course is an intensive study of the formal and informal structures of government and the processes of the American political system. Students will prepare for and participate in the “We the People” competition on the Constitution. Students work with volunteer lawyer coaches on Mondays after school and during additional out of school meetings. This course requires extensive reading, research, and writing, while also emphasizing public speaking and teamwork to prepare students for the competition. During the second semester, students will study the role of government in economics in preparation for the AP exam. Students will look at micro and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, economic theory and practice, taxes and personal finance. *2nd semester does NOT receive AP Economics credit

     

    Law & Your Rights: Course credit earned: Elective (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. No Prerequisite Grades 9-12 This introductory Law course will include the study of criminal, civil, juvenile, consumer, and tort law. The class will examine the Constitution and the way that it, along with our legal system, affects our daily lives. Local and national law-related issues will be discussed. The class will also have law-related guest speakers and field trips. This class is a suggested prerequisite for the Mock Trial course. Students will work on developing public speaking skills by participating in the Project Soapbox national issue advocacy competition.

     

    Mock Trial: Course credit earned: Elective (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. Prerequisite: Law & Your Rights (recommended) Alert: Students will be expected to attend weekly evening meetings in October - February lasting up to 3 hours Grades 10-12 In this course, students will engage with mock criminal and civil cases both in class and in the Oregon High School Mock Trial Competition. Students will role-play lawyers and witnesses and sharpen their critical thinking skills, debate techniques and public speaking. Students will be challenged as self-motivated leaders working in team situations. Coaches from the Portland/Oregon legal community will prepare students for the competition. Students will work on developing public speaking skills by participating in the Project Soapbox national issue advocacy competition. This class is a prerequisite for the Advanced Mock Trial course.

     

    Advanced Mock Trial and Debate: Course credit earned: Elective (1.0) May be taken more than once for credit. Prerequisite: Mock Trial and Intro to Law Alert: Students will be expected to attend weekly evening meetings in October - February lasting up to 3 hours Grades 11-12 Following their work in the Mock Trial course, students will role-play witnesses and lawyers in both civil and criminal actions relating to contemporary topics. As advanced students, they will take on leadership roles in class to assist those new to the challenges. Students also learn essential critical thinking and public speaking skills by participating in Lincoln-Douglas debate competitions through the National Speech and Debate Association. Students will work on developing public speaking skills by participating in the Project Soapbox national issue advocacy competition. This class is a suggested prerequisite for the Advanced Placement Government Course.

     

    Introduction to Psychology: Course credit earned: Elective (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. No Prerequisite Grades 9-12 In this course students will explore the study of human behavior and mental processes. The course includes a broad sampling of psychological topics and students will participate in numerous learning activities and demonstrations. Topics will include: personality, relationships, cognition, perception and sensation, memory, and neuroscience. This class will prepare students for AP Psychology.

     

    AP Psychology: Course credit earned: Elective (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. Prerequisite: Intro to Psychology (recommended) Grades 10-12 In this course students will explore the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students will examine the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with Psychology. They also learn about the ethics and research methods psychologists use in their science and practice. The aim of the course is to provide the student with a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in most college introductory psychology courses. Passing the AP exam makes a student eligible to receive college credit.